HE GAVE MY PLACE TO HIS MISTRESS. OUR SON GAVE ME THE COMPANY

printed email toward me.

Celeste’s message contained six words:

MAKE THE MOTHER LOOK UNWELL, NOT ANGRY.

I read it twice.

The cruelty was not surprising.

The grammar bothered me more.

The mother.

Not Evelyn.

Not Mrs. Sterling.

Not Owen’s mother.

Just a role she intended to empty and occupy.

Julian watched me.

“You do not have to protect her.”

“I’m not.”

“You are continue reading …