Chapter 3

After I sent it, I blocked her number.

Three days later I showed up at the county courthouse with the divorce papers.

Madeline had been there since early morning, pacing outside the doors. When she saw me, relief flashed across her face and was gone, replaced by temper.

"Caleb, why didn't you answer me? Are you trying to fail on purpose?"

By then I didn't care about the tests at all. I didn't want to play anymore. Whatever I'd felt for her had gone rotten in a single afternoon.

My silence made her worse.

"You're not actually angry, are you?

"Your mother didn't die. She fainted. Is this really necessary?

"Honestly, I think she faked it. She wanted to put her future daughter-in-law in her place, before I could take over as the woman of the house."

The word died was the end of my patience.

"Don't. If anything happens to my mother because of you, I will take you to court over it, and I will mean it."

Madeline stared at me. "You just raised your voice at me?

"I'm not even living under your roof yet and that old woman is already turning you against me."

I walked past her and straight to the filing window.

The clerk looked at our dates and frowned. "You were married a week ago. And you're filing already?"

Madeline's whole face changed. She went small and pitiful.

"His mother won't leave our marriage alone, and he takes her side every time. I don't want a divorce. He dragged me here."

The clerk gave me a look of plain disapproval.

"Mr. Morgan, you can be as close to your mother as you like, but you can't let her run your marriage."

She closed the register.

"Here's what we'll do. Take thirty days to cool off. If you still want this at the end of it, come back."

I wanted to tell her not to bother, that we could do it right now. But she waved me off and called the next couple forward.

Trent was waiting outside when we came out. He got an arm around Madeline.

"I handled the wedding night for you too. Not bad at all.

"I'll tell you what, sleeping with another man's wife really is something else."

Madeline looked at me, pleased with herself. "I'll give you one more chance to win me back, Caleb.

"Otherwise, when I actually marry Trent, you'll be the one crying."

What made her think I'd still take her? She was filthy. Looking at her turned my stomach.

"No need," I said. "Go marry him."

She went still for a second, then scoffed.

"What's this, playing hard to get?

"Let's see how long the tough act lasts."

I shook my head, done wasting words on her, and left.

Mom was much better by the time I got home. She looked up at me, worried.

"Caleb, you and Madeline —"

"Mom, I'm sorry. This is my fault. You almost —"

She took my hand. "Don't. It isn't your fault. If I blame anyone it's myself, for raising you so gentle that people like her think it's an invitation."

I told her Madeline probably wasn't finished, and asked her to stay calm no matter what happened.

Over the next few days, Madeline called and called. I blocked her, and she came back from an unknown number.

"Caleb, you're taking this way too far.

"It was one test. Is this reaction really necessary? You blocked me?"

She still thought I was only angry.

I smiled at that, and asked her the only thing I still needed to hear from her.

"Madeline. Did you sleep with Trent?"