Chapter 3

Joyce clearly hadn't expected Nigel to be so decisive. She looked up at him in surprise, and that odd feeling stirred in her chest again. But her attention snapped back when Jeffrey, nestled in her arms, softly called out her name. She helped him to the side and gently comforted him. After paying his respects to Ronald and saying a silent prayer, Nigel walked over to Pauline. Her face was pale. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Laswell." Pauline looked up and gave a small nod, then took Nigel's hand. "You're Joyce's boyfriend, aren't you? Thanks for coming to see Ron. "I heard you two were getting married, but Joyce is so considerate. She chose to wait at least six months before marrying, out of respect for Ron. That must be tough for you." Nigel simply listened in silence. He didn't bring up the wild plan Joyce and Jeffrey were up to. But Pauline could sense the pain he was carrying. She couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. "Ron and I have seen Joyce grow up over the years. He mentored her from undergrad to her doctorate. "She places a lot of value on her relationships, and that's what influenced her decision. I hope you won't hold it against her." With a new bride in the picture, Nigel had no reason to hold it against Joyce. "I get it." Seeing how considerate he was, Pauline couldn't stop herself from saying, "And I hope you won't mind Jeffrey, either. He's always hanging around her, but I can tell she doesn't feel anything for him. She… loves you a lot." Nigel's body went rigid. He hadn't realized at all that she loved him. Seeing the skeptical look on his face, Pauline pressed on earnestly. "Nigel, I'm telling the truth. Ron and I always thought she'd never fall for anyone since she was so focused on her medical research—until you came along. "She may not have expressed it openly, but she'd bring you up often. She'd tell us about running into you, how you made her something yummy, or how you did something goofy just to win her heart… "She might've sounded like she was complaining, but we knew she just didn't realize how much she loved you." Pauline listed all the ways Joyce had shown she cared about him, things she'd never made obvious to Nigel's face. Nigel could only feel a sharp irony in Pauline's words. He would've been thrilled to hear those words before, but now all he felt was bitterness. Why hadn't he felt any of that if Joyce really loved him? Why was it always him chasing after her, while she never gave him a second thought? And how could she choose to have a child with someone else if she loved him? The moment Joyce decided to have a child with Jeffrey, everything between them had gone beyond repair. Their relationship was done for good. … Joyce stuck by Jeffrey's side the whole time during the memorial. When it was over, the rain started falling, and the guests trickled out one by one. Nigel was waiting outside the funeral home when Joyce stopped the car in front of him. "Get in," she said flatly. He was about to step forward when the car window slowly rolled down. That was when he realized Jeffrey was in the front passenger seat, with Pauline in the back. Nigel hadn't even gotten a word out when Jeffrey's voice, shaky with tears, came through. "Joy, I want to visit Dad at the cemetery again. Just me, you, and Mom, okay?" Pauline frowned at his words. "Jeffrey, don't do this." But her words seemed to hit a nerve, and Jeffrey broke down in tears. "It’s Dad's funeral today! Can't he just take a cab by himself?" Pauline wanted to say more, but Joyce had already made up her mind. "I'll come back for you later," she told Nigel, her tone firm. Then, she started the car and drove off. Nigel was left alone, knowing this was coming the moment Jeffrey spoke. Still, his face didn't show the slightest bit of sadness. He waited quietly for hours, but Joyce never came back. The rain picked up, and he knew she wasn't returning. The funeral home was in the middle of nowhere, with no cabs around. Nigel didn't have an umbrella, so he had no choice but to walk right into the downpour. The rain came down harder, making it almost impossible to see. After trudging through it for two hours, he finally made it to a spot where he could catch a cab and head home.