"...It failed again," I lied, my voice hollow.
Walter paused. I could practically hear him forcing a smile. "It's okay. We'll keep trying. Next time, for sure."
"I don't want to do it anymore." I whispered, testing him one last time. "It hurts too much."
"Jessica." He sighed, his tone shifting from coaxing to that familiar, unyielding hardness. "Wife, didn't you say you love me? I just want a child of our own. Can't you do this for me? Just endure it a little longer, okay?"
Silence stretched between us.
The last shard of hope in my heart shattered into dust.
"Okay," I rasped.
I hung up.
Through the door, I heard him scoff. "Useless. Failed again."
His friends immediately clamored to comfort him. Through the crack in the door, I watched as Charlotte boldly settled herself onto Walter's lap.
Someone raised a glass to her, but Walter's hand shot out, intercepting it.
"What is a girl like her doing drinking this stuff?"
He downed the glass in one gulp.
The room erupted in cheers. I turned away, nausea roiling in my gut.
Walter was severely allergic to alcohol.