Chapter 4 - The Aftermath in Asheville
Two days after the wedding.
The morning sun cast a bright, golden light across the mountains surrounding our new three-story wooden home on the outskirts of Asheville.
I sat at the wide wooden kitchen island, wearing an oversized sweater, sipping a mug of hot coffee. Through the double glass doors leading to the back porch, I could see Callum teaching Bennett how to throw a small leather football on the green lawn.
Bennett’s bright, loud laughter echoed across the yard—a sound so pure and unburdened it made my heart feel like it was floating.
My phone chimed on the granite counter.
It was a text from my sister, Lianne:
Marie, please call Mom. She hasn't left her bedroom in two days. Dad's firm is getting calls from clients asking about the embezzlement rumor. Keaton is packing his things to leave town. You've completely ruined our family. Are you happy now?
I stared at the screen for a long moment.
A year ago, a message like that would have sent me into a tailspin of anxiety. I would have spent three hours drafting an apology, trying to find a way to fix their feelings, wondering if I had been too cruel.
Now, I looked at the words and felt nothing but a quiet, clean distance.
I typed back a simple, three-word response:
Do not contact me or my son again.
I blocked her number. Then I blocked my mother’s number, my father’s number, and Keaton’s number.
The door opened, and Callum walked inside carrying a breathless, laughing Bennett on his shoulders.
"Mommy!" Bennett yelled, his face flush with pink from the mountain air. "I threw the ball all the way to the big oak tree!"
"Did you really, sweetie?" I smiled, standing up and reaching out to take him into my arms. "You must be getting so strong!"
"Callum says I'm going to be on the pee-wee football team next year!" Bennett cheered, hugging my neck.
Callum walked over, wrapping his arms around both of us from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
May you like
"Everything okay?" Callum asked quietly, glancing at my phone on the counter.
"Everything is perfect," I said softly, setting the phone screen-down. "The past officially stayed at the barn."
