Too Late for Her Regrets

iday. I walked into the house, and there they were, sitting on the couch, heads close to

led. Olivia's express

ought your physical therapy was an hour

a look of concern on his face. He qu

even took a step toward me, as if to help

am," I said,

He needs to stop feeling sorry for himself." Then she turned her glare on me. "Ar

I had just come from a grueling physical therapy session,

that didn't reach his eyes. "We got caught

ing him back down to the couch. "You're

rritory. Showing him,

my shield. I hobbled into the kitchen, their lo

. I started making pasta from scratch, a process I'd always found therapeutic. It was the first

couraging as she reviewed some documents with Liam. "No, t

ped her with, the all-nighters I'd pulled. My

e rich, slow-cooked Bolognese sauce I had spent the afternoon preparin

d sat down in the armchair acro

t the empty space on the co

he demanded, her voice

said calmly, taking another bite

but it was the first time in years I had put my own need

"After everything I do for you, for this family,

aid simply. "It's poli

old. It wasn't about the food. It was abo

s plate, and before he could react, she hurled it aga

dy eats!" she screame

ooking shocked. "

snarled at him.

my calm one, and then he scurried o

of her anger. I felt a profound sense of sadness, not for her, but for the man I used to be, the m

ng the door behind her. I was alone

ng the last of the sauce from the wall, her phone, which she'd left on the table in he

end, made me pick it up. It was a

ealous loser. You're the one who matters. Let me know when

, after everything, the casual

remembered the pain. My stomach clenched, and my han

where she built her empire, I placed a single, thick envelo

t, I left a

yours. Everything is y

for the last time, my phone b

you that jacket you wanted next week t

tional, so completely oblivious to

down the street, put the key in the ignition, and drove