Chapter 3

That night, Prince tumbled down the stairs and broke one of his legs. Celeste clutched the dog and cried until she nearly passed out.

"It was Maisie. She said she hated Prince, and when I wasn't looking, she pushed him down the stairs! I don't blame her; she's just a child. This is all my fault… I never should have moved in."

She started throwing herself at the wall, and it took people physically holding her back to stop her.

Maisie's face went white.

She'd dropped her pencil on the floor and was too scared to even pick it up, shaking her head over and over. "I didn't! I was in my room the whole time practicing my spelling. My teacher's checking it tomorrow!

"Dad, I really didn't!"

Heath looked at Maisie, then down at Celeste, who'd fainted in his arms. "Maisie. Apologize to Prince."

"I didn't push him!"

It was the first time Maisie had ever talked back to him.

Heath raised his hand and slapped her across the face. Her head snapped to the side, and her cheek swelled up immediately.

I threw myself in front of her and pulled her behind me. That slap hurt worse than if he'd hit me instead.

"Heath! She's six years old!"

"Six years old and already pushing a dog down the stairs. Imagine what she'll be like when she's older."

His chest heaved, his eyes bloodshot. "You raised a real winner."

Celeste came to right on cue, barely conscious, her voice barely there. "Heath, Prince won't eat anything. The vet says he's traumatized and needs someone to comfort him."

She lifted her tear-streaked eyes and looked at me. "Raven, you're such a generous person. Could you maybe bark for Prince a couple of times? Just to cheer him up."

The living room went dead silent for a moment. Then someone laughed.

"That's a great idea. Mrs. Renwick's been so obedient lately anyway."

Heath didn't laugh. He looked at me, his throat working. "Raven, just do it for me."

For him? 11 years ago, when he'd been hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer, I got on my knees and begged the doctor to save him. Eight years ago, when his business went under, I worked 14-hour days at flea markets to keep him afloat.

And now he wanted me to get on my knees and bark for a dog.

There were only a few days left anyway.

I lowered myself slowly, kneeling in front of Prince. "Woof."

The room erupted in laughter. Someone held up a phone to record.

"Woof, woof."

Celeste's tears turned into a delighted smile, and she clapped her hands, saying Prince was reacting. Maisie ran over crying and pulled at me. "Mom, stop! Let's just go, Mom!"

I stroked her hair as my tears hit the floor. "If I do what I'm told, then your dad will like us again."

Heath stood at the back of the crowd, his face turned away, his right fist clenched so tight his knuckles had gone white.

That night, well past midnight, he came to my room. He didn't turn on the light. He just wrapped his arms around me from behind and held on tight.

"I'm sorry." His voice was wrecked.

"Raven, just give me a little more time."

"Heath." I cut him off.

"The day after tomorrow is our anniversary. Have dinner with Maisie and me, just the three of us."

He was quiet for a long time before pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "Okay."

I lay in the dark with my eyes open until dawn, looking forward to seeing his face when he got the divorce papers.