The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Yes, your child's still young. If you can't go, you can't go it's not the end of the world. But you, grown man that you are, shouldn't you know how to look after your wife by now?"

"Honestly, you look respectable enough, but how can you be so heartless?"

The crowd hurled one accusation after another, and Haynes's face darkened.

He blurted out, almost defensively, "She's not my wife."

He'd barely finished speaking before the crowd got even louder.

"She's not your wife? Then why are you carrying her around like that?"

"Exactly! If she's nothing to you, why are you the only one holding her?"

"And that little boy just now-isn't he your son? He's old enough, so you must have been married for years. If she isn't your wife, what are you doing holding another woman like that? Are you cheating?"

Listening to this barrage of accusations, Haynes felt a surge of anger and frustration. How could they get it all so wrong?

He instinctively glanced at Stella, hoping she wouldn't buy into their wild assumptions.

Noticing his look, Stella met his eyes.

you should take Ms. Pearce to the hospital," she said coolly. "Whatever the situation, leaving a woman in her condition behind is just wrong. Besides, out of all of us, who else

"You

with all due respect, I'm not that close to Ms. Pearce. She came here for you, and now she's in

voices blending together in righteous indignation. "Of course

he treats his wife at home if he's acting like

won't even admit she's his wife-just wants to parade around as

of their disapproving

Don't worry about me-I'll be

Haynes fell silent.

only grit his teeth and climb into the ambulance, feeling every judgmental

the

wanted to say something to Stella. But before

had already turned and walked away without a

ambulance raced

might leave her alone in the

leave

still want

I close my eyes and never

forced down his irritation and tried to