I Married My High School Sweetheart – On Our 10th Anniversary, I Overheard Him Say, 'Now I Can Finally Take What's Rightfully Mine'

I couldn't say it back. I hung up and stayed pressed to the brick, watching through the hedge.

I sat on the edge of Lily's bed.

He stood in the lot another minute, checking his phone. I braced for his car door to open again. Instead, he pocketed the phone and disappeared into the restaurant. Only then did I breathe.

Then I walked to my own car on legs that didn't feel like mine.

I don't remember the drive home. I remember only taking the long way, the route that didn't pass any road he might double back on.

****

Lily was spending the night at my mother's. The house was dark, exactly as I'd left it that morning. I sat on the edge of Lily's bed, still wearing my shoes.

Every memory turned inside out.

Then I started remembering.

The business trips. Denver, Columbus, Denver again, three times last spring. He never brought back a receipt.