Cold Marriage, Burning Regret novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: No, Again

Marcella's POV

The old oncologist's funeral had eleven mourners and a plain pine box.

The nurse had carried the orchids from his greenhouse into the chapel in pots.

I sat in the second row.

Scott came in during the first hymn and stood at the back, by the door, in a black coat.

I knew without turning around.

When the service ended, the nurse found me on the steps and put a cream envelope in my hand.

"He wrote it in his last week," she said. "It's for both of you."

I looked across the lot.

Scott was standing beside a rented sedan with his hands in his pockets, looking at nothing, and not coming closer.

I walked over and held out the envelope.

"It's addressed to us both," I said.

"I know. I didn't presume."

"Read it with me."

We stood in the cold between two parked cars while I opened it.

The old man's handwriting was loose and slanted.

"Dr. Sherman, Mr. Ellery. I kept a secret for eleven years because a frightened boy asked me to, and I called it ethics. It was cowardice with a license."

The next line was darker, where the pen had pressed harder.

"Don't make my mistake. If you have something to say to each other, say it while you still can."

I read it twice.

Scott read it once and folded his arms across his chest.

"He's right," he said, and his voice was rough. "About me, at least."

"Yes."

He looked at me, and I saw him decide not to say what he wanted to say.

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