Chapter Three
Ashley woke to the smell of pancakes. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to believe everything was fine.
Kingston was in the kitchen, the kids giggling as he flipped batter onto the griddle, his voice bright and playful.
A snapshot of family life. The kind of moment people posted on social media with captions about love and gratitude but Ashley knew better now.
She sat at the table, coffee cooling in her hands, watching the scene unfold like a play she wasn’t part of.
She smiled at the right times, laughed when her son made a mess with syrup, but her chest remained heavy.
Kingston glanced at her once or twice, his eyes unreadable, as though he sensed the shift but wasn’t ready to name it.
For the kids, she swallowed her unease. She buttoned up her fears like a white coat before rounds, hiding the stains beneath.
The following week, Kingston mentioned his upcoming medical school reunion.
“It’s at The Marlowe downtown. Fancy place,” he said, tossing the invitation onto the counter. “Spouses are invited. I figured we should go.”
Ashley lifted the card, the embossed lettering catching the light.
A part of her wanted to say no. To claim she was too tired, too busy, anything to avoid standing beside him in a room full of half-truths but another part, the braver part wanted to go.
Wanted to see. “Of course,” she said evenly. “It’ll be fun.”
The Marlowe’s ballroom shimmered with chandeliers and the low hum of nostalgia.
A slideshow of grainy photos from their student days played on a screen, drawing laughter and groans in equal measure.
Ashley stood at Kingston’s side, glass of wine in hand, nodding politely as he introduced her to old classmates.
She smiled through stories of all-nighters and on the surface, it was pleasant but Ashley kept scanning the crowd, her eyes searching for Rebecca.
And then she saw her.
Rebecca stood near the bar, striking in a crimson dress that clung in all the right places.
She laughed, head tilted back, her hand brushing Kingston’s arm when they greeted each other.
Ashley’s stomach coiled tight. She turned away, pretending to admire the slideshow. Her ears, though, caught everything.
Later, while Kingston stepped aside to talk to an old professor, Ashley found herself lingering near a group of his classmates. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, it wasn’t her style but the words froze her in place.
“Remember when Kingston and Rebecca were inseparable?” one man chuckled, swirling his drink. “We all thought they’d end up married.”
Ashley’s breath caught.
Another woman laughed softly. “They were like the golden couple of second year. Always together. The way she used to bring him coffee before rounds? God, I was jealous.”
“Yeah,” the man added, lowering his voice just enough to sting. “And then out of nowhere, it ended. No one knew why. She was heartbroken, though. Took her ages to move on.”
Ashley’s pulse roared in her ears. She stared at the floor, willing her expression to stay calm, casual, invisible.
“Funny how life works,” the woman mused. “Now here they are, in the same city, same hospital… fate’s got a wicked sense of humor.”
Laughter rippled through the group, but Ashley didn’t hear the rest. Her chest ached, the wine in her hand suddenly sour.
She excused herself quietly, slipping into the hallway to breathe.
She leaned against the wall, her palm pressed flat to her chest as though she could hold her heart in place.
So it was true. Not just colleagues. Not just harmless mentions. A history.
When Kingston finally found her, his brow creased with concern. “You okay? You disappeared.”
“Just needed some air,” she said, forcing a smile. He accepted it easily, too easily, guiding her back inside.
The drive home was quiet, the kids asleep at her parents’ house for the night. Ashley stared out the window, watching the city lights smear into streaks. Her fingers toyed with the strap of her clutch, words burning her tongue.
When they pulled into the driveway, she couldn’t hold it anymore.
“Kingston,” she said softly, still looking out the window. “Why didn’t you tell me you and Rebecca used to date?”
The silence that followed was deafening.
Finally, he exhaled, long and slow. “Who told you that?”
“I overheard your classmates tonight.” She turned to face him. “They seemed pretty sure it wasn’t just nothing.”
His jaw tightened. He parked the car but didn’t cut the engine. “It was years ago, Ashley. Before you. Barely a year. It meant nothing.”
“Nothing?” Her voice cracked despite her best effort. “You dated her for a year. People thought you’d get married.”
He ran a hand over his face, irritation flashing in his eyes. “You’re blowing this out of proportion. It was college. We were kids. I met you, and she was out of the picture. End of story.”
Ashley’s chest throbbed. “Then why didn’t you ever mention it? Why hide it?”
“Because it wasn’t important!” His voice sharpened, a rare edge that sliced through the night. “I didn’t think it mattered, Ash. And honestly? I don’t appreciate being interrogated about something that happened over a decade ago.”
She flinched at the sharpness, her nails digging into her clutch.
“I’m not interrogating,” she whispered. “I just… I wish you’d been honest. That’s all.”
He shook his head, muttering something under his breath before finally cutting the engine. “I’m tired. Can we not do this tonight?”
Ashley swallowed hard, her throat burning with unshed tears.
She nodded, stepping out of the car, the night air cool against her damp cheeks.
Inside, she went straight upstairs, undressing in silence while Kingston lingered downstairs.
When he finally slipped into bed beside her, his back was turned.
Ashley lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The weight of silence pressed down on her chest, heavier than ever. She’d asked for honesty and been given fragments. She’d pressed for truth and been met with sharpness.
And yet, the deepest cut wasn’t his irritation. It was the confirmation she couldn’t escape that Rebecca wasn’t just some colleague. She was a ghost of Kingston’s past and ghosts had a way of finding their way back.