I knocked lightly on the door. The sound felt too small for the silence that filled the hallway. It was well past midnight, but I knew he was still awake.
He had come in a few minutes ago, from what I assumed was a work dinner, because he smelled of alcohol, smoke, and a mix of perfumes. One of them was uncomfortably familiar for reasons I couldn't place.
When the door opened, Adrian leaned against the frame, his shirt untucked, a half-empty glass of scotch in his hand. I hated that a small part of me hoped the alcohol would make him softer, that maybe tonight he would listen to me.
"What do you want, Star?" he asked. His voice was smooth but loose around the edges, the kind that only came after a few drinks.
"Honey, I wanted to talk," I said, stepping past him before he could change his mind. I went straight for the armchair in the corner and sat down, smoothing the hem of my nightdress with trembling fingers.
He closed the door behind me, the click too loud in the quiet room. "About what?" he asked, setting the glass down. The faint clink of ice filled the space between us.
"The baby," I said quietly.
He didn't respond, only rolled his shoulders, and I took that as permission to keep going.
"The doctor said it's not too late for you to come to one of the ultrasounds," I continued. "You could still hear her heartbeat. And I thought maybe we could start on the nursery. Mother knows a contractor, and I was thinking—maybe we could get a bit of help around the house, part-time, just until—"
He groaned, dragging a hand over his face. "God, do you ever stop talking? Every time you open your mouth, it just keeps ringing in my head."
"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to—"
"I've been listening to people talk at me all night," he muttered, reaching for his drink again. "Do I really have to listen to this too?"
He took another slow sip before speaking again. "Star, I already told you we're tight on cash right now. No unnecessary expenses. It's like I'm talking to a wall. We can't afford any help, so don't be fucking lazy. You don't do anything. You don't even work. Doing a few chores isn't going to kill you. Is that all?"
The words landed like small, deliberate blows. I stared at the carpet until my vision blurred.
"You're right. I shouldn't have said that. Forget about it," I whispered. My throat ached, but I forced my voice to stay calm. "For the appointment with the doctor, I just thought maybe… if you told me your schedule, I could call the hospital and find a time that works for both of us."
He exhaled slowly, setting the glass down again. "Fine. I'll tell my secretary to clear my schedule for the next one."
I blinked at him. "Wait—really?"
He gave a short, humorless laugh. "What, you think I'm some kind of monster? Don't look so shocked."
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said, a weak smile tugging at my lips. "I'm just happy, that's all."
I had thought he'd say no to everything, but he said yes to the important one, at least to me Maybe things were changing. Maybe this was a start. I could feel warmth pushing against the cold that had been sitting inside me for months.
"Well then, I'll leave you for the night," I said, standing slowly.
"Yeah. Goodnight," he murmured, eyes already drifting back to his glass.
I stopped mid-step. For a second, I wasn't sure I'd heard him right. "Goodnight, honey," I replied quietly.
Outside, I could barely breathe. My chest felt tight, my hands trembling. Not only had he agreed to come see the baby, but he had actually told me goodnight. That night, I must have fallen asleep with a smile on my face.
"Star… Star… Star."
"Huh?" I blinked, the sound pulling me back. The cold glass of juice in my hand was slick with condensation, and I set it down before it slipped.
"Are you even listening to me?" Lena's voice snapped, sharp with irritation.
"Sorry. Yes, of course I am."
She eyed me curiously. "You seem different today, Star. Something good happen?"
"No, nothing like that," I said, forcing a smile. "But I did shampoo my hair today. Does it look good?"
She laughed, that soft girlish giggle she always did, before glancing down at her phone and typing quickly.
"By the way," she said, still distracted, "when's your next appointment with the bitch?"
"What?" I asked, frowning. "Who are you talking about?"
"The doctor bitch," she clarified, her lips curling into a smirk.
"Lena," I began, "I thought about it and that's not really nice. Dr. Macy is a really good doctor, and she cares a lot about my baby, so please be nice and respectful."
"Whatever. That doesn't mean she's not a bitch. You're just too goody-goody, Star. When's the next appointment though? I want to go again and see what she's going to say. I have a new bag too, and I want her to know I'm someone she has to respect."
"Oh, there's no need for that, Lena. I really appreciate you going with me last time, but Adrian says he'll go with me next time." The smile I had been holding back finally escaped my lips.
"Really?" she said slowly.
"Isn't that great, Lena? Things are really looking up for me, right? And my baby is doing well. I'm so happy."
"That's wonderful, Star," she said, although I wondered why it didn't reach her eyes.
"By the way, Star, I really need your help."
"Huh?"
"Yeah. I have this business trip thing next week, Thursday to Saturday, but my landlord is coming for a check-in on Friday, and I really need the apartment to look decent. I know I should hire help, but I've got some really expensive things and I don't want anyone stealing anything. So please, Star, could you help me out? You're the only one I trust."
I thought about it for a moment. "Sure, Lena. What are friends for?"
"Oh, thank you, Star. And I'm really sorry I'm putting this on you," she said, holding my hands. "Just know how much I love you, K."