She's a Thorny Rose

Jade stopped counting after 998.

All thornless roses.

She stared at the roses that filled the living room, drowning in the scent of the prized white roses from the Lamont family floral garden— one of her husband's many businesses. They had mastered the art of the thornless rose but it would all go to waste.

She stared at the crumpled doctor’s report on the floor and felt the tears start to rise again. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t cry but the fact that her husband wasn’t here with her on their fifth anniversary made the tears flow.

Jade stared at the large double oak door, hoping it would open so Adam would walk in with that rare smile that she loved. But no such luck. He had promised.

The large grandfather clock at the end of the entrance hallway chimed 12 times to indicate midnight. Their anniversary was over and Adam was a no-show. She’d waited for a whole day.

Her heart twisted as the thought that she had spent yet another anniversary alone. She thought that with a kid, things would be different but it seemed like she was destined to be alone.

She picked the papers, staring at the report of her third miscarriage. The doctor still couldn’t tell what was wrong. But she had tried everything to make sure the pregnancy would come to term. It just wasn’t meant to be— Like her marriage to Adam.

There was a knock on the door. Jade cleaned the tears off her face. At least, they could still save the day. She hurried to the door with the doctor’s report. Only to see one of the many staff that worked at the Lamont Garden.

He stood on the porch, smiling at her as he handed a red rose that was nestled inside a black card with gold glittering text. “A gift from Mr. Lamont.”

Jade stared at the man like he had grown a second head. It was impossible for Adam to send her a red rose.

He pushed the card towards her. “Congratulations on your anniversary, Madam.”

“Where's my husband?”

She looked down the driveway that stretched to half the length of a football field, hoping to see his classy mini limo. But the only thing on the driveway beside the fountain was the delivery man’s bike.

“Miss Frances asked me to—”

“Take it back. Tell her to shove it.” Jade screamed, then slammed the door in the man's face.

She ignored his frantic knock as she walked to the centerpiece table where she had dropped her phone as soon as she arrived from the hospital.

One of the rules that she and Adam had was that they would never discuss important details over the phone. Always face-to-face. That was why she waited till their anniversary to tell him about the pregnancy-now-turned miscarriage.

He picked on the first ring. “Hello?”

“Adam—”

He cut her short. “Did you get my gift?”

“I got more than your gift.”

“Mrs Lamont. Happy Anniversary.” She heard Frances’ voice from the other end of the line.

Her anger doubled. So, he was with Frances on the night of their anniversary. And he had her private call on loudspeaker. Now she was sure where his loyalty lay.

It made her next words so much easier. “Adam, I want a divorce.”

There was a gasp from the other end of the phone as Frances, her husband's secretary spoke. “Oh no. It's my fault the last flower and the card got delayed. Don't take it out on Mr. Lamont.”

Jade held the phone tight. As tight as she had held her stomach when she started bleeding that morning.

She waited for Adam to give her some hope even if he wouldn’t apologize. To say that he loved her and he wanted her back. To say that he was coming home so they could discuss what had happened.

“Adam, did you hear me. I want to—”

He spoke with a cold controlled voice, “As you wish.”

The phone slipped out of her hand and crashed to the floor.