Four months after leaving me for another woman, my husband showed up with his suitcases, expecting me to take him back. He even asked what was for dinner. But one phone call to my neighbor was about to wipe that smug smile off his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, is that Gary in your driveway?\u201d my neighbor Linda called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked out the window. There he was, holding two suitcases and his golf clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary left me four months ago after twenty-two years of marriage. He said he needed \u201ca fresh start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy girlfriend kicked me out, so I\u2019m back!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I opened the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy girlfriend kicked me out, so I\u2019m back!\u201d he announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stared at him. \u201cWas that supposed to be good news?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, Debbie. We\u2019ve been married forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFunny. You remembered that after she kicked you out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe said I was selfish. Can you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked past me. \u201cWhat\u2019s for dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhatever you cook at your next address.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery funny. Help me with these bags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid your girlfriend pack them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nonchalantly rolled his suitcase closer to the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was nice of her. I would\u2019ve charged you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary sighed. \u201cShe said I was selfish. Can you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid she explain why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe wouldn\u2019t stop explaining!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSounds difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGary, you left me for another woman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nonchalantly rolled his suitcase closer to the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere should I put my things?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGary, you left me for another woman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ve learned my lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn four months?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four months ago, that would\u2019ve made me cry, but now I had to keep from smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThree and a half, technically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, he\u2019d brought his golf clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, I just want things back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four months ago, that would\u2019ve made me cry, but now I had to keep from smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou want a proper welcome home?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRemember what you offered to help me with if he ever came back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He brightened. \u201cNow you\u2019re talking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen give me five minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stepped inside and called Linda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRemember what you offered to help me with if he ever came back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She laughed. \u201cHe\u2019s actually there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda had seen him arrive, but until I called, she hadn\u2019t realized he genuinely expected to move back in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith his golf clubs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, this I have to see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda had seen him arrive, but until I called, she hadn\u2019t realized he genuinely expected to move back in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I opened the door again, Gary smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew you\u2019d come around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI packed the last of your things. They\u2019re waiting in two boxes in the garage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d I said. \u201cBut before that, I did something for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His smile widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI packed the last of your things. They\u2019re waiting in two boxes in the garage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He blinked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought you were going to help me move in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou packed my stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe things you left behind. Linda offered to stand beside me when you came to collect them. I just called her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought you were going to help me move in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never said that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His smile vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stared at me dumbfounded, blinking while trying to find something to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re seriously going to make me take those boxes and leave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou wanted a fresh start. I\u2019m helping you finish it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stared at me dumbfounded, blinking while trying to find something to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For twenty-two years, I\u2019d been the one who made things easier for him. Apparently, he expected the arrangement to survive our separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m serious. I made a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, can we not do this in front of the neighborhood?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda had disappeared into her house, but I could see a curtain move across the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, is this a little embarrassing for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He dragged his suitcase closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m serious. I made a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, I know you\u2019re upset. But we can work through this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally, that\u2019s all you have to say about the chaos you caused?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, I know you\u2019re upset. But we can work through this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou haven\u2019t asked whether I want to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, I know you love me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gall of this man was honestly quite impressive, I must admit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hadn\u2019t missed feeling like my wishes were an inconvenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had missed him during those first weeks. His ridiculous commentary during crime shows. The way he warmed my car on freezing mornings. I\u2019d even missed the sound of his keys hitting the kitchen counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I hadn\u2019t missed feeling like my wishes were an inconvenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He glanced through the doorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou painted the kitchen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLast Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then his eyes settled on the lock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBlue?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like blue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He frowned. Gary had always hated blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then his eyes settled on the lock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s new too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked offended, as though I\u2019d changed something that still belonged to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had it changed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWithout telling me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou weren\u2019t living here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked offended, as though I\u2019d changed something that still belonged to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan I at least have some water?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the workbook was a folder from the attorney\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I closed the door and returned to the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beside the leftover pasta sat my accounting workbook. I\u2019d started taking classes after Gary left, partly to keep busy and partly because I wanted something in my life that had nothing to do with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the workbook was a folder from the attorney\u2019s office. I\u2019d finished the paperwork last month but hadn\u2019t bothered to put it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut tell me something. Why exactly is Gary back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I filled a glass with water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My phone rang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was about to come over,\u201d she said. \u201cBut tell me something. Why exactly is Gary back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHis girlfriend threw him out. Now he wants to move in with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, that\u2019s strange.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a pause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, that\u2019s strange.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhich part?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCarol told me yesterday that her friend Rachel had just thrown her boyfriend out. She\u2019d caught him changing his stories about their relationship. He\u2019d been telling her he was divorced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRachel threw hers out, and now Gary shows up because his girlfriend kicked him out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carol was Linda\u2019s sister. She lived two streets away and belonged to a book club with Rachel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLots of men lie about being divorced,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know. But Rachel threw hers out, and now Gary shows up because his girlfriend kicked him out. The timing made me wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked toward the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think they\u2019re the same man?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I want to check before we accuse anyone. Keep Gary outside until I call you back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. Rachel\u2019s at Carol\u2019s house right now. She went over after the breakup. I\u2019m going to ask Carol for a picture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLinda, this could be a coincidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly. That\u2019s why I want to check before we accuse anyone. Keep Gary outside until I call you back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She hung up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stood there holding the water, trying to understand why Linda suddenly sounded concerned rather than amused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, are we going to talk like adults?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside, Gary knocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDeb? You making that water from scratch?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I opened the door a few inches and handed him the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d He took a drink. \u201cSo, are we going to talk like adults?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDepends. Are you going to answer a question?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow long were you seeing her before you moved out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat question?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow long were you seeing her before you moved out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary twisted the glass between his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy dig all that up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause you\u2019re asking me to pretend it never happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked toward Linda\u2019s house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told you, it was a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t answer my question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked toward Linda\u2019s house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe we should go inside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid you tell your girlfriend we were divorced?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause Linda\u2019s nosy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLinda isn\u2019t even home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStill, I\u2019d like a bit more privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I watched him take another drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid you tell your girlfriend we were divorced?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told her we were separated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His hand stopped halfway to his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a simple question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told her we were separated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWere we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, you\u2019re making a big deal out of nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, you know things were difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re separated, this isn\u2019t some brief spat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He set the glass on the porch railing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, you\u2019re making a big deal out of nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My phone buzzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I read the message twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda: Carol sent me a picture of Rachel\u2019s boyfriend. It\u2019s Gary. I\u2019m going to pick them up now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I read the message twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary was watching me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho keeps texting you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLinda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does Linda know about her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s she saying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe found something interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His expression tightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reached for his suitcase handle, then let go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does Linda know about her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cApparently, more than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reached for his suitcase handle, then let go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, let\u2019s just go inside and talk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I\u2019d rather stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the first time since he\u2019d arrived, he seemed genuinely nervous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He glanced toward the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the first time since he\u2019d arrived, he seemed genuinely nervous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few minutes later, a car pulled into Linda\u2019s driveway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda got out from behind the wheel. A woman climbed from the front passenger seat, her purse strap wound tightly around her wrist. Carol remained in the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman stopped at the foot of my walkway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary dropped his suitcase handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman stopped at the foot of my walkway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHello, Gary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned toward me. \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou told me you\u2019d been divorced for two years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNothing yet,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda came up to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, this is Rachel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel looked at me, then back at Gary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou told me you\u2019d been divorced for two years,\u201d Rachel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe moved out four months ago. We\u2019re still married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told you the marriage was over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe moved out four months ago,\u201d I said. \u201cWe\u2019re still married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know things were difficult, Debbie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDifficult isn\u2019t divorced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter we talked, I called Carol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd your name isn\u2019t James.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I turned to Gary. \u201cJames?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my middle name,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou never told me that,\u201d Rachel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda touched my arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at Gary. He was staring at the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter we talked, I called Carol. Rachel was right there with her, so Carol asked for a picture and sent it to me. I recognized Gary immediately. That\u2019s when I went to get them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at Gary. He was staring at the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel folded her arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said you and Debbie only lived together because selling the house would upset your son.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe told me your son was seventeen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur son moved out three years ago,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe told me your son was seventeen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s twenty-four.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel looked at Gary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou made her sound like she was keeping you trapped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked at me, searching for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know what our marriage was like,\u201d he snapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNeither do I, apparently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked at me, searching for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For twenty-two years, I\u2019d known that look. Usually, it meant I was supposed to smooth things over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou told me Debbie hated your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel took a breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou told me Debbie hated your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I felt something tighten in my chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI took her to chemotherapy every Thursday for six months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel\u2019s expression hardened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou used her to make yourself the victim.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said she refused to visit when your mother was sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was explaining how lonely I felt!\u201d Gary snapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you made her sound cruel?\u201d Rachel asked. \u201cYou used her to make yourself the victim.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary rubbed his forehead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, I wasn\u2019t happy. Neither of you understands what that was like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were already seeing each other in March. On March eighth, he told me he loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at Rachel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow long were you together?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She hesitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were already seeing each other in March. On March eighth, he told me he loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stared at Gary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe was still living with you then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was our anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel went still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe was still living with you then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes. He told me he had a work dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remembered the dinner I\u2019d eaten by myself that night. I\u2019d saved him a plate in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou told me you\u2019d spent that evening alone before coming to see me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary stared at the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remembered the dinner I\u2019d eaten by myself that night. I\u2019d saved him a plate in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now I wondered how many ordinary little kindnesses he\u2019d accepted while telling someone else I was a terrible wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie,\u201d Gary began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, Rachel was controlling. Always checking where I went, asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stepped toward me anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, Rachel was controlling. Always checking where I went, asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause you kept changing your stories,\u201d Rachel said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I told you to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned back to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, please. I apologize. I just want to come home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you shut me out emotionally for years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I laughed, once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGary, you told me everything was fine until the day you left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked trapped, but not sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he reached for my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He still hadn\u2019t asked whether I wanted him there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, please. I apologize. I just want to come home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stepped back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He still hadn\u2019t asked whether I wanted him there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you apologizing for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have nowhere to stay. The apartment\u2019s in Rachel\u2019s name, and hotels are expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBe specific.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He glanced at his suitcases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor putting us in this situation. I have nowhere to stay. The apartment\u2019s in Rachel\u2019s name, and hotels are expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added, \u201cI\u2019ve had a really awful week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stared at me as if I\u2019d broken a promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what you\u2019re sorry about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said. \u201cYou\u2019re looking for a bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stared at me as if I\u2019d broken a promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary\u2019s eyes moved to the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou wanted a clean break, remember?\u201d I said. \u201cYou accepted the buyout for your share of the house. You signed the papers, and the transfer was finalized last month. It\u2019s mine now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary\u2019s eyes moved to the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then to the new lock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t just leave me outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can. You taught me how.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She nodded, tears in her eyes, and walked toward Linda\u2019s car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel adjusted her purse strap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebbie, I never would have dated him if I\u2019d known. I should have asked more questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou believed someone you cared about,\u201d I said. \u201cI did too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She nodded, tears in her eyes, and walked toward Linda\u2019s car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary called after her, but she didn\u2019t turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I shut the door while he was still deciding whom to blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he looked at Linda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you happy now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot particularly. But Debbie might be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I shut the door while he was still deciding whom to blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda stood beside her rosebush, just as she\u2019d promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the kitchen, I pressed the garage-door remote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the window, I watched Gary carry the two boxes I\u2019d packed to his Buick. Then he dragged both suitcases from the porch and struggled to fit his golf clubs into the trunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My neighbor stood beside her rosebush, just as she\u2019d promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019d arrived expecting me to carry his bags inside. Now he was carrying everything back out himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside were sparkling cider, cheese, crackers, and a tiny cake with pink frosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gary slammed the trunk and drove away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I closed the garage door. Linda drove Carol and Rachel home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When she returned, she was carrying a grocery bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEmergency supplies,\u201d she announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside were sparkling cider, cheese, crackers, and a tiny cake with pink frosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ate cake for dinner beneath my blue cabinets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the occasion?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She set the cake on my counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou got your porch back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ate cake for dinner beneath my blue cabinets. I cried halfway through, and Linda stayed until I stopped.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Four months after leaving me for another woman, my husband showed up with his suitcases, expecting me to take him back. He even asked what was for dinner. But one phone call to my neighbor was about to wipe that smug smile off his face. \u201cDebbie, is that Gary in your driveway?\u201d my neighbor Linda …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25450,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25449"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25451,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25449\/revisions\/25451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}