Chapter 9: The Lesser Harm

Tobin followed us as far as the truck.

"Leah, wait. Please."

Joel stepped between us without a word.

"Move," Tobin said.

"No."

"She's my wife."

"She's the woman you left on a kitchen floor." Joel didn't raise his voice. "Say what you came to say, from there."

Tobin looked past his shoulder at me.

"You recorded me."

"Yes."

"You can't use it. If you play that on Friday, she'll call the loan. My mother will lose the farm."

"Then stand up in court and tell the judge yourself."

"I can't."

"You just did, to my phone."

His shoulders sagged.

"Please don't make me choose," he said.

"You already chose," I said. "Twice. You chose her on the kitchen night, and you chose her again just now."

He stood there with the wind pulling at his shirt.

Then he walked back to his car and drove away, and I let him.

The boat house was two rooms over the water, with a kitchenette and a space heater that ticked as it warmed.

Britt had brought Maisie by. She was asleep already in a borrowed crib, with the stuffed rabbit under her chin.

My sister gave Joel a long look from the doorway.

"You hurt her, I'll have you on my table with a tube down your throat," she said.

"Understood."

"I mean it. I'm a nurse."

"I believe you."

She kissed my head and left.

I sat on the narrow couch with a blanket. Joel stood at the little window with his back to me, watching the dark water.

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