Chapter 5: Ask Me Now

I went back to the house on Friday, in daylight, with Erik parked at the curb.

"I'll wait in the truck," he said. "Honk if you need me."

"I won't need you."

"Then I'll honk to say hi."

The front door was unlocked.

My mother's ring box was in the bedroom, in the top drawer.

My photo albums were on the shelf, and my laptop was in the study.

I wanted all three, and I wanted them out of that house before I had to talk to anyone.

I had the box and the albums in my arms when I turned around and found Roland in the bedroom doorway.

He had a cigarette in one hand and his phone in the other.

"You came back," he said.

"For my things."

"Your things." He looked at the albums. "You're taking the pictures of us."

"I'm taking pictures of my mother."

Imogen appeared behind him, in my gray cardigan, with a mug.

"Leah, hi. I only came to bring him lunch. Do you want tea? There's ginger."

"No, thank you."

"She's being dramatic again," Roland said to Imogen, not quietly.

I carried the albums down the hall and out the front door onto the porch.

The couple next door were weeding their front bed.

They stopped and looked at me, and I looked at them, and I turned back to the open door.

Roland had followed me.

"Where's this going?" he said. "You want a divorce? Go ahead and say it."

"Not yet."

"Then what is this?"

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