ut through the noise of the par

le, my crowning achievement, was now a dark

in on his face. He nudged a piece of the brok

ooking at me. "Just so

de in an instant. She put a protective

e," she said, her voice low a

puddle of priceless bourbon to

" Nicole snapped. "Be the bigger pers

ood friend, the spoiled trust-fund kid she always protect

y, sweet boy

aleb whined. "He's j

he guests, from my wife's disappointed glare. I went to my study and made a pho

eded a lesson i

internship. A grueling, miserable post at a remote Alaskan fishery. It was an offer

was f

our kitchen, days later. "To Alaska! Do

at," I said, pouring m

haniel! This is Caleb!

to me," I said calmly. "And you told

es filled with a hatred

each word a precise, sharp promi

was the day our marriage truly ended. The da