Chapter 16: Furious and Free

Lana's POV

Nolan came to my sister's door on Saturday at seven with a roll of garnet silk under his arm.

"The owner's wife wants a dress by the thirteenth," he said. "I didn't want to cut anything without your hand on it."

"That's a very dry way to say you wanted to see me."

"I'm a dry man."

My sister took one look at the two of us in her hallway and picked up her purse.

"Junie is sleeping at my mother-in-law's tonight," she said. "Pancakes in the morning. I arranged it without asking you."

"Why?"

"Because I heard the phone call last night."

She and her husband left through the garage, and the door clicked behind them.

I put the kettle on to give my hands a job.

Nolan set the silk on the kitchen table and did not touch me.

"You said to ask you again today," he said.

"I did."

"Then I'm asking. Are you still half married?"

I turned around.

"I took off my ring in a school parking lot. I filed. I sat in a lawyer's garage and signed my name."

"You also told that man you'd come to his dinner the moment he asked."

"To get Junie her house."

"To get his approval," Nolan said.

"You still translate for him. Every time he says something cruel, you tell me what he really meant."

"He's weak, he's thoughtless, he doesn't know any better."

My face went hot.

"He doesn't."

"He knows exactly what he's doing, Lana. He's known for nine years."

His voice was quiet.

"You let a man talk over you for fifteen years. I can't help you until you stop explaining him."