"Lucretia, I have an investor roadshow this morning. Eat while it's hot."
He opened the container carefully, picked up a dumpling, blew on it again and again, and held it to my lips.
I opened my mouth. Chewed mechanically. Swallowed.
When he saw me eat, a tired but satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Wait for me."
He leaned in to kiss me. I turned my head without thinking.
His lips froze in midair. The light in his eyes went out.
In the end, he only stroked my hair, then turned and walked out.
I went to the hospital.
Dad looked much better. He was doing his rehab exercises with the help of an aide.
His face brightened when he saw me. He grabbed my hand and asked why Jesse hadn't come along.
I peeled an apple for him, the blade whispering against the skin in long, curling strips.
"Dad, I want to divorce Jesse."
The therapy ball slipped from his fingers and bounced across the floor.
He stared at me, his clouded eyes wide with shock.
"What happened? Has Jesse been treating you badly?"
I shook my head. For a moment, the words wouldn't come.
Everyone said Jesse loved me to the bone. That he'd burned through his fortune and moved heaven and earth to save me.