The Husband's Verdict

month later, at the fami

lake house, a monument to n

inking. Bourb

he party, down toward the p

oll

ir did nothing t

ted by the moonlight on the water. He was

word. I just wal

widened, a flicker of panic,

re you doing? Y

lurring slightly. "I' m jus

g out his chest. "Hey, man, you sh

aid, looking past him at Chloe. "Not

ed him. He stumbled back, tripped over a cleat, and h

d, holdin

at him. She turned on me

ice low and vicious. "You ruined my pa

oved m

ock. My foot slipped on the wet dock, and I t

cal blow, knocking t

my expensive suit j

" I cho

down at me with pure, unadulterated conte

he said, pulling at

n' t he

im up," she said, her voice

walked away, leaving

g cramp seized my leg. I went under, t

his is it. This

fade, strong hands grabbed

guard, doin

dock, coughing up

vering, I didn't fe

t not

t embers of it, had been exting