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Reba shook off Jeffrey’s hand, not saying a single word as she marched upstairs. Thinking about all the things he’d said, anxiety gnawed at her. She was worried that Jaffrey would really snap and do something reckless.
That worry had barely taken root when Amelia and Jessica’s warnings echoed in her head: Jeffrey’s only after her–so long as she didn’t turn around and react, he would lose it for a bit and then let it go.
Reba thought, ‘But will he really just let it go?‘
Stuck battling those two voices in her head, Reba spent a torturous hour just trying to stay calm.
In all five years they’d been married, Jeffrey had never once truly flipped out at Reba. Lately, his behavior had been downright awful, but that was just him being a mess–not actually angry.
She honestly had no clue what he’d do if he really blew up or how scary that side of him might be.
As Reba wrestled with her thoughts, a knock sounded at the door.
Jeffrey’s voice sounded from outside the door, saying, “Samuel’s inside theplex. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Reba opened the door, brushed past him, and didn’t even look his way.
Jeffrey walked alongside Reba, trying to make peace. He said, “I was just worried you’d leave without saying goodbye. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
Reba didn’t say a word. She grumbled inwardly, ‘If I actually said goodbye, would he even let me leave?‘
Jeffrey took her hand and said, “If you’re mad, go ahead and take it out on me. Keeping it inside isn’t good for you.”
Reba stopped abruptly and turned to him. She said, “Don’t you think you’re being pretty fake right now?”
Jeffrey raised an eyebrow.
Reba said, “If you honestly cared about me, you wouldn’t keep giving me reasons to be pissed off.” If it were up to her, she’d just end things peacefully and walk away.
Jeffrey shot back, “Oh, really? And you’re any different?”
Reba, still bristling, fired back, “Me? What exactly are you using me of?”
Jeffrey said, “So which of your words are the real ones, huh? You keep iming you won’t leave, but is that really what you think deep down?”
The atmosphere instantly turned icy, the tension nearly palpable between them. They faced each other in silence, neither willing to break the standoff.
<b>11:01 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>
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Just then, Samuel called out, “Mommy!” He ran over and threw his arms around Reba. He said, “I missed
you so much.”
Reba’s mood instantly softened. She said, “I missed you, too, sweetie. How was your trip? Did you have fun?”
Samuel’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He eximed, “So much fun!”
Reba hugged Samuel tightly.
Jeffrey watched Reba and Samuel embrace, a flicker of emotion crossing his face. Just as he was about to invite them to sit and talk, his phone buzzed in his pocket–the screen lit up, Andrea’s name glowing on the disy.
Jeffrey’s expression hardened, suspicion taking hold. Andrea had a knack for calling at the worst possible moments. He didn’t believe in coincidences.
“I need to take this,” Jeffrey said and then left.
Reba caught the sh of Andrea’s name on the screen but didn’t say anything. She took Samuel’s hand and led him upstairs. She asked if he was up for a midnight snack, and they ended up trading stories about his summer–camp adventures.
Midway through their talk, Samuel asked, “Mommy, is Grandma feeling any better now?”
Reba said, “She’s so much better. She can slowly walk by herself now, and give it a little time—she’ll be up and about just like us.”
“So when are we leaving?” Samuel blurted out.
Reba felt a small ripple in her chest.
Samuel nced toward the door to make sure Jeffrey wasn’ting up, then said decisively, “You and Dad didn’t get the divorce, and he still hasn’t cut ties with Andrea. With how you are, you’re probably just waiting to leave, aren’t you?”
The pressure that had been winding Reba tight all evening finally melted away. It was as if an invisible hand lifted her from the inside, and a quiet strength steadied her.
“You weren’t thinking of leaving without me, right?” Samuel asked, his round eyes full of hope as he looked up at Reba.
Reba said, “I was just afraid you wouldn’t want toe with me. This is your home–you’ve grown up here and all your friends are here.”
“But to me, you’re the most important person in the world,” Samuel blurted out.
Reba took his hand and whispered, “Then how about I secretly steal you away? Just the two of us running off together?”
Samuel corrected her. He said, “No way—I’d totally choose to go with you myself.”
<b>11:01 </b>Thu<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>
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Reba said, “I’m not going to tell your dad about this. Once Amelia’s really feeling better, we’ll pick the perfect moment and leave together.”
Samuel nodded, eyes shining with determination.
Reba asked, “Aren’t you even curious why?” She was honestly taken aback by how smooth this was going. She hadn’t expected Samuel to just go along so easily.
Samuel said, “If Dad finds out, there’s no way he’ll let us go. He doesn’t want you <i>to </i>leave. But let’s face it, this time it’s his mess<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Samuel didn’t want his parents to split up. But he knew deep down, Reba was miserable staying here. So leaving really was the best thing for both of them.
“Thank you, sweetie,” Reba whispered as she pulled Samuel into a warm hug. Having Samuel’s understanding and support meant everything to her.
Not long after their conversation wrapped up, Jeffrey came upstairs. He instantly noticed the way Reba and Samuel were watching him–two pairs of eyes that practically screamed, “We know something you don’t.” For a moment, confusion shed across his face.
Samuel asked, “Was that Andrea on the phone?”
Jeffrey ruffled Samuel’s hair and said, “Yeah, she needed me to deal with something. Try to behave, okay? Don’t make things tougher for your mom.”
Samuel looked up at him, sounding both hopeful and serious. He asked, “Do you have to go? Can’t you just stay?”
Jeffrey paused for a second, a little stunned.
Samuel added, “I don’t like her. Ever since she showed up, our family’s just fallen apart.” He was really just hoping Jeffrey could do something good for Reba before they left.
Reba’s arms instinctively hugged Samuel tighter.
Jeffrey’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he finally said, “I am sorry, Samuel. This is what I owed her back then–now I have to pay it off, little by little.”
Samuel threatened, “If you go, you’ll just be Mr. Hanson to me from now on.”
Even though Samuel understood more than most kids his age, deep down, he was still just a child. He could joke around, y all he wanted, and make a fuss every day–but when it came down to really leaving, he knew he’d miss Jeffrey.
Jeffrey was the person who cared about him most, other than Reba. If it didn’t have to be this way, Samuel wished, more than anything, his parents would just stay together.
Jeffrey tapped Samuel lightly on the head and said, “You make it sound like you still call me ‘Dad‘. Behave yourself, okay? I’ll be back soon.” He nced at Reba and then headed out.
11:01 Thu<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>
Once he climbed into his car, Jeffrey pulled out his phone and typed out a cold, mocking message<i>: </i>[Is ying Andrea like that really so satisfying for you?]
Stephen replied: [What do you mean?]
Jeffrey texted: [Bet Karen has no clue Dad and Mom already lined up a fiancée for you. Should I clue her in<b>? </b><fn22ba> Official source is </fn22ba>
Stephen stared at the screen, his eyes darkening with thought as he slowly traced his fingertip across the ss.
Before Stephen even had time to reply, Jeffrey called him directly and didn’t bother with small talk.
Jeffrey said, “Quit pulling Andrea into this just to screw up things between me and Reba. If you keep it up, I’ll y your own games right back at you–trust me, I won’t hold back.”
Jeffrey pondered, ‘Andrea manages to phone the moment things start running smoothly between Reba and me. The first time might pass for dumb luck. After three or four straight repeats, it is no coincidence; someone’s clearly pushing buttons behind the scenes.
‘Andreacks the slickness to engineer something this calcted alone. Stephen remains the only one with the right connections, and he already has a history with her.‘
“Whenever you’re ready,” Stephen replied,pletely unfazed.
Jeffrey pressed, “What if I just give Karen 3 million and tell her you’ll never track her down? Do you honestly think she’d stay with you then?”
Stephen replied, “Go ahead. Actually, I’m curious to <i>see </i>what she’d do.”