Chapter 20: Count From September

Bethany's POV

Shelby's box was on the gravel at the gate, with Shelby standing behind it in a camel coat.

Evan went down alone in his shirtsleeves, and I watched from the upstairs window with the foreman breathing at my shoulder.

I could not hear what he said.

I saw him point at the new lock on the gate, and at the box, and at a small card taped to its lid.

Shelby read the card, and she looked up at the house.

She did not see me.

She picked up the box and carried it to her car, and the foreman let out a long, satisfied grunt.

"What was on the card?" I asked Evan, when he came back up.

"The name of my lawyer. And the date I filed."

"You filed?"

"Friday." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I would have told you."

"Would you?"

"This time," he said, "yes."

I decided to believe him.

On Saturday night, the regional hospital held its fall gala in a hotel ballroom.

There was a silent auction, a string quartet and three hundred people in evening clothes.

I stood at the edge of the room in a green silk dress that Evan had looked at for a long time before he said anything.

"You're staring," I said.

"I'm letting myself."

He wore a black suit, and his wedding band was gone.

He had set it in a dish on the kitchen counter that morning.

"Are you ready?" he said.

"No. Let's go in."

The ballroom turned its head when we entered.

There was a hush, then a murmur.

Then came the polite nods of people who had seen the news clip and decided to be kind.

An older woman in pearls touched my arm and said, "Congratulations, dear," and I realized she meant the baby.

A man from the hospital board shook Evan's hand and said, "Heard you had a rough month."

"It's been interesting," Evan said.