My chest tightened.
“I only found out after my dad died. My mom had passed away by then. I found the papers while cleaning out his desk.”
Suddenly, pieces started moving.
He didn’t answer fast enough.
The word hurt.
you spent years trying to find me because you were sorry?”
“I am sorry.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He closed his eyes.
“Your mom helping my family is why I finally tracked you down. At first, I showed up at your office because I felt guilty.”
My throat tightened.
“And the coffee? The flowers?”
“I thought I owed you an apology.”
I laughed once.
Ben looked miserable.
“Rachel…”
“Is that why you married me?”
“No!”
“Then why did you do it, Ben? Is this another humiliation ritual like in high school?”
“No! It’s because I should’ve told you how this started before you married me.”
I pulled off my ring.
Ben went pale.
“Rachel.”
“Don’t.”
“I wasn’t trying to trick you.”
“You let me believe you came back because you cared about what you’d done to me.”
“I
do care.”
“But there was another reason.”
I looked at the letter.
“Did you pay Mom’s hospital bill?”
“Not directly.”
He sighed.
“I donated to the hospital foundation. They used some of it to reduce balances for several patients, including hers.”
“And you omitted that, too.”
“I thought if you knew, you’d think I was trying to buy forgiveness.”
“Maybe because that’s what you were doing.”
Ben didn’t argue.
That made me angrier.
I handed him the letter.
“I need to leave.”
***
I spent the night at Mom’s house.
My wedding dress was hanging over a dining chair while I sat at the table in leggings and one of Dad’s old sweatshirts.
← Previous Page
Next Page →
