Chapter 5

"Are you home? I came by to see you."

Eleanor, Leo's mom, stood at the door carrying a bag of fruit and some steaks.

I let her in and poured her a cup of tea.

She sat on the couch and looked around, her eyes lingering on the coat rack.

"Why are Leo's coats hanging outside the guest room? Are you two... having a fight?"

"No. He's been working a lot of overtime lately and didn't want to wake me up when he gets back late, so he's sleeping there."

She nodded, but her expression didn't soften completely.

"Liz, you two have been married for three months now. When are you going to start a family? You should have babies while you're still young."

My hand holding the teacup remained perfectly still.

"We're in no rush, Eleanor. We want to wait a bit."

"Wait for what? Leo is already thirty. His father always wanted to see a grandchild before he passed..."

Her voice was gentle but carried that nagging, persistent pressure.

I kept a polite smile on my face, like a mask.

As Eleanor was putting on her shoes at the door to leave, her gaze swept over the shoe rack.

She paused.

"Liz, are these white sneakers yours?"

I looked over. On the bottom shelf was a pair of small, white sneakers. Size 6.

I wear a size 8.