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.

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

without thinking. "You could

Pearce. She came here for you, and now she's in trouble. If you won't take her yourself and expect

in again, voices blending together in righteous indignation. "Of

treats his wife at home if

even admit she's his wife-just wants to parade around as single,

their disapproving

up, "Dad, you should go. Don't worry about me-I'll be fine,

Haynes fell silent.

into the

the

wanted to say something to Stella. But

walked away

raced

leave her alone in the emergency room, clung desperately to his , her voice

don't leave

so much I still want to

Haynie... What if I close my eyes and

down his irritation and