It was Adam. I hesitated, then hesitated again, and still picked up.
"Valerie's gown got dirty. Go get that Starlit Night dress I ordered for you and bring it over. She needs a change."
So her name is Valerie. I repeated it silently to myself.
Starlit Night. Adam had commissioned a designer to tailor that gown to my exact measurements. It was meant for the party on our wedding night.
He used to refuse to let anyone so much as touch it. He said even a fingerprint would taint what it stood for.
Now he was tossing it to someone else like it was nothing.
Maybe it really was nothing anymore.
Still...
"Adam, I'm on an IV right now."
"You're perfectly fine. What do you need an IV for? Don't you dare throw a tantrum right now, or I swear you'll regret it."
Fine. One last thing. Consider it repayment for the day you saved me.
I didn't wait for the drip to finish. I asked the nurse to pull the needle, walked back out into the storm, took a cab home, grabbed the gown, and delivered it to him without stopping to catch my breath.
Adam said, "Valerie's waiting for you at the entrance. She wants to say thank you. Be gracious about it."
I gave a quiet "mm" and hung up.