My Wedding Dress In The Garage His Widow In My Home Chapter 09
“What was that kiss at the door? And the text message?” Owen’s voice was flat. “You knew the plan was to trick Nora into paying the down payment first.”
There were two seconds of silence on the other end, and then Paige started to cry.
“I lost my husband. I lost my home. You’re the only person I can rely on. Sadie only has you.” Her voice shook with accusation. “I thought we were family. Are you really going to doubt me because of an outsider? Are you abandoning us, too?”
Owen gripped the phone, but for the first time, he didn’t offer comfort.
She hadn’t answered a single one of his questions.
After a moment, he hung up.
On Monday, Nora started at her new firm in Milwaukee.
Lena, her new deskmate, rolled her chair over and held out a hand. “You’re Nora, right? Come have lunch with us. I can fill you in on the current projects.”
At the lunch table, they talked about work, then debated whether to go biking or check out a new market that weekend. No one pressed her about her private life or expected her to perform agreeableness. When Nora mentioned she liked lakeside trails, someone immediately smiled. “Then you have to come with us next time.”
She smiled back, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in weeks.
Back when she’d tried to fit into Owen’s social circle, she’d had to remember who was allergic to nuts, who hated which sports team, and which exes could never be in the same room. She had put in all that effort only to be known as “Owen’s nice fiancée.”
Once, when someone praised her for being so thoughtful, she had explained with complete seriousness, “Oh, I track it all in a project management app. I even review it before I see anyone.”