“You’ve decided all this in two days?”
“You decided to divide our marriage before you told me another woman existed.”
Then his phone rang.
I slid a second page across the table.
He looked at the screen and declined it.
It rang again.
“Is that Elena?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Does she know you’re here?”
“Of course.”
It rang again.
“Then answer.”
He stood.
“This isn’t a good time.”
“For who?”
Callum walked toward the back door.
Five minutes later, he came back pale.
“For who?”
“What did you tell her about us?”
His shoulders stiffened.
“That’s between me and her, Maggie.”
“No. If you used our marriage to explain your relationship with her, I get to know what version of my life you gave her.”
“Did you tell her we were separated?”
His shoulders stiffened.
Silence.
“Callum.”
“I told her we’d become more like co-parents.”
“Did you tell her I knew that?”
He said nothing.
“Did Elena think our marriage was already over?”
Silence.
Callum looked toward the window.
“So she thought you were leaving me.”
“I told her things were complicated.”
“No. You told her one story and told me another.”
“Maggie, I was trying to avoid hurting anyone.”
“Then why am I the last person who knew what my own marriage supposedly was?”
“I was trying to avoid hurting anyone.”
He had no answer.
“This is why I’m not agreeing to your arrangement. You haven’t been honest with either of us.”
He stood.
“I need some air.”
“Take it. But this conversation isn’t disappearing.”
He picked up his bag and left.
“I need some air.”
The next evening, while Kieran built a tower on the floor, an unknown number texted me.
“I think he told us different things. I don’t expect you to respond.”
I typed one question.
“Did he tell you I agreed to him living in both houses?”
Her reply came within minutes.
“Did he tell you I agreed to him living in both houses?”
“No. He told me you both knew the marriage was over emotionally and that you were still living together for Kieran.”
I wrote back:
“Thank you for telling me.”
I believed her. Callum was the one I needed answers from.
Two days later, he came over after work.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“Kieran’s finishing dinner,” I said. “Your schedule’s on the fridge.”
Callum lowered his voice.
