He Locked Me Out and Let Her In novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: An Episode

I gave Dean one condition, and I gave it to him on the stairs.

"Saturday night, Lydia has her gallery opening," I said. "You tell her in front of her guests. You tell her you're moving out, and that I'm the one you're marrying."

His face went slack.

"In front of everyone?"

"You've done everything else in private for ten years. This one is public."

"Maddie, she'll..."

"Say it or give me the ring back."

He nodded, slowly.

"Okay," he said. "Okay. I'll say it."

Bea was waiting behind her blue door with a wooden spoon in her fist.

She had heard every word.

"You said yes to him," she hissed, when he was gone. "I'm going to throw up in your shoe."

"I'm not marrying him."

"Then why..."

"Because he will never tell the truth in front of her unless he thinks I'm his way out. I need him in that room. I need Janie. And I need Lydia to say something in front of people that she's only ever said to me."

Bea stared.

"That's the best idea you've ever had," she said slowly, "and I hate it."

My phone buzzed on the table.

Reuben: I'm sorry. I should have said something. I'll be outside the gallery Saturday in the Subaru. If you need a door, I'm a door.

I read it three times.

I did not answer, but I didn't delete it either.

Stroud Gallery sat on a quiet corner of River North, and all the lights in the long front window were on.

Saturday night, the whole street smelled of cold champagne.

Inside, there were sixty people in black and cream, and enormous red paintings on white walls.

I wore a green dress Bea had pinned at the waist, and on my left hand, the ring.

Dean walked in beside me with his arm stiff against mine.

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