Chapter 3
Owen held out his hand.
"Give me my phone."
"What did you tell the children?"
"That you had work."
I scrolled upward.
Ava had asked whether I could come if she shared a cabin with Finn.
Owen's answer was still there.
Claire would rather save her vacation days. A full week with kids isn't really her idea of relaxing.
I remembered driving Ava to three portfolio workshops that spring because neither parent could leave work. I remembered Finn asleep against my shoulder on the ferry, my jacket tucked around him.
"That isn't what I said."
"You're reading a private conversation."
"A private conversation where you explained my absence with a lie."
Brooke had attached a filming proposal.
GIVING OUR FAMILY A SECOND CHANCE.
The opening scene would show her walking aboard with the children. Owen would meet them on deck. Later, there would be a birthday toast about coming back to what mattered.
My boat appeared in the reference photographs.
My name appeared nowhere.
"You approved this?"
"It's a title. She needs something people will watch."
"Does she believe it?"
"Believe what?"
"That this trip might bring you back together."
He looked toward the stairs.
I kept reading.
Brooke: Maybe the week will remind all of us what we lost.
Owen: Don't bring this up with Claire. We'll talk afterward.
"Talk about what?"
"The kids. Schedules. I don't remember every conversation from June."
"But you remembered to remove me the next morning."
I photographed the itinerary, payments, and messages.
"What are you doing?"
"Keeping a record."
"You're making this into something it isn't."
"Then the record shouldn't worry you."
I emailed the images to my private account and returned his phone.
For four years, I had tried to be the reasonable second wife. I made room for changing custody schedules, bought extra groceries when plans shifted, and never asked Ava or Finn to prove they loved me.
Owen hadn't confused my patience with permission once.
He had built his plans around it.
A board creaked overhead. Ava stood by the railing.
"I asked him if you knew," she said. "I thought he told you."
"I saw your message. I know."
Her shoulders loosened a little.
"You don't have to fix this," I added.
She nodded and went back upstairs.
Owen waited until her door closed.
"We'll discuss all of this after the trip."
After the trip.
The same answer he had given Brooke.
He still believed both women would wait until it suited him to decide what each one deserved.