Before she left, she stood in the doorway. Samuel. I looked at her. I never wanted us to end like this. You chose how it ended.
She looked down. Maybe someday you'll understand. Maybe. She hesitated. Then she walked away.
I watched the SUV disappear at the end of the street. Then I closed the door. The divorce became official several months later. By then, Nicole had already moved to New Orleans. She had stopped calling.
I stopped checking. I didn't ask mutual friends about her. I didn't look at her social media. I didn't care what Trevor was doing or what kind of life they were building. I focused on mine.
I started traveling more for work. I renovated the house instead of selling it. I joined a gym near my office and started spending weekends with friends I had neglected during the final years of my marriage. Life didn't suddenly become perfect. But it became quiet and quiet was exactly what I needed.
About Eight months after the divorce, I received a message from Nicole. I almost deleted it without opening it. Then I read it. Samuel, I need to tell you something. I stared at the screen for the first time since she had left.
I wondered what could possibly have happened in New Orleans. I didn't reply. The next morning, another message arrived. Things aren't what I thought they were. I didn't answer Nicole's message.
For three days, I heard nothing else. Then she called. I let it ring twice before answering. What happened? There was silence on the other end.
Samuel, you said things weren't what you thought they were. They aren't. I leaned back in my chair. Then tell me. She took a breath.
Trevor isn't who I thought he was. I almost smiled, but there was nothing funny about it. You met him four days before deciding to divorce me. I know. And now you're surprised you didn't know him?
Please don't do this. I'm not doing anything. I'm listening. She was quiet. Then she said he doesn't have the business he told me he had.
What business? He said he owned an event company. He said he had contracts with hotels and restaurants. And he doesn't. I waited.
He used to do event work, she continued. But the company failed. He has debts, a lot of them. I looked down at my desk. Does he work?
Sometimes. Sometimes. He does freelance jobs. Nothing stable. I said nothing.
He also told me he had money coming from a property deal. Did he? No. That was when I understood where this was going. Has he asked you for money?
She didn't answer. Nicole, yes. How much? It's complicated. No, it's not.
She sighed. About $30,000. I sat up. You gave him $30,000? I thought it was temporary.