Adrian did not answer quickly enough.
“Adrian.”
“Eleven months.”
I stood so fast the chair scraped backward.
“Eleven months?”
“I know.”
“You knew before we set the wedding date?”
“Yes.”
“You knew through Thanksgiving?”
“Yes.”
“Christmas?”
“Yes.”
“Our engagement party?”
“Yes.”
“You watched me show my mother’s wedding photograph to your parents.”
He looked down.
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
“I was trying to bring everything back together before I told you.”
“Why?”
“Because it wasn’t simple.”
“Nothing is simple.”
“That was supposed to be our entire rule!”
His face tightened.
“You’re right.”
I hated how quickly he admitted that.
Part of me wanted him to defend himself so I could stay angry cleanly.
Instead, he said:
“I was wrong.”
I picked up the receipt.
“I’m going to Bellmere Heritage Storage.”
His head lifted.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“Please let me come.”
“No.”
“Evelyn is meeting me there at eleven-thirty.”
