“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It’s complicated.”
She gives me a knowing look. “Let me guess. The man?” I don’t answer, but my face must give something away because she laughs. “Honey, whatever it is, you’ll figure it out. You’re young. You’ve got time.” She stands. “And if you need someone to vent to, I’m right next door. Door’s always open.”
After she leaves, I’m alone again.
I pull up the email and stare at it.
Chicago. With Ledger. For three days.
I can’t avoid him forever. Clearly, he’s not going to let me.
And despite everything, despite the fear and confusion and anger, there’s this pull I can’t explain. When he walked into that conference room, my heart recognized him even though my brain didn’t.
When he reached for my face and I pulled back, part of me wanted to lean in instead.
I don’t remember marrying him. Don’t remember the wedding or the sex or any of it. But my body does. Somewhere deep down, something in me knows him.
I type out a response to the email.
Confirmed.
9
LEDGER
“You’re making a mistake.”
Alexi is sitting across from me in my office, feet propped on the edge of my desk like he owns the place. He’s eating an apple from my fruit bowl and looking at me like I’m an idiot.
“Explain,” I say.
“Taking her back to Chicago? The city where her ex and her dead mom are? Dad, that’s like emotional warfare.”
“It’s a business trip.”
He takes a bite of the apple. “You’re forcing her into a situation where she can’t avoid you. Where she has to confront her past and her present at the same time.”
“Your point?”
“My point is that it might backfire. She might hate you for it.”
I consider this. He’s not wrong.
She can’t run from me when we’re on a plane together. Can’t take the south stairwell when we’re in hotel meetings. But it’salso dangerous. Chicago holds her trauma. Her mother’s death. Her ex’s betrayal. Dragging her back there might push her further away instead of closer.
“Noted,” I say.
“That’s it? Noted?” Alexi throws the apple core in the trash. “Dad, you like this woman. I can tell. So maybe try not being so much like yourself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re used to controlling everything. But you can’t control her. She doesn’t remember you. She doesn’t owe you anything. So if you want her to actually want to be your wife, maybe treat her like a person instead of a problem to solve.”
I stare at my son. When did he get so wise?
“When did you become a relationship expert?” I ask.
