Chapter 4

"No."

"He promised to come by today and help me go over the renovation plans for the villa. I've been waiting and he's not answering his phone." She peered past me into the apartment. "Can I come in and wait?"

I stepped aside.

When she walked in, her eyes swept the entryway. George's shoes were there. His jacket. His car key fob.

"George hasn't gone out today?"

"He has."

"But all his things are still here."

I didn't answer. I watched her settle onto the couch — the exact spot where George had been sitting last night.

Eve seemed to sense something. She looked down and started fiddling with her fingers. "Karen, please don't get the wrong idea. There's nothing going on between George and me. He's just been helping me deal with some things related to the villa."

"I know."

"I just got back and I don't really know anyone here anymore. He was the only person I could ask."

"Sure."

She looked up at me, something unreadable in her expression. "George is such a good person. I wish I'd never left."

She said it so lightly. But I understood perfectly.

She was telling me that if she had stayed, I would never have been standing in this home.

I didn't respond. The sound of a key in the lock. George walked in and went completely still when he saw Eve on the couch.

Eve stood up, eyes already going glassy. "George."

He glanced at me, then back at her. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't reach you, so I came myself." Her voice had a slight catch in it. "I wanted to look at the renovation plans. You said you'd show me today."

George pulled a folder from his bag and held it out to her. "The plans are here. Take them home with you."

Eve took the folder but didn't move. She stood there, looking between the two of us, and bit her lip. "Did you two have a fight? Because of me?"

Before George could speak, I answered first. "No. We never fight."

That was the truth. Three years and we'd never once raised our voices at each other. I used to think that was proof of how solid we were. Now I realized it was because he never cared enough to.

After Eve left, the silence in the living room was suffocating.

George stood with his hands in his pockets, not moving.

Eventually I was the one who spoke. "You left your other phone here. Eve had sent messages. I saw them by accident."

His fingers twitched. He said nothing.

"Why did you two break up back then?"

A long silence.

"Her family sent her abroad. They didn't approve."

"Did she say anything to you before she left?"

"Yes." His voice dropped. "She told me to wait for her."

"You didn't."

"I waited two years. She never came back."

"So you settled for me."

I didn't say it.

George looked at me. "Karen, that chapter is closed. I'll talk to her and make it clear. We won't be in contact anymore."

I looked him in the eye. "Are you sure that's what you want?"

"I'm sure."

"Then tell me something. When you bought that villa — were you doing it to help her, or were you holding on to something you couldn't let go of?"

George opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

I had my answer.

"I want a divorce."

George froze.

"What did you just say?"

"A divorce."

He stared at me for a few seconds, then gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "You're joking."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

He put down what he was holding and walked toward me. "Because of Eve?"

"Not because of her." I looked up at him. "Because of you."