We’d finalized the settlement . . . I got the house, of course. But I also got the $337,000 we owed on it, thanks to twenty years of renovations. How I would pay that off, I had no idea. He, on the other hand, was marrying a woman who was richer than Bill Gates.
I leaned in the doorway of the guest room, determined to make this as uncomfortable for him as possible. He ignored me, carefully folding his new clothes, his new toiletries, his new workout gear, and putting them neatly into his suitcase. There was still an airline tag on it from the last time we’d used it—our anniversary a few years ago. We’d gone to beautiful Pittsburgh, because we got a flight for fifty-nine dollars, and we stayed in a nice hotel and ate delicious food and made love in the king-sized bed.
When had he changed? When had he stopped loving me? Why?
“Listen,” he said, straightening. “I know we’ve discussed this, but I’d really like the engagement ring back. It’s been in my family for three generations. I’ll even pay you for it.”
“Nope.”
“Lillie. It was my great-grandmother’s. It should stay in the Fairchild family.”
“Still nope.”
His face grew tight. “I’d like to give it to Melissa.”
“Oh, okay, well, then, here.” I pretended to take it off. “Whoops! Actually . . . nope! It was given with the intent that I would marry you, which I did. It’s mine.”
He hissed in irritation. “At least give it to Dylan when he wants to get married.”
“I’m actually gonna hock it,” I said. “Or give it to a homeless person. I haven’t decided. Maybe I’ll throw it in the ocean, like Rose does in Titanic.” That had always made Brad cry, the sap. （Why toss a priceless diamond, lady? Sell it and donate the money!）
“You’re so petty,” he said.
“You have no idea,” I answered.
“I’m so relieved to be starting over with someone who embraces joy the way I do,” he said, and my hand twitched to punch him. “The light in me sees the light in you, Lillie.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Melissa doesn’t swear, by the way. One of the many things I love about her.”
He shouldered his bag, picked up a knapsack and walked out of our house, backing his car neatly out of the driveway.
Since the day he told me he was cheating on me, he had never once said he was sorry.
I walked down to the dock, stripped off all my clothes and dove into the water. It was silky smooth and pure, and when I surfaced and looked at the darkening sky, I felt . . . cleaner. At least I wouldn’t have to lie to my son anymore.
I stayed in the cool water, floating on my back, until my skin was pruney, and even then, it was some time before I went back into my empty house.
Time to get a dog.
CHAPTER 8
Melissa
Much to Melissa’s surprise, about two years into their marriage, Dennis started to get . . . restless. Impatient. With her.
“I can’t believe you’re not bored,” he snapped one night as she showed him the new sofa that had been delivered that day. “You don’t have a job, you don’t have a . . . a cause or a charity or whatever. You don’t even have hobbies! You don’t read anything other than magazines. You just go to the gym, take yoga classes, spend money and futz around here. I didn’t think I was marrying someone whose goal was to be a housewife. You haven’t even looked into adoption agencies.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. First of all, did he think this body didn’t need upkeep? Secondly, yoga was a practice of self-awareness and calm. It was more than a hobby! Was she supposed to take up knitting? And thirdly, she didn’t want a child, so she wasn’t going to get pregnant or adopt a child. Do the math, Dennis. Instead she said, “Maybe we need to go in for fertility treatments.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me. I have two kids.”
It was a warning shot across the bow, and it infuriated her. Did she not earn her keep, gosh darn it? Didn’t she give him porn-worthy sex? A delicious meal every night they didn’t go out? Didn’t she make him breakfast every day? Feign interest as he talked about the new doctor they’d hired? Throw the best grand opening party when they expanded the surgical center? Wasn’t every man he knew completely jealous of him because his hot wife knew how to take care of a man in every possible way?
She said nothing for a moment, breathing deeply into her stomach. “You’re right,” she said, because it was the only answer he’d accept. “I’ve gotten a little lost. You swept me off my feet, and I do love our life. But you’re right. I’ll think about this. And I’ll call a doctor to get checked out.” She had to grit her teeth before forcing a smile. “There’s nothing I’d like more than having your baby,” she lied, kissing his cheek.