Betty
LATER ON, I’M SURE I will be shocked that I had the nerve to ask him this. But now, I feel I could stand before God himself and question all He has done. Something comes over Tom’s face. He is shocked himself. In disbelief, disappointed.
He says nothing more. Not begging me to believe him. Not afraid of what I will say next. Something in the shock and sadness of his tone makes me believe what I am told. Bill’s hands tense around me. As though he needs to protect and restrain me at once.
‘So what happened to her? Did she even exist?’
I ask more softly. Breaking away from Bill, I face Tom. Look at him shaking, like a child caught out. Later on, I will feel sorry for him. Tears in his eyes, then tears on his face. He tries to speak, but can’t.
‘You better start talking.’
Bill tells him. And immediately, like a trained dog, he answers my husband.
‘It was Anna.’