Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

Author:Kirstin Chen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

That evening, when Oli walked through the door, weary and depleted, as he always was at the end of the week, I was ready to press my case. His favorite boeuf bourguignon—the only thing I’d ever learned to cook—simmered on the stove; four kinds of hard and soft cheeses and an assortment of water crackers were fanned out across the walnut board; a good red Burgundy beckoned from the decanter.

I served my husband a steaming helping of the rich, dark stew. The meat was tender, the shallots fragrant, the mushrooms glossy as pearls. He inched his chair to mine and laid his head on my shoulder. I pressed the pads of my fingers into his scalp and he practically purred.

That was when I told him about the trip.

His head launched up like a basketball. Shenzhen, China? Day after tomorrow?

I reminded him that Winnie couldn’t leave the country because of her citizenship application and I was the only lawyer on staff. I heard the words leave my mouth and fail to make sense, so I babbled on and on. But since I couldn’t reveal the real reason for the trip, all Oli could gather was that I was jetting off once again, at the last minute, and worse, leaving our son behind.

Ava, tell me the truth, are you having an affair? he asked.

The piece of meat in my mouth turned to gristle and I spat it into my napkin.

Your hair, he said, gesturing at my new auburn highlights, and those colorful dresses, it’s so fucking cliché.

I swore I was faithful; he was the one who’d always chided me to wear more color, I did it for him! I tried to explain that business in China had to be done face-to-face, that I would shake some hands and sign some stuff and turn around and fly right back, oh, except that my grandmother was turning ninety this week, and for once in my life I’d be able to celebrate with her, and surely he could grant me that much?

What’s come over you? he asked. Can you hear how bizarre you sound right now?

I shut my mouth.

Oli pushed aside his plate. Our son’s being raised by his nanny.

Now this was too much. My carefully laid-out argument splintered like a log. I roared back, And that’s my fault? Coming from a man who lives apart from his family for the majority of the week?

You know the kind of hours I’m working, Oli said, his voice cracking. This’ll be the first day off I’ve had in three weeks.

Here the regular me, the real me, would have caught myself, would have stopped and listened. The possessed me charged on, thinking only of herself.

Oh, come now, you knew what you were getting into. No one forced you.

He blanched. Fine. Pay Maria to stay the entire time you’re gone. I can’t drive back and forth from Palo Alto every night.

I’m glad your priorities are so clear. I stormed around the room searching for my phone so I could send Maria a message, offer another raise.

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