RECONCILATION

I don’t want to look at his face, and know he misses me.

I rub a hand protectively over my stomach. I don’t know if I’m trying to reassure myself or the baby. Maybe both.

Just don’t think about him, I tell myself,think about anything else.

My eyes search the room for inspiration and fall on the mysterious package. There’s writing on one corner. Maybe it says what it is.

It’s a weird shape, flat and rectangular like a giant flatscreen TV. Or maybe a wall-size pane of glass?

I approach and read the writing.

Property of Nicole Craig.

It takes me a moment to recognize Nicole’s handwriting. It’s neater than his handwriting normally is. Like he was careful when he wrote it.

What the hell is he playing at? If he’s trying to win me back with gifts, he’s going about it the wrong way. Even if I could be swayed with gifts, I can’t think of anything this shape and size I’d actually want.

I mean, it’s sort of the shape of...

“No,” I breathe. “He wouldn’t...”

I reach for a strip of butcher paper an