Chapter 2

The next day I went to see Owen's grandmother, and to my surprise he'd brought Paige home with him.

The family traded looks, but not one of them said a word to Owen about it.

I'd spent ten years of my marriage building a career before I decided to have a baby, and then I hadn't been able to keep him.

As far as they were concerned, that made me selfish, and every ounce of blame landed on me.

"Couldn't even hold on to one baby. All that celebrating for nothing. Hurry up and try again."

Nobody asked why there'd been water on the bathroom floor.

Nobody asked how weak my body still was, or that the stretch marks hadn't faded from my stomach yet.

The weight of it pressed down until I couldn't breathe, and I set down my fork.

"There won't be another one."

Ruth Kessler's smile froze on her face, and Owen rushed to soothe her.

"Grace just isn't ready yet, Grandma. We'll try again in a while."

After dinner he came looking for me.

"Why would you say that? You know how badly Grandma wants a great-grandson."

I turned the pages of the agreement I'd had drawn up, and inside I was laughing.

What exactly did this family think I was?

Any child of mine would be born into love. Not born because somebody wanted one produced.

I held out the papers.

"Sign. If she wants a great-grandson, you can have one with somebody else."

Owen choked on whatever he'd meant to say and leaned in to see what he was holding, and then Paige appeared in the doorway.

I don't know what he was in such a hurry about. He signed without so much as glancing down, which saved me a great deal of trouble.

If anything, it made Owen and me look like the two people sneaking around.

His mouth curved without his noticing.

"You closed that account beautifully, Paige. And you've had a lot on your plate at home. Name whatever gift you want. It's yours."

I was on my way out when Paige turned those wounded eyes on me.

"Could I have your necklace, Grace?"

My fingers tightened before I could stop them. That necklace was part of a set made for the three of us — Owen had spent forever on it, sketching it himself, standing over the jeweler while it was made.

And he didn't recognize it.

"Give it to her, Grace. You've got a mountain of jewelry. You won't miss one piece."

Paige lit up.

Something caught in my throat, and every word came out raw.

"You're sure about that?"

Only then did Owen lean in and actually look.

"Oh. That one."

He hesitated a long moment, then frowned at me.

"Grace, I already told her she could have it. It's a bad look for a boss to go back on his word. How about I have another set made for you later?"

My nails broke the skin of my palm. It was the sight of the agreement that steadied me.

Right. What was left to care about?

"Fine."

How fast I gave in seemed to throw him, and he opened his mouth like he might take it back.

I'd already unclasped the necklace, and I pulled the second piece out of my pocket.

The bracelet. The third piece, for our family of three.

They could have all of it.

With the necklace off my neck I felt oddly lighter, and I got ready to leave that night.

Owen actually came after me.

"Grace, are you angry? I'll buy you a new one. Look and tell me which you like."

Every option was from the same collection.

He was right. I wasn't short on jewelry. What I was short on was a husband who meant it.

He didn't mean any of it, and I didn't want it anymore.

I pointed at one at random and went back to our house to pack.