rea

eping staircase to

. My eyes were dry and raw, but my

me was empty, the sheets

imbed the stairs. And I had still been fool enough to hope he would come up.

ips. I rose to my feet, my movements stif

n to pack, methodically, the sounds o

rts, the practical trousers, the worn paperback

arances-the things that belonged to Mrs. Nixon-I left untouched. They hung in n

ning our bedroom, my eye

remony years ago. I was smiling, a soft, hopeful curve of my lips. Braxton stoo

photo out o

rner of the desk. The machine whirred to life, devouring the glossy

oor to Bonnie's

. She saw me, then the suitcase. There

icker of

complained, her voice thick

ghtened in my ches

ined a calm,

," I said. "Go

e turned and ran down the stairs, her l

downstairs, soothing her. I heard the soun

final click of the latches

er door was slightly ajar. I hear

o call with her b

ing, her voice full of childish pride. "She's teaching me

n in the hall

g thread of doubt

se handle up and wa

scene. Danika was pouring syrup on a stack of pancakes for Bonnie. Braxt

pproached. Their eyes wen

rst, his tone ca

" he asked. He didn't ask

ven. "Yes. I'll be i

, but it was

e. It meant I wouldn't be around to int

looked at me, a flicker of suspicion in he

estions. I pulled my suit

m, I heard Bonnie's small

e for lunch? The one with the wood-fired p

ate, warm. "Of course, pri

ed for a fracti

e at that exact res

my birthday surprise f

y lips, my

front door and stepped out into the mornin

bank account and meeting with my lawyer

n, I pulled over across the str

n was parked r

have to w

. Braxton, Danika, and Bonnie. They were all

re of casual chivalry he had never extended to me.

ooked

autiful fam

il their car disap

d pulled away from the curb, mergi

my eyes fixed o

othing left