Chapter 2

The next morning, Ethan found the box of chocolate on the kitchen counter.

He picked it up and smiled at Sophie, who was eating cereal at the island.

"Here you go, kiddo. Daddy's sorry about last night, but look. I got your favorite."

Sophie looked at the bright yellow label.

Peanut Butter Crunch.

She did not reach for it.

"I'm allergic to peanuts, Dad."

His smile disappeared.

"Right. Of course. I was in a hurry, and the store didn't have much left."

I took the box from him and dropped it into the trash.

"It's fine. She's already had breakfast."

"Yes, Mom."

Sophie slid off the stool, picked up her backpack, and walked to the door.

She did not ask Ethan for a hug.

He watched her leave, and for one brief second, guilt crossed his face.

Then annoyance replaced it.

"She's still sulking. You said she wasn't angry."

"She's tired."

I handed him his briefcase. My voice was calm. My hands were steady.

"Have a good day."

His shoulders relaxed.

"I knew you'd understand. Oh, and I'll probably be late tonight. Work stuff."

Maybe it was work. Maybe it was Rebecca.

I no longer cared enough to ask.

A year earlier, I would have blocked the door. I would have reminded him that he was a husband and a father, not Rebecca's personal handyman.

That morning, I only straightened his tie.

"Drive safely."

He kissed my forehead.

"You're amazing. I love you."

"Goodbye, Ethan."

He did not notice the word I used.

As soon as his car left the driveway, my phone buzzed.

Mr. Whitaker, my attorney, had sent a message.

Mrs. Bennett, the first draft is ready. With the documents you provided, we can move quickly. Two weeks should be enough to secure the emergency custody filing and relocation protections.

I stared at the empty driveway.

"Good," I whispered.

That afternoon, I started removing myself from the house.

Not enough for Ethan to notice. Just enough to make leaving fast.

I packed winter clothes into vacuum bags and hid them in my trunk. I scanned Sophie's school records, medical files, and passport. I moved my personal savings into an account Ethan could not access. I shipped two boxes of family photographs to my new office in London.

I was sorting through Sophie's closet when I heard the front door open.

"Natalie? Sophie?"

Ethan was home early.

I walked into the hallway and stopped.

He was dragging Sophie's brass telescope out of the study.

My chest tightened.

He had given her that telescope for her fifth birthday. Before Daniel died, Ethan and Sophie spent every Friday night on the balcony looking for constellations.

After Daniel died, the Friday nights stopped.

The telescope stayed by the window, waiting for a father who never came back.

"What are you doing with that?" I asked.

Ethan wiped sweat from his forehead.

"Noah has a science fair coming up. He wants to do a solar system project, but he doesn't have any equipment. I'm just lending it to him. Sophie hasn't touched it in months anyway."

She had not touched it because it hurt too much.

"Dad?"

Sophie stood at the top of the stairs.

Her eyes went straight to the telescope.

Ethan froze.

"Hey, sweetheart. I was just going to lend this to Noah. He's been having a hard time lately. He misses his dad. You understand, right? You're a big girl. You know how to share."

I waited for Sophie to cry.

I almost wanted her to scream, because anger would have meant some part of her still expected better from him.

She did not scream.

She looked at the telescope, then at Ethan.

"Okay," she said. "He can have it. I don't want it anymore."

She turned around, walked back into her room, and quietly closed the door.

Ethan let out a breath.

"See? I told you. She's growing up. She understands."

He lifted the telescope onto his shoulder.

"I'll be back before dinner."

I watched him carry it out of the house.

He thought he had borrowed a piece of equipment.

What he had really taken was the last good memory Sophie still had of him.

I walked to the calendar in the hall.

The following weekend was circled in red.

Disney World.

It was supposed to be Sophie's birthday trip. We had planned it for months.

I picked up a pen and crossed it out.

Then I counted forward fourteen days and wrote one word.

LEAVE.