The Wife He Left Behind novel · Chapter 17 of 24
Chapter 17: Not Penance
It was after midnight when we got to Ballard, and I told him to go home.
He was standing in his own kitchen with his thermos in his hand.
"I am home," he said.
"I mean to your sister. Go and sit with her. She didn't come with you, and she'll need someone tomorrow."
"She told me to leave her alone."
"She'll change her mind."
"Cassia."
"I'm serious." I sat on a kitchen chair with my coat still on and my hands in my lap. "You came to my porch for your sister. She's chosen, and it's not your fault. You can stop now."
"Stop what?"
"Looking after me."
He put the thermos on the counter.
"You think I'm doing this because I feel guilty."
"You said it yourself. You saw the ring in March, and you said nothing. It's a lot to carry. I'd understand if you needed it to be square."
"Square."
"Penance. Fine. It's paid. You stood in that house today in front of all of them. Nobody could ask for more."
He crouched in front of my chair, so his eyes were level with mine, and I couldn't look anywhere else.
"I'm going to tell you what I think of penance," Stellan said. "When I want to make up for something, I send money, and I stay away. I'm good at it. I did it with Camille for seven months, and look how that went."
"Stellan."
"I didn't come into your house today because I owed you. I came because I heard your voice, and I couldn't stay in a truck."
His hands were on my knees.
"I'm not going home, Cassia. This is the first place I've wanted to be in a long time, and you're in it."
"And when it's over? When he signs, and the dinner's done, and the baby's born?"
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