CHapter 29
Karan
I’ve never been prouder of the work I do, but I’ve got to admit, it feels nice to take a break away from it all.
I swallow a bite of fluffy omelette and take in the sugar shack’s cozy, whimsical atmosphere.
Tania’s family runs the place, and since she’s been friends with Sophie for quite a while, Sophie thought it was about time we meet her.
That, and I truly needed to cross off “visit a sugar shack” from my bucket list.
Rachel, on the other hand, isn’t as excited as I am. She’s enjoying the food, but I would have expected her to hum along to the folk music playing in the background, or be a bit more chatty with all of her friends.
“So, you two are married?” Nolan asks me, pointing to me and Rachel.
A warm feeling of pride radiates from my chest.
“Yes,” I reply. “Married seven years, been together for fourteen.”
“That’s amazing. And you’re from Montréal too, or…”
“Oh, no. Well, Rachel grew up in Mascouche, which isn’t technically in the city, but for someone like me, it still counts.” I chuckle. “I’m from Val-d’Or.”
“Oh, wow.” Nolan raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Do you miss it sometimes?”
“I used to, but not as much anymore. My parents actually moved to the city back in January.”
With Mom’s cancer, and Dad nearing retirement anyway, it made sense for Dad to retire early and for them to move closer to me. Plus, there are better healthcare options in the city for Mom.
Nolan nods along. “So, Val-d’Or… are you Cree?”
“My father’s Punjab, actually.”
“Ah, right, I wasn’t sure.”
“Are you Cree?”
“Nah, Mohawk. I’m from here, but my extended family’s from Kahnawà:ke.”
“Oh, cool. And are you…” I lower my voice, then glance over at Tania, who’s gleefully lost in conversation with Avery and Logan. “There’s something between you two, isn’t there?”
The way they keep stealing glances at each other, all smiles and blushes, says everything I need to know.
“Oh.” Nolan smirks. “No, we’re just having fun.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Really.”
“Definitely. I’m happy staying unattached.”
Somehow, I doubt it, but I don’t know Nolan enough to keep arguing over it. Instead, I keep the conversation going, and before long, hours have gone by with this group, like a gust of wind.
“What do you think’s going on between Tania and Nolan?” I ask Rachel once we’re back in our hotel room.
She’s fresh out of the shower, in which she rushed as soon as we arrived, without a single word to me.
She furrows her brow, then sits on the bed—specifically, the bed I’m not sitting on. Still wrapped in a towel, her skin glistens, still slightly red from the heat of the shower.
“I really don’t think that’s any of our business.”
Her bitter tone takes me aback. “Hey, I’m just trying to make conversation.”
“Hmm.” She starts combing her fingers through her wet hair to break up the tangles.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask as I stand to join her on the other bed. “I feel like you’ve been icing me out all day.”
Rachel stiffens at my proximity. But she doesn’t answer me, opting to bite her bottom lip instead.
What’s going on inside my wife’s head?
“It’s just…” She lowers her head. “It’s the first time in months I’ve seen you this happy.”
“Well, today was a good day, wasn’t it?”
“I know.” She still won’t look at me. “I’m not upset that we had a good day. I’m upset that it’s the first good day in months.”
My heart sinks. It’s true that there has been a lot going on.
Mom’s still getting treatment, and though her cancer has shrunk, she’s not out of the woods quite yet.
But it’s mostly the new job that’s taking up most of my time.
I want to make a good impression, so when my boss asks me to stay a bit later to help him with something, I don’t dare refuse.
Just then, my phone starts ringing. My thoughts immediately go to Mom. I fish the phone out of my pocket and see Mom’s name on the screen, only reaffirming my first fear.
“Mom?” I say as soon as I answer.
“Karan, honey!” she chimes in response. “How was your day at the sugar shack?”
Next to me, Rachel’s concerned gaze hovers.
Is she okay? she mouths to me.
I nod in response and focus back on the conversation. Mom proceeds to tell me all about the fun activities that she, Dad, and Avery’s mother did with all of the group’s kids at the biodome today, and I share our day’s highlights in response.
Only when I hang up do I realize Rachel’s no longer in the room.
I rush outside, and there she is, in her pajamas, leaning against the small balcony in the freezing air.
“What are you doing out here? Your hair is going to freeze,” I tell her.
“I needed some air.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Really?” She pivots to me, and that’s when I see the anger in her eyes. “I have to spell it out for you, Karan?”
I’ve never been this confused in my life.
“Apparently, I do.” Rachel takes a breath through her nose. “We were just having a conversation. You and me. Then, your mom calls, and I understand why you’d pick up; she’s sick, and she’s got our kids, so there could be an emergency, right?”
She laughs without humour. “Only, there is no emergency, and she’s only calling to chat, and that takes precedence over our conversation. Because fuck me, right?”
“Where is this coming from?” I pass a hand through my hair in a nervous gesture. “I didn’t want to be rude and hang up…”
“Then why don’t you go and join her, then?”
My chest tightens, and all of a sudden, the past months’ exhaustion catches up to me. I thought this would be a nice moment to reconnect with Rachel. But evidently, she needs space. Or a fight.
And I’m too tired to fight.
“Maybe I will,” I reply.
Her jaw ticks. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
Despite the cold, Rachel stays on the balcony while I pack my stuff.
This is fine. She’s allowed to want space. Whatever this is, I’m sure she’ll feel better when we’re both back home.
I swallow my pride and leave the hotel room without a second thought.