The Pet Dog and the Plot

f the receiver to my ear. I had to hear it all. I needed every last dro

oon?" Lisa asked, a hint of doubt in her v

e loves those mangy animals more than she ever love

it was a cold, clarifying anger. He saw my compassion as a flaw to b

ng voice in the background on Lisa's end of the call. It was my son, Ryan. My

berty. "Tell him I said hi! Is Mom gone yet? I can't wa

own

red Ryan's coldness. I'd chalked it up to teenage angst, to him being influenced by his father. But hearing it now,

. He's a boy with good taste, just like his father. He told me yesterday he's so embarrassed wh

Image is everything, Sarah never understood that. She's

The boy I had stayed up with when he was sick, the boy I had helped with his homework, the boy I had loved with every fiber of my being. He was ashamed of

he fog of grief and confusion from my past life was gone. I saw them for exactly who they were: shallow, cruel p

dog is gone?" Lisa asked, her voic

gligence led to a tragedy. I'll offer to handle everything. I' ll make sure the settlement leaves her with next to nothing. The house is i

sa said sweetly. "The supportive new partner. Eve

d social ruin. They weren't just getting rid of a dog; they were getting rid of me. They w

nth, Sarah Miller will be a nobody, and we'll be getting ready to move into the

n the hook, my movements slow and deliberate. The silence of the kitchen was deafening. I looked over

weak, heartbroken woman from my past life. They thought I was pre

were

nted to destroy my life? I was going to take back everything they ha

oing to mak