y of Connecticut summers I once knew. Three years. Three years since

as an inconvenience to be discarded. He sent me here, to this remote, struggling town,

m my thoughts. I was tending the small herb garden besid

was. Their expensive car, a sleek black s

ophia clung to his arm, her eyes scanning my home with a poorl

ice a cool drawl. "So, th

ice saccharine. "It' s..

ir gaze, calm and steady. There were no tears, no pleading. Just a

d them, my tone even. "Wh

rly thrown off by my composu

smissive wave of his hand. "Thought

' ve arrived at a rather convenient time. I was just about to make some tea." I paused, letting the

g in the air

Husband?" she echoed, her voice losing its sugar

smirk faltering. "What ar

I said simply, holding

lways so... resourceful. Did you find some local fisherman to take pit

"place." They did, but not in the way she intend

a, feigning tears, accused me of stealing her grandmother' s diamond necklace. A necklace I' d ne

eved me. He' d

ce still quiet but firm. "It was about genuine

ion unreadable. "Who is he, Ava? S

e' d shown when he' d smashed the antique music box

is was how her daughter was repaid. He' d shattered it, piece by piece,

a dull ache, mixed with the sharpe

e. Penniless, isolated, I' d watched him fade, Ethan' s n

down. They had no po

said. "And this 'backwater,' a