Page 24 of Terms + Conditions
“The final term in our arrangement,” she says. “Line Ten of the—”
“I know what it is, Elizabeth.” Line Ten, Subsection B. I could never forget the ten lines that have outlined my life for the last ten years. “Why are you bringing it up?”
“Well, I was supposed to take Ryan with me, but...”
She scratches at something invisible on the table, avoiding eye contact. So, whatever this event is, it must be pretty damn important to invoke this clause. I thought the whole thing was stupid when I read it the first time ten years ago. In what world would one of us need to have a contractual agreement to force the other to join them at some event, regardless of our relationship status, up until we are divorced?
“…but we’re not exactly speaking right now.”
“Shocker,” I say over the rim of my coffee mug. Is it wrong that I feel a smidge of satisfaction hearing that they aren’t getting along? Though I have to admit, I’m not all that surprised.I mean, the guy doesn’t even know her favorite flower or respect the fact she doesn’t like to be called Lizzie. Or maybe he did those things because she didn’t correct him—and what does that say about their relationship?
Elizabeth shoots me a glare. “It’s the annual Palm Valley trip with the girls next weekend and—”
“If you were taking your new boyfriend, wouldn’t it be a little weird formeto show up?”
“They don’t know I was bringing him,” she says, her attention turning back to the invisible mark on the table. “They don’t know about the separation.”
I lower the mug to the table and scrub my hand down my face. What does she mean they don’t know about our separation? She tells those girls everything. We’ve been legally separated since May, almost…seven months at this point. Why wouldn’t she tell them?
My hand covers my mouth and I sigh. “Elizabeth—“
“I was going to tell them this weekend, I swear. Introduce them to Ryan and tell them about us getting a divorce, but it looks like that won’t be necessary.”
“You still can, without me.”
“Josh, I can’t show up alone.”
“Elizabeth.”
“Josh.” Her lips pull into a straight line. “You can’t say no.”
She says it so matter-of-factly. It’s like she knows she has me backed into a corner…because she does. She’s right; I can’t say no. It’s part of the contract. But I’m not sure I can handle spending another moment pretending to be the loving, doting husband when I know at the end of the weekend, I’ll be left alone…again.
“C’mon, it’ll be fun. One last hoorah before we sign the papers.”
I scrub a hand down my face. I’m going to regret this, I know it. “Fine. When do we leave?”
The Winchester Times
September 19, 2012
8:00 A.M.
Written by: Zach Williams
Prominent Winchester Family Attacked: Parents Killed, and Teenager Fighting for Life as Search Continues for Suspect
Nearly a week after prominent Winchester residents Thomas and Ethel Cain were found dead at their home in the affluent Meridian Hills neighborhood, those close to them are still looking for answers. The Winchester Police (WPD) and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department continue to investigate the incident, which was reported around 10:30 p.m. On September 14 at the private residence just off Cove Road.
According to WPD, officers were called to the home after receiving a report of a house fire and an unconscious, impaired female. Upon arrival, paramedics located the teenager outside of the home, which was already engulfed in flames. The teenager, whose name has not been released, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
After battling the house fire for more than four hours, authorities were able to investigate the interior of the home, where they discovered two bodies. On Saturday, September 15, the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office identified the remains as 46-year-old Thomas Cain and 43-year-old Ethel Cain. Their deaths have been ruled homicides.
Police are currently searching for the victim’s son, 19-year-old Nathanial Cain, who is believed to have been at the home earlier in the day. Residents with any knowledge of his whereabouts are encouraged to contact WPD or the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THEN
