My Ex-Husband's New Wife Asked Me to Take Him Back novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: Daylight

The yellow house on Cedar Street had a kitchen that faced east.

At eight on Tuesday morning the sun came through the window and lay across the table in a long gold bar.

Gabe had set out two mugs, a pot of coffee, a plate of toast, and nothing else.

He stood by the counter in his work shirt with his hands behind his back.

I sat down in the chair across from him.

"Sit," I said. "Please."

He sat.

"I'll go first," I said. "Because I had a night to be angry, and I'm done with it."

"All right."

"I'm not staying for a store."

He nodded slowly.

"I'm staying for three things."

"The first is my father, but only a little."

"He's sixty-six, and he's fine, and he'd say go."

"He'd say it loudly."

"He would."

"The second is the work."

"I got up at five every morning in Chicago and estimated buildings for people who'd never see them."

"I've done more in eight weeks behind that counter."

"Somebody needed a hinge, and I knew which hinge."

"It's small."

"It's mine."

"That's a good reason."

"The third is you."

I put my hand flat on the table.

"And I'm telling you last because it isn't the biggest."

"It's one of three."

"If I only stayed for you, you'd be right to be afraid."

His eyes were bright and wet.

"I heard you the other way," he said. "I thought you meant duty."

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