I worked two jobs to help fulfill my husband’s dream of becoming a doctor — at his graduation, he handed me divorce papers, but just as I was walking away, one of his classmates said, “Before you leave, there’s something you should know.”

“Tell Mia she did the right thing.”

Daniel nodded.

He started to turn away, then stopped.

“There’s one more thing I didn’t mention earlier.

I didn’t want to put everything on you at once.”

I waited.

“The hospital where Nathan has his residency placement,” Daniel said.

“Mercy General.”

“That’s where Cassandra works.”

“Yes.

And the department head who approved Nathan’s placement — he’s a close friend of Cassandra’s father.” He paused.

“Nathan’s position there wasn’t just about his scores.”

I looked at him.

“Are you telling me he may not have earned the placement on his own merits?”

“I’m telling you it’s worth asking the question.”

I sat down in the driver’s seat.

The envelope was on the seat beside me.

The brake pads still needed replacing.

The sun was coming through the windshield at an angle that made everything look slightly overexposed.

“Daniel,” I said.