A pause. A sigh. “I’m busy, Claire. I don’t have
time to cook. Don’t be difficult.” It was like a
bucket of ice water. I was ashamed of my
weakness. I hung up.
The condo sold quickly. I transferred the money
to my account. I didn’t want the condo. He
could have it. I left the divorce papers on the
coffee table and flew to Seattle. My best friend,
<
Ashley, was waiting at the airport. She hugged
me tight. “Claire–Bear! You finally did it! How’d
you convince Mr. Wonderful?”
Ashley had started a design firm in Seattle. I
have a natural talent for design. She’d wanted
me to join her for years, but Mark was against
- it. So I stayed. Now, finally, I could focus on my
own career.
I invested the money from the condo, plus my
savings, into Ashley’s company. “Wow, someone’s feeling flush!” Ashley said, hugging
me again.
I poked her nose. “Better be. My retirement
with the pool boys depends on you. Don’t let
me down.”
“Knock it off!” She grinned, flashing her
canines. I laughed. It felt good. My phone rang.
Mark. Ashley, who knew the whole story by
now, told me not to answer. But I had to face it
<
10:03
eventually.
His voice was furious. “Claire! How could you
be so vicious?!”
I stayed calm. “I have no idea what you’re
talking about.”
40+
He scoffed. “Sarah was attacked! Someone
jumped her. If a Good Samaritan hadn’t
intervened, she could have been… you did this,
didn’t you?!”
He hadn’t gone back to Austin yet. I didn’t know
what to say. “Idiot.” I hung up.
Ashley swore under her breath and dragged me
off for a celebratory dinner.
