Chapter 3

On day 52, Olivia's divorce was finalized.

Ethan made a point of wearing the navy suit I'd given him.

While he was shaving that morning, he asked, "Are you free tonight?"

"Yes."

"Don't make other plans."

"Okay."

I saw him slip a small box into the inside pocket of his jacket.

I didn't have to guess what it was.

Five years ago, that would have had me on edge all day.

Now I just put the last two documents into my bag.

One was a notice from my lawyer, Sarah Bennett, seeking to preserve the funds in our joint account.

The other was an agreement to end our cohabitation. I'd already signed it.

Downstairs, Olivia was already waiting.

She was beautifully dressed that day.

When she saw me, she smiled. "Claire, thank you for being so understanding all this time."

I said, "You're welcome."

She hooked her arm through Ethan's.

Ethan pulled his arm free right away and looked back at me.

Like he was waiting for a reaction.

I didn't give him one.

He walked back over and took my hand.

"I'll go with her to pick up the final paperwork, then come right back.

"Seven tonight. Our usual restaurant.

"Claire."

His voice was serious. "Wait for me."

I nodded.

"Okay."

At one in the afternoon, I left my apartment keys with building management.

At three, Sarah confirmed the bank had frozen the disputed amount.

At four, I boarded my flight.

As the plane started to taxi, Ethan texted me.

[Olivia's not doing great. I might be a little late.]

Ten minutes later, another one came.

[I'll be there by eight for sure.]

Half an hour after that, one more.

[She moved her flight to tomorrow. I'm going to have one last dinner with her tonight. Can we do the proposal tomorrow instead?]

I didn't reply.

Slowly, the clouds covered Chicago.

Only then did I realize that leaving for good isn't as dramatic as you'd think.

No throwing a ring in anyone's face.

No crying at the airport.

Just the wheels leaving the ground.

All of a sudden, I didn't need to see what he'd choose next.

I'd already made the choice for myself.

Ethan didn't get to the restaurant until nine.

I heard about all this later from a mutual friend.

The owner had arranged the music, and the waiters already knew he was going to propose.

There was a bouquet of perfectly ordinary white roses on the table.

He sat down and called me.

My phone was off.

He texted.

No reply.

At first, he still thought I was just giving him the cold shoulder again.

At ten, he went back to the apartment.

Half the closet was empty.

My laptop, my books, the shoes I wore all the time—all gone.

Only our joint savings plan was still stuck to the fridge.

The amount marked in red was still one hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars.

There was a letter from Sarah on the table.

[Claire Mason asserts her individual ownership interest in the funds transferred from the joint account without her consent. All further contact should go through her attorney.]

For the first time, Ethan realized I hadn't just gone to stay at a friend's place for a few days.

He called my mom.

At first, my mom, Nora Mason, didn't know anything either.

She even complained to him about me over the phone. "You two were about to get married. How could she just take off?"

Ethan grabbed on to that like a lifeline.

"Nora, Claire's just upset. Could you talk to her for me?"

But once my mom found out what had happened with the joint account, she went quiet.

More than half of that one hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars had come from my savings.

I'd been careful with money ever since I graduated.

Not because I was too broke to eat.

Because Ethan and I really had seen that house as our future.

In the end, all my mom asked was, "When are you paying it back?"

Ethan said, "Olivia's divorce settlement hasn't come through yet."

My mom hung up on him.

The next day, she texted me.

[I always used to worry you'd never get married.]

[Now that I think about it, marrying the wrong man is a bigger mess than not marrying at all.]

[Let me know when you land safe.]

When I read it at Heathrow, I stood by the baggage carousel smiling for a long time.