Chapter 12: Put It on My Tab

I put Milo in Emmett's arms and walked out into the snow in my socks.

Bryce had rolled his window down by the time I reached the car.

His face was wet, and he didn't wipe it.

"He wouldn't stop," he said. "He packed a bag. He asked me to drive him or he'd walk."

He wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

"Mom was on the phone in the den. She said, once the signing's done, that boy never goes near his uncle again."

"What did she mean?"

"I don't know, Jo. I swear I don't."

I looked at him.

For the first time in five years I couldn't tell whether he was lying.

"Yes, you do," I said. "Not all of it. But you know."

He flinched.

"I'm not here to fight you," I said. "I'm here to tell you something, and I'll say it once."

I held onto the car door.

"I'm done, Bryce. I'm filing this week."

His mouth opened.

"You put me in a box of cookies and called me help. You let your mother change a school list on a Saturday."

His eyes were closed.

"You've said yes to her every day for eleven years. You've never once said yes to me."

"Jo..."

"I'll be good to your children. I'll answer every call from Zoey."

I stepped back from the car.

"But I'm not your wife anymore. I won't be at that table on Friday, whoever's in it."

He sat very still with his hands on the wheel.

"Will you tell Mom he's safe?" I said. "Tonight. So she doesn't call anyone."

"She'll know in the morning."

"Tell her now."

"I will," Bryce said, and I thought it was a lie, and I thought he thought so too.

He put the car in gear.

I watched the taillights until the snow took them.

When I came inside, Emmett had hung up Milo's wet coat and put a mug of cocoa in front of him.

Milo sat at the kitchen table with his boots off and his socks steaming against the radiator, staring at the drawing on the wall.

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