The Wife He Never Saw

Three days after I woke up in the past, Captain Russell from Homicide called.

"Ms. Whitmore, your qualifications are solid. The only thing you lack is field experience. You'll start with Mr. Duncan out at the reservoir, helping recover bodies and sketch victims' faces. Pass your trial period, and the department will hire you full-time."

"Understood. I'll be there."

The call had barely ended when Danny walked in with our son, Owen.

Tall, and dressed in a crisp shirt and tie, Danny looked every bit the archaeology professor he was. Owen was his mini-me—same handsome face, same cold expression.

"Who was on the phone?"

"I had a job interview."

Danny acted like he was doing me a favor. "You've only got a bachelor's degree, and you've spent years at home raising a kid. What job do you think you're going to get? Just find a cashier job nearby. It'll make taking care of Owen easier."

I put my phone away and kept my eyes on the last dish in the pan.

I didn't answer.

This was the last meal I'd ever cook for this family.

Owen sat nearby, cartoons on, tablet game in hand.

The second I glanced over, he hid the tablet.

I didn't care.

"About your parent-teacher conference tomorrow, I was going to—"

"Don't come!" Owen snapped. "Ms. Doyle's going. Dad already said she could!"

Danny added, "You haven't been out there in forever. Owen just started school, and he cares how things look. Stay home."

"Okay."

I hadn't planned to go anyway.

I hadn't gone in my last life, either.

Back then, Danny and I lived like strangers.

He was always cold. I kept thinking I wasn't good enough for him. Like marrying him was already more than I deserved.

So I pushed myself to learn everything I could, hoping he'd finally see me.

Then he died.

I didn't get time to grieve. I needed money, so I took on a job as a body retriever.

For fifteen years, I raised Owen into adulthood.

In the end, he said I smelled like death and banned me from his wedding.

It broke me.

But I didn't blame him.

Then the cancer came.

I thought I could finally let go. That after death, I'd face Danny and tell him I'd done everything I could.

Instead, I found his hidden diary.

Every page was filled with the name of the woman he'd loved all along.