SCORNED EX WIFE : Queen Of Ashes
pte
S POINT
y. My third? Fourth? I'd lost count somewhere between si
e. Camille's genuine smile, my distracted eyes,
o
e felt like
e from her: "Darling, stop drinking
omeone who loved us. Someone who'd given m
me like a pun
-
was small, uncertain. "D
uption. She stood in the doorway of my home office,
e one with truffles?" Her eyes were
t pasta for me in Rome, years ago. B
even look at the pl
you've been working late
an anger that wasn't really m
The pasta sat untouched until morning, a perfect re
-
, watching crystal shatter li
Every missed dinner, every forgotten anniversary, every time I'd chos
ed again. Mot
alright? Do you need anything? I always sa
emembering another mome
-
ured me another drink. We were alone in my office after another d
e bitterness from my voice. "Teach
erything about her was practiced. "Are
y. Four years of passion and plans, ended by her
The question slipped out, co
amiliar and forbidden. "Camille needed
ng from that time felt hazy, manipulated. Lik
ispered, too close now.
something differen
-
his one from last week. Th
-
lle's smile was bright, genuine. Alway
se, Rose's perfume still lingering on m
my keys, avoiding her
htly. "Will you be home for
t wai
ow to break the news. She'd worn the same pe
stroking my hair. "A clean break.
n her eyes when she'd
-
from the memory. Mother stood there,
g. Drinking alo
ow, Mo
the broken glass with disapproval. "R
broken. "Like you were worried
you." Mother's voice hardened
d, unsteady. "
ll not speak to me that w
what? String along a woman who loved me while pining for he
. In twenty eight years, I'd
cotch making me brave. "Her clothes, her manners, her cooking
nderstands our
ruth hit me like a freight train. "Sh
raightened her designer jacket.
ad she loved
d our "chance" meetings after returning from London. The way she'd e
ow. The charity gala, Camille conveniently "s
to my chair, suddenly ex
efa
hat I finally saw through her perfect mask? That I'd des
e expensive perfume. Like Rose's perfume. Like all the
age. Rose again: "Darling, stop b
o
and scattered papers. At Camille's wedding photo
had I