Chapter 3

I canceled my anniversary dinner, and my husband said I had ruined another woman's holiday.

"She was finally looking forward to something."

I hung up before Daniel could say it again.

Twenty minutes later, the front door opened.

Daniel and Brooke walked into the living room. They carried several shopping bags. Daniel dropped the bags onto the sofa. Brooke placed her new sun hat next to them.

I sat at the dining table and watched them.

They looked like a couple coming home.

I looked like someone waiting to explain why she'd upset them.

Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked at me with heavy disappointment.

"Why did you cancel the table, Claire?" Daniel asked. He sighed. "It is just a dinner."

"It was my anniversary dinner," I said simply. "I paid for it."

Daniel shook his head. He looked at me like I was a selfish child.

Behind him, Brooke took off her coat and laid it over the sofa. The shopping bags were still between her feet.

I'd bought a dress for that dinner.

It was upstairs with the tags attached.

She had spent the afternoon buying things for the trip I was no longer taking.

Daniel pulled out a chair.

"Her life has been awful since the divorce. You shouldn't treat this holiday like something she stole from you."

"You canceled my ticket."

"And I've told you we can go later."

I pressed my hands against my knees.

He kept offering me another trip as though the dates were the problem.

He had promised me a week because he'd been giving her all his time.

Now he was giving her that week too.

"She cares about you, Claire. She actually asked whether you'd be hurt when you found out you weren't coming," Daniel continued. "She was worried about your feelings. Can't you show her some of the same consideration?"

Brooke gave me a small smile from behind his chair.

"Daniel said you're generous. He said you'd understand once he explained."

My fingers stopped moving against my skirt.

"You talked about how I'd feel?"

"Of course," she said. "I didn't want you to think we were excluding you."

I stared at her.

My flight had been canceled.

Her flight had been booked.

But neither of them wanted me to call that being excluded.

My anger suddenly disappeared.

They discussed my pain before it even happened.

They knew exactly how much this would hurt me. They weighed my sadness against Brooke's convenience.

They decided my feelings did not matter. They simply waited for me to yield, just like I always did in the past.

I stood. "The dinner is canceled. I'm not restoring it."

Brooke's smile faded.

Daniel said my name.

I picked up my laptop and went upstairs.

Neither followed immediately.

I could hear them speaking below me, but I didn't stop to listen.

In the bedroom, I sent a text message to my friend, Maya.

"I am leaving Daniel," I typed. "Can you help me?"

Maya replied in seconds. "I am on my way."

I opened my laptop. I searched for short-term rentals. I found a small apartment across town. I paid the deposit online. I booked a consultation with a lawyer.

Daniel walked into the room.

He saw me writing on the calendar.He looked at the word "Friday".

He smiled a little.He thought I was marking their departure time.

"I knew you would finally figure it out," Daniel said gently.

I did not answer him.

I was writing down the time to pick up my new apartment keys.