“How long?” I repeated.
“A few months,” he said finally. “Since… around Christmas.”
Christmas.
I remembered Kara helping me in the kitchen, laughing about burnt rolls.
Daniel’s arm around my waist while we watched the kids open gifts.
“You can talk to my lawyer.”
I swallowed bile.
“Get out,” I said.
“Mer, please—”
“Out,” I repeated. “You can talk to my lawyer.”
He opened his mouth again.
Hannah shut the door.
I sat down on the floor and sobbed until my head hurt.
I heard him say, “Meredith!” on the other side.
I sat down on the floor and sobbed until my head hurt.
The next morning, I called a divorce attorney.
Her name was Priya. Calm voice. Sharp eyes.
“Tell me what happened,” she said.
I told her everything. The kidney. The affair. The sister.
“I want out.”
She didn’t look shocked, which was both comforting and depressing.
“Do you want to try counseling?” she asked. “Or are you done?”
“I’m done,” I said. “I don’t trust him. I don’t trust her. I want out.”
“Then we move,” she said. “Fast.”
