Finally Moving On After A Decade novel · Chapter 16 of 24
Chapter 16: Costs
Freja came to the shop on Monday at closing time with a banker's box in her arms.
I was sanding the arm of a rocking chair, and I kept sanding until she set the box down on my bench.
She did not say hello.
"Everything is in here," she said. "Every email between me and Brooks since the pledge. My phone log, printed. The pledge agreement. My calendar for October."
"Freja."
"There are five calls from his number. Four are about wire instructions, and one is the call where he told me he was sorry about the gala." Her voice stayed even. "Read all of it, or none. I won't stand over you."
I put the sandpaper down.
She took an envelope out of her coat and laid it on top of the box.
It was long and white, and it had the board chair's name on the front.
"That's my resignation," she said. "It's signed and dated. If you want me out of the building before Saturday, I'll walk it over tonight."
"Why would I want that?"
"Because I lied to you by saying nothing. For two weeks. While you called her honest."
I looked at her.
She had a pencil behind her ear, and her hair was coming out of its knot.
She looked as tired as I felt.
"I'm not asking you to forgive it," Freja said. "I'm telling you what it costs, so you know I understand the price."
"You're not defending yourself."
"There's nothing to defend. I did the sums, and I picked the money, and the money was for something I love." She took a breath. "That doesn't make it smaller."
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