The Wife He Thought He Buried

s sitting in her usual place.

ia

ed up brie

omeone y

r attention to wh

ka

tated. "He

espo

s when those mean people

ed. "Chloe

le faded sl

sketchbook anyw

al seconds. Her eyes moved over the drawing. It really was good. Better than she wanted to admit. But something bitter twisted ins

xpression. "You sh

linked.

, he isn't going

they hurt. Chloe's fingers t

s nice

S

ged. "You m

nd show Mum. Maybe she

o was he? What did he say? Why did he help you? Instead, D

es filled

the sketchb

understand. She had only wanted to tell her sister something. She

t more than she

m door when she heard the quiet f

hl

stop

t her face. "

thi

d gently. "

to a hug, the tears returned. She buried her face a

ll

portrait. The laughter. The way they had t

ven care," Ch

tightened

cry ove

t t

w what they're

ary gently wiped

re tal

looked

re bea

slipped down

let people who don't know yo

her tears. Then she

k you

of her head. "Now

Then she opened

looke

went still. Her eyes remained o

knew

erson

knew the

Ki

Derby'

d often enough to r

, something unreadab

t disa

oticed

e man who h

nodded

rawings. How he'd looked at them. What he'd said.

stened

"I'm glad someone

ned briefly to

from ours," she said lightly. "But that doesn't m

ooked c

n't wo

ched her cheek. "Go

the sketchb

either. Keep drawing. You're talented, Chlo

hrough the las

ka

ry once more

nees. She traced one corner carefully. She wondered who he really was.

ably

dn't simply appear

iled a

man," she

diary went beside it. Then the other little things she couldn't

et. Chloe climbed b

miling when she

from the rain would one day beco

ieving had