Chapter 15 - The Night I Almost Lost Him
That evening Oliver found the wedding invitation in a kitchen drawer.
It showed three names in gold lettering: Daniel, Celeste, and Oliver.
He touched his own name with one finger.
"Was I supposed to be in the wedding?"
"Of course."
"Then why didn't she want me there?"
I sat down on the floor beside him.
For months I'd told him Celeste had bad days, difficult feelings, and too much pressure. Those explanations had taught him to question his own fear.
"I was wrong about her," I said. "You noticed things I should have listened to."
His eyes filled.
"I tried to tell you when she said I was extra."
I remembered brushing it off as a misunderstood joke.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I should have believed you."
He leaned into me, but he didn't say it was okay. I didn't ask him to.
After bedtime, Elena called to say someone had tried to access Oliver's trust records using an old login associated with Hannah's hospital email.
I looked at the fox on his pillow and thought of all the little ways Celeste had tried to erase his mother.
The next morning was worse.
The lender had sent notices to two major customers questioning our creditworthiness. One suspended a contract until the dispute was resolved.
Twenty-four workers were temporarily reassigned. Some had already heard rumors they wouldn't get paid.
I sat alone in my office and stared at Hannah's photograph.
"I thought I could protect him," I said aloud.
On my desk lay the repayment schedule. Even with an injunction, the disruption could bankrupt us.
May you like
Then Rebecca called.
"Daniel, Elena found something in Hannah's notebook. You need to come now. And don't bring your phone."
