Chapter 3

The records showed that Gabriel had been sending Celeste money for eighteen months, while both of them were still married. I sent every statement to my attorney.

Twenty days later, on Gabriel's birthday, our marriage agreement reached its final day.

I found him alone at breakfast and placed the vineyard acknowledgment beside his coffee. He read every line before looking at me.

"Once I sign this, Hart Vineyard becomes yours at midnight."

"That was our agreement."

He picked up the pen. "And after midnight?"

"The vineyard goes back to me."

"That isn't what I asked." His attention moved to my wedding ring. "We should talk after the party. There are things about this marriage I want to change."

He signed before I could answer. I locked the document inside the travel case hidden behind my wardrobe.

By seven, the house was full of guests. Celeste entered the ballroom wearing a black dress and the emerald necklace that had belonged to Gabriel's grandmother.

Beatrice touched the necklace proudly. "It belongs on someone who understands this family."

Celeste looked directly at me. "Beatrice said I should get used to wearing it."

I wore the diamond pendant Gabriel had given me. When he saw it, he left Celeste by the champagne table and crossed the room.

"You wore it," he said.

"I said I would."

His fingers brushed the chain near my shoulder. "You always keep your promises."

Celeste's hand tightened around her champagne glass.

Gabriel asked me to dance before she reached us. I left space between us, but he drew me closer as the music began.

"After midnight, I don't want you treating this like an arrangement," he said. "The vineyard can be yours. You can still stay here with me."

He believed five years of waiting guaranteed him a sixth.

When the song ended, Celeste stepped between us and pressed a folded sheet of paper into my hand.

The Blackwood family letterhead appeared at the top. The draft announced the engagement of Gabriel Blackwood and Celeste Laurent, five years after they had ended their previous one.

The date had been left blank.

"The family publicist prepared it," Celeste said. "Gabriel has already seen it."

I looked at Gabriel. He took the paper from my hand and read the heading twice.

"Celeste, where did you get that?"

"Your mother gave it to me. She said we'd need it after tonight."

Before Gabriel could answer, Celeste's phone rang. She stepped away, listened, then returned with shaking hands.

"Richard is at the house. He says he's changing the locks. My mother's things are still inside."

Gabriel read the message on her phone. "I'll come with you."

Celeste caught his sleeve. "I can't face him alone."

Gabriel looked at me. The guests were gathering around his birthday cake, and the musicians had stopped playing.

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

Twenty days earlier, I might have asked him to stay. That night, I handed him his car keys.

"Take care of her."

He hesitated, then followed Celeste through the doors.

I returned to the ballroom and told the guests Gabriel had been called away. I lit the candles and raised a glass while his birthday toast went on without him.

After the last car left, I changed out of my dress. My suitcase, travel case, and the burgundy birthday box were waiting in my bedroom.

In Gabriel's study, I placed my wedding ring and house keys on his desk. Beneath them, I arranged three sealed envelopes.

The first was marked DIVORCE. The second was marked CELESTE. The third was marked HART VINEYARD.

I carried my luggage through the service entrance and loaded it into my car. Hart Vineyard waited beyond the southern ridge, empty and legally mine.

As I turned onto the county road, Gabriel's car passed mine in the opposite direction.

He was going home to three envelopes and a wife who was no longer there.