Married, Divorced And His Again

hands hadn't quite caught up to her heart. But then they sharpened. D

s had shifted from soft blue to pale gold. Her fingers were smudged with graphite, but she

ock broke

tive, more uncertain, like he was still learning how to

's voice. "C

ed, setting the

"I figured you didn't eat last night. There's a bakery a few blocks do

her. "That's w

ged. "So i

, grateful sound. She took the croissant

silence, passing the pastry back and forth like

aid, "Jaxon's l

omach turned, ruinin

e. Texting. Swearing

Her hands curled

Kate added quickly. "And I won

him. Part of me wants to hear him say he's sorry.

anything. Not an explanation.

"But what if I d

her sweater. "Then we figure out what kind of clos

pa

him. See what he w

d do

you ask

p, then nodded slowly. "O

areful's my de

at

tu

r. I know this puts you

not impossible. It's just me

crumbs of the croissant, and the strang

reached for the sketchbook again-but pa

ed her m

ven unread on

ost r

Please. Jus

ed at th

e didn't feel gu

ty

e I will be one day. But no

hit

hone over and pic

ame-not destructive, but

eed to burn

ed to light h

lame she'd drawn. Something about it unsettled her-not the image itself, bu

was just exhaus

he wasn't

in ways she couldn't explain. She'd blamed stress. Th

y and crossed t

the cold tile floor, hands s

ink l

it might change if s

it d

harp to be disbelief. And then she cried. Qui

me point, she wrapped herself in a towel, as if

on the door m

ni

sk. His voice was qu

r. Didn't trust

ave you alone if you wa

er si

id hoarsely, "C

refully, eyes searching her face. He saw th

h caught.

red. "I don't know. I

beside her, not too cl

hink to-God." She buried her face in her

steady, but low. "You

re to start. I don't know what I

ht now. Not today. Not tomorrow. Whatever you choose-I'm here.

ked at h

se I care. And because no one should

iel didn't wipe them away. He just sat

ady told her. She would ask about timelines, about paternity tests, about options. She wou

righ

run-down inn bathroom, holding her own hand,

the truth exploded, she didn'

still

unce

wasn't

anym