I caught my husband sleeping with my brother’s wife, so I quietly swapped the lubricant in his bag for industrial glue.
Not with surprise.
With disappointment.
“Elena,” he said, as though I had arrived late to dinner.
Brandon entered behind me.
The police officer reached toward his holster.
Daniel raised his phone.
“This entire room is being recorded and transmitted to three legal offices.”
The officer stopped.
My father looked at Mrs. Dalca.
“You.”
“Yes,” she said.
His gaze returned to me.
“You have no idea what you’re interrupting.”
“I’m interrupting the theft of my mother’s company.”
Arthur sighed.
“You have always rushed toward conclusions.”
I crossed the room and knelt beside Mom.
Up close, she looked both completely familiar and entirely new.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Elena.”
I could not speak.
For years, I had imagined what I would say if I could have one more minute with her.
Now every prepared sentence disappeared.
I touched her face.
“You’re real.”
She leaned into my hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
I cut the restraints.
