The Night I Stopped Waiting for My Husband novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Nothing in His Hands

They discharged Ada on Tuesday morning, with a prescription and a printed sheet of instructions.

Margaret was waiting in the lobby with three coffees and a folded newspaper.

"Front page," she said, and held it out.

I took it.

The photograph was of the plaque, with the crowd blurred around it and my name sharp in the first line.

Under it, a smaller story ran down the side.

"The Conrad Merrick Foundation dissolves," Margaret read over my shoulder. "Mrs. Rosalind Merrick has left Massachusetts, according to her attorney, and will not be giving interviews."

"Good," I said.

I surprised myself with how little I felt.

I had expected triumph, or pity, or the old tight dread in my chest, and what I found was a clean space.

"And this," Margaret said, tapping the bottom of the page. "The city library trust asked this morning if Hollingshead Doyle would look at their east branch."

"It's a roof that leaks."

"It's a start."

"Then say yes."

"Already did," Margaret said, and took the car seat from Harrison's hands.

He had been standing off to one side with his coat over his arm, saying nothing.

He had slept in the chair for two nights.

His shirt was creased and his chin was dark, and his eyes were red as he looked at the baby.

I walked him out to the sidewalk while Margaret strapped Ada in.

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