Page 95 of Homewrecker

My eyes closed. “I love you too.”

And apparently that was still enough to make me want to believe him.

Caleb called an attorney the next morning. He didn’t just tell me. He sent me the confirmation. I just stared at it for probably five minutes.

Caleb: I told you. I’m doing this.

I cried from relief because there was finally some action. Something I could verify. Something that hadn’t come from a story about Ravenna’s mental health.

Afterward, he called me from his car and told me what documents he needed. I listened to every word.

Two days later, he forwarded me an email from the attorney’s office requesting additional information.

A week after that, I saw actual fucking paperwork. I had never been so happy to read legal language in my life. I hadn’t been stupid. I hadn’t wasted a year. I hadn’t fallen in love with a man who intended to keep me tucked inside some separate life forever. He was doing it.

I went home that night and pulled his gifts back out. We celebrated our anniversary late, but we made the best out of it.

He gave me a necklace I’d been staring at for months.

Ravenna disappeared from my mind again. Until two months later.

Caleb was supposed to come over for lunch.

12:07 became 12:20.

Then 12:41.

At 12:53, he called.

I answered immediately. “Where are you?”

My stomach tightened. “Caleb?”

“I can’t come.”

I sat back in my chair. “Okay. Why?”

Another pause. “Something happened with Ravenna.”

My eyes closed. “What?”

“She’s not doing well.”

I stared at the lunch sitting between two plates. “What happened?”

“I don’t want to get into it right now.”

“Okay.”

“I need to deal with this.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll call you later.”

“Okay.”

“Blair.”