range sense of calm settle over me. The worst had happened. They had chosen objects a

peared in the bathroom doorway, their faces a mixture

his voice hesitant. He finally loo

do?" he whispered, t

ared at the floor. "I... I didn't m

always about the things, isn't it? The trophy, the vase. Wha

irl they grew up with, the girl who had the same severe allergic reactions since she w

g at the lake house? The shellfish at that restaurant in Paris?

rdenias," he whispered, his eyes wide with horror. "I forgot. The doc

ove, had become the source of my suffering. And i

aking a step forward. "God, I'm s

ed, his voice thick with r

couldn't breach. An apology couldn't stitch up

sound of furious ripping and tearing from the garden. He was pulling out

he time to pack. I didn't need boxes. I was leaving almost everything behind. I packed a single suitcase with esse

teel that I had designed, that we had filled with our sh

t, holding a clipboard. He was from the real estate agency.

'For Sale' sign he was abou

nded, looking from the agen

is paperwork. "I'm here for the s

smael's voice was incredulous

?" I ask

f us! This is our hom

"Ange, if this is about what happened, we can fix

ened," I lied smoothly. "I'm moving to

e," Ismael said, his vo

In fact, I'll give you a friends and family discount." I paused, letting the words sink in

ach other, a silent communication passing between them. The prospect of having Jud

e searched my face, looking for a crack in my resolve. "A

practiced. "I'm just moving. Think of it as a ge