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“I can send her away.”
***
Mary entered alone and stopped near the door.
“Byron told me your marriage was over.”
“You knew he was married.”
“Yes.”
“Then it wasn’t over, Mary.”
She looked down.
“Then it wasn’t over, Mary.”
“I believed what made staying easier.”
For once, someone had answered me honestly.
“He also promised we’d move into a larger house after Duncan was born,” Mary said.
“What did Byron tell you about the next few weeks?”
“He said he needed time to separate properly. He mentioned Duncan’s christening, but nothing else.”
“He didn’t mention our vow renewal the day before?”
“He mentioned Duncan’s christening.”
Mary’s face emptied.
“What vow renewal?”
“We were supposed to repeat our vows on Saturday. Duncan’s christening was Sunday.”
“He told me the weekend was only about the baby.”
“He planned to stand beside me and repeat his vows while you were carrying his child, Mary. That’s… who Byron has become.”
Her hand moved to her stomach.
“What vow renewal?”
“Did you know I was still undergoing treatment when your relationship began?”
“No. He told me it had ended the year before.”
“You believed what kept you from asking harder questions.”
Mary nodded slowly. “I did.”
Her apology couldn’t repair my marriage, but her messages could stop Byron from rewriting it.
“Send me everything he said about me, the house, and Duncan.”
“I did.”
She did before leaving.
***
Over the next six weeks, I recovered, cared for Duncan, saved every message, and sought legal advice.
“I want Byron involved,” I told the attorney. “But Duncan needs a routine, and my home needs boundaries.”
Byron would have scheduled parenting time.
***
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