Chapter 6
Daniel was arrested two weeks later.
Margaret and Todd were arrested the same day.
Vanessa had cut a deal. She testified against all of them in exchange for probation and restitution.
I saw the mugshots online.
Margaret, still defiant.
Todd, angry.
Daniel, broken.
His company fired him. The construction license he had was suspended. His friends stopped returning his calls.
He called me from jail.
I answered.
"Claire. Please. I need you. Bail is set at $50,000. I can't—"
"I'm not bailing you out, Daniel."
"Claire, I'm your husband."
"I filed for divorce. And you're in jail for stealing from me. Why would I bail you out?"
He was quiet.
Then his voice changed. Got colder.
"You'll pay for this. You think you can destroy my family and get away with it? My mother has friends. People who will—"
I hung up.
I blocked his number.
And I called Patricia.
"He threatened me. I want a restraining order."
She got it.
Daniel couldn't come within 500 feet of me, my house, or my office.
He couldn't call. He couldn't text. He couldn't email.
If he did, he'd go back to jail.
I felt safer.
But I also felt... empty.
Six years of my life. Gone.
Emma moved in with me temporarily. She said she needed a change of scenery. I knew she was lying. She was there so I wouldn't be alone.
We painted the kitchen. Back to the colors I wanted.
We donated Margaret's silk robe. We threw away the porcelain basin.
May you like
We reclaimed the house.
And slowly, I started to feel like myself again.
