bChapter /bb67 /b

“Jessica “Brian’s voice caught in his throat. bUnder /bthe soft glow of the light, the glittering diamond ring rested on his palm–a perfect match to the bone /bon bhis /bfinger

Jessica hadn’te back for bJacob/bb, /bbut to return the money and ring.

At that moment, Brian realized there was no way to bkeep /bJessica. A dull ache gripped his chest like a tightening viceb. /b

bHaving /breturned bwhat /bwasn’t hers to keep, Jessica turned to leave, but a small hand tugged at the hem of her shirt. She looked back.

Jacob’s bface /bwas bstreaked /bwith tears. He cried out loud, his grip desperate, “Don’t bgo/bb, /bMom. I don’t want you to bleave/bb./bb” /b

b“/bStay tonight,” Brian said through clenched teeth, the sharp edges bof /bthe ring digging into his palm. “For bJake’s /bsake. Just onest time.”

Jessica looked down. Jacob’s tears streamed down his cheeksb, /bhis little face crumpled. In all his byears /bsince birth, she had rarely seen him cry like this.

Her bresolve /bbwavered/b. She thought, ‘Onest time. It’s just one small wish for him.

bJessica /bagreed. “Okay. Let me run your bath.”

Hearing thisb, /bJacob nced uncertainly at Brian before slowly releasing the grip.

Jessica didn’t look at either bof /bthem as she headed to the bathroom to draw a bath for Jacob.

bJust /blike beforeb, /bevery night, she had tended to Jacob–prepared his bath,id out his pajamas, and checked his quilt after he fell asleep.

These rituals had once been her joy. But nowb, /bthey meant nothing to her.

b“/bDad, did Mom return the ring because she doesn’t want you anymore?b” /bJacob sniffled in the bedroom.

He thought Jessica had stayed away because he had hurt her and said he liked Madeline more than her. But Jessica had returned the ring too…

Jacob revealed the truth. After a pause, Brian took a breath, his voice hoarse. “Yeah. She doesn’t want either of us now.”

Jacob’s lips trembled.

When Jessica returned, she sensed the tension between Brian and Jacob, both radiating silent resentment.

She said nothing, simply ushered Jacob to his bath before taking his sleepwear from the closet.

Jacob washed quickly. Emerging in his sleepwear, he mbered into bed.

Jessica picked up a storybook and sat down. Without looking at Brian, she asked, “Anything else?”

It used to be that when she read to Jacob, Brian was either at work or upstairs, never lingering like this.

Recognizing the dismissal, Brian turned to leave with a tense jaw.

Jacob whispered, “Mom, I’m sorry. Can you-”

Jessica said, b“/bWould you like ba /bstory or not?”

“Hmm.”

“Once upon ba /btime, there was a king whose youngest princessb…/bb” /b

Jessica read mechanically, making no effort to mend what was broken between them. When Jacob stealthily wiped at his tears, she pretended not to

notice.

Seven storiesterb, /bJacob’s eyes grew heavy, yet he fought sleep, bas /bthough fearing Jessica would vanish by morning.

“Lie down while I read,” Jessica said.

“Hmm.” He obeyed, swollen eyes fixed unblinkingly on her bface/bb. /b

bJessica /bpretended not to notice his gaze until he finally sumbed to sleep halfway through the fairy tale. With a light bsigh/bb, /bshe lingered at his bedside a moment longer, tucking the quilt around him.

b1/2 /b

In the study on the third floor, bBrian’s /bunreadable eyes remained fixed on the diamond ring resting on bhis /bdesk.