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After she died, my father said we had to live life to the fullest, for her, and for the most part I had But in my one in an instant, and therefore seeking it, wishing for it, was dangerous

It wasn’t until I’d ain From the moment I met him, I was his For the first time since my mother had died, I wondered if maybe some part of the fairy tales I read as a child were real But now, years later, I saw that I rong

I sent the letter, from my lawyer, which I received today I was in awe, in a bad way, of how quickly plans could change I’d been considering walking away from the life we’d failed to build, but now that couldn’t happen

I heard the front door open and the sound of my children’s voices as they scurried into the house Tears welled in my eyes I closed them, and listened like it was the last time I’d hear them

“I want apples and peanut butter,” six-year old Lanie said

“No peanut butter,” four-year old Noah whined

A sad smile came to my lips Noah didn’t like how thick and sticky peanut butter was

“Put your packs away and meet me back in the kitchen,” Brayden said His voice was closer, which suggested he washis way to our room

I sucked in a breath to prepare myself to see him

He stepped into the doorway and, for a moo As I looked at hiht that he was more handsome now than when I’d met him His six-foot three-inch fraular exercise at the office gyht he was still muscular I didn’t see his body too often anymore I couldn’t reht hi There was a ti hione When I watched stroke himself, I felt hurt instead Unlike him, my body wasn’t anywhere close to the size two I’d been eof me as he shot his load It was probably his secretary

“You’re home”

“Yes, I finished earlier than I expected”

He stepped into the rooht and he didn’t want the kids to hear “You said you were busy and needed me to pick up the kids”

“I thought it would take longer”

He set his hands on his hips as he looked down on et the kids, Terra You could have picked them up”

Work Perhaps he was banging his secretary, but his real mistress ork

“I didn’t know I’d be done so soon” I stood, not liking the feeling I was being interrogated I took offout Raising kids was messy work, so I didn’t dress nice or wear jewelry in my everyday life

“Now I’ll have to stay late My wife gets annoyed when I work late”

I hated when he talked to me in third person “Yes, heaven forbid she would want her husband home to have dinner with her and the kids” I closed my jewelry box

“What’s this?”

I looked at hih the reflection of thethe letter fro of panic, but then I figured there was nothing to hide Maybe he’d be relieved

He frowned as he looked toward me “You want a divorce?”

I turned toward hi that he still looked pissed, but not upset or worried as Iwith a lawyer Of course, divorce was out of the question now