She ran into her house, reappeared with the earrings, and placed them in my hand without saying a word. “Here,” she said. I don’t own these.
Actually, neither does Derek. He doesn’t belong to you either. If it were easy for him to get with me, Rachel…
Her words were familiar.
I heard it clearly. “Hell hath no fury…” I said. “I know.
I’ll handle him.”
“Rachel, I’m sorry,” she whispered. I didn’t intend this. Just that Derek gave me the attention I wanted.
After my divorce, I lost a part of myself. I don’t know myself without my husband. I mean ex-husband.
Derek restored my sense of normalcy. So sorry.”
I grinned at her. I experienced losing a part of me, but it was death and pain, not heat.
I said, “Thank you for saying that, Mel,” moving away. I waited until he returned to work and completed the papers. I then gave him the divorce papers in front of his supervisor and coworkers at his office.
My possessions shouldn’t have been given away, Derek. Really. You handed your mistress my mother’s earrings?
My voice was louder than intended. “You stole from me. You betrayed me.
You made your last error in our marriage. This is unfixable. Do not want you.”
I turned and left.
Naturally, he begged. But I was done. He stole my last motherly piece.
The man lied. He ignored my pain. He deceived our family.
And now? He has nothing. His name was almost worthless after alimony and child support.
What would you’ve done?
