The Day I Sold My Husband

d at her husband,

d in, back from a

form wa

le was

said, her

d to se

he air of their mil

smile v

ha

mind wasn't

pped in th

elt like a memory from a

n, Leo

ark. Because

her spine, cold

five-year-old, sti

safe. F

to keep

hat dream, it

uldn't

Mrs. Peterson, their

honorable man. A devot

aw the uniform,

rk's eyes when he

llowness in his affec

the contrast

en or eleven, coughed in a

l, cheap. A piece o

essica's daugh

es: Chloe in a bright room, surround

d for b

d abandoned

g voice echoed fr

sica, smug a

y, Sarah. For Chloe, of c

dream, clenching her fists unt

cold, hard knot

always l

red their w

ome in his

ere then, or so

ou, Sarah. You and our f

called him a hero,

ds had en

David

r brother. Ki

ad twis

ust revealed what

s widow, had la

let her. More

was subtle

became

eds help, Sarah. She's grie

budget t

e's designer sneakers, sho

deployment, brief

a, filled with concern for Ch

chunk of it, went straig

sive allergy treat

hloe had a m

climax was seare

o sick. Burni

rate, bangin

was a Colonel by

ormed aide ha

. He's with Mrs. Ols

Jessica

Sarah had screame

cold, distan

warned me. She's always e

e: Leo, limp in her

darkness. Her own dea

und from t

e

om

s streamed down her face. She

hand touch

you sad

ged him

by. Mommy is going t

, looked into h

We... we might hav

face

y? Why? I l

. He was five. He

t for a few days befor

devised, but a test he would

the premonition was an unshakeable

rities with her own eye

e living room, al

was low, s

es. I'll sort it all out before I leave. Ch

saw Sarah

. "Just sorting things for

Leo. He didn't ask

the hallway, his small face e

ng Aunt Jessica and Chloe,

r shadow of disappoin

w that had haunted hi

art ha

it. No mo

" she whispered, a vow

t let that f

beside her on t

e phone again, promis

d promised Leo a trip

voice small. "Is Dadd

ulled h

He's just..

are going to go somewhere new.

his eyes wide. He saw

dded

we have to go, we