The Wife They Left Behind

middle seat in economy. I squeezed past my seatmates, stowed my single carry-on, and sank in

n't let

, I unbuckled myself and walked toward the front of the pl

return to your sea

said, my voice tight. "I ju

ut firm look, and I pushed

glasses. Brenda was in the seat across the aisle from them, looking thoroughly pleased wi

?" Mark demanded, his voice a l

to know why you did this. Why you would deliberately

ones down around her neck. "God, Mom, can you not make a

ping with false reason. "She's had such a stressful year

silent, obvious conc

fury. "After everything I do, I don't deserve to be comfortab

whisper. "You are making a fool of yourself. People are staring. Now go

the old, conditioned Sarah almost obeyed. But then I saw the smug sati

t behind me, her expression professional b

ng smile. "My wife was just feeling a little

ning. Defeated, I turned without another word and walked the long, lonely path ba

lready collected their four massive suitcases and were heading for the exit, not even bothering to wait for

ve toward the resort, Brenda suddenly appeared, emerging from the crowd with a wide, beaming smile.

veloping Mark and Emily in big h

e reached out to hug me, and as she did, her fingers dug sharply in

inder of her power and my place. She was the matriarch, the manipulator, and I was just the inconvenient wife she had been tryi