I came home expecting my husband to be distant, distracted, and ordinary. Instead, he was careful in a way that made my skin prickle. By the next morning, one tiny piece of gold had me questioning my marriage, my sister, and the quiet lies waiting in my own backyard.
I found my sister’s wedding ring at the bottom of our pool the morning after I came home from a work trip.
Then I turned it over and saw the engraving inside.
“Forever starts with us.”
I’d watched my younger sister cry over those four words when Connor showed her the engraving inside her wedding band.
“Forever starts with us.”
My hand closed around it.
Olivia hated cold water. She hadn’t swum in my pool once that summer. I also knew she wouldn’t have come over while I was away because Daniel, my husband, had been home.
We had a small backyard camera after a few packages went missing. Daniel hated it and thought it only faced the gate.
So how had her ring ended up in the deep end?
And why did my stomach already know I wasn’t going to like the answer?
Olivia hated cold water.
***
The night before, Daniel had been too sweet.
“Drop the bags, Elle,” he said, taking my suitcase. “You look exhausted.”
“I can carry a suitcase, Dan.”
“Not after five days away.” He kissed my forehead. “I reheated your favorite lasagna.”
That night, he was too careful.
“You look exhausted.”
“You’re in a strange mood,” I said.
“I missed my wife, that’s all.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
I glanced toward the hallway. “Did Olivia stop by while I was gone?”
His hand paused on my suitcase. “Why would she?”
What happened next changed everything… FULL STORY on the next page.
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