If my eyes hadn't been closed, I might not have been able to suppress a laugh. Had Troy acted so long that he began believing his own lies?
Or did he know I was only pretending to sleep and these words were intentionally for me to hear? Perhaps he hoped I would, as always, swallow my grievances and reconcile. But I had seen through it all now.
The next morning, I didn't wake until ten. Turning over, I saw Troy standing in the doorway wearing an apron. He said cheerfully, "Awake, sleepyhead? Come have breakfast."
I was taken aback. Troy didn't go to work?
Looking at the table overflowing with a lavish breakfast spread, I wondered if I was dreaming.
"Felicia, I've neglected you in the past. You've gone through over ten rounds of IVF for me, endured morning sickness and suffered so much." From his pocket, he pulled out a pigeon-egg-sized diamond ring and handed it to me with a tender expression. He said again, "From now on, I want to make it up to you."
I didn't reach out to take it, instead, I felt an unsettling awkwardness. Why this sudden kindness? Had he discovered I was planning to leave?