MOAB

Chapter 6i^3

Chapter 6i^3

Ourania was chopping carrots in the kitchen.

The drawer vibrated.

She made sure Yanni was upstairs and closed the door. She picked up the phone.

“Hey, baby,” said Thalia with sweetness in her voice.

Ourania spoke, mimicking Yanni’s voice. “Yasou.”

“I know I’m not supposed to bother you all the time but I miss you. The kids miss you a lot. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I think I’m close, this is all going well,” Ourania said with calculated coldness in her male tone.

“Good. As long as you’re happy. Last time we spoke you were a bit distant.” Thalia approached the subject carefully, it was nagging her for days. The seed Ourania had planted in their earlier conversation had sprouted leaves.

“Nai. Listen, Thalia, I’ve had some time to see things clearly. It’s apparent that our previous arrangement wasn’t working for me.”

“Arrangement? You mean us?”

“Yeah, it’s obvious that it’s stifling my potential. I spoke with Hermes, they are delighted with the progress I’m making and they offered me a job whether I solve this or not. It’s what I always wanted.”

“I wanted this too!”

“No, what you wanted was me playing husband and wasting my time babysitting.”

Thalia cried out. “They are our kids!”

“We could have had kids afterwards. A breakthrough in physics could only come to me at a young age. I knew deep down it was over for me if I played house with you, but I did it. And I’m sorry.”

Thalia was sobbing and through her gasps, she asked, “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I can’t deal with this right now, but I’ll make right with alimony. You can also keep the house, of course. It’s too big for me, anyway.”

“You used to call me your muse, you know.”

“I found a better one.”

“Why?” Thalia was heartbroken and crying.

“This is why. This, right now. Always a distraction. We will talk when I’m done. Bye,” said Ourania and hung up the phone. She finished chopping the carrots and threw half of them into a smoothie for Yanni.