CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
RHETT
Six Weeks Later
Marriage the second time contains laundry, missed trains, foundation audits, road games, and one argument about shelving that nearly requires mediation.
It is gloriously uncinematic.
Nora travels for book events. I play hockey. We share the new house and maintain separate offices. Her studio remains hers. My losses remain mine to process, though she sometimes sits beside me. Her deadlines remain hers, though I sometimes bring food.
We attend therapy monthly.
Not because we are failing.
Because maintenance is also unseen work.
One evening, I return from a road trip to find Nora asleep in her north-facing studio, surrounded by layouts for a second book. I place a blanket over her and leave without waking her.
On the kitchen counter is a note.
Dinner in fridge. Do not mistake feeding you for surrendering my schedule. Love you.
I laugh.
Then I see a second note beneath it.
Also, Sloane and Lucas kissed in the rink parking lot. Tessa has video. This is not our business, except emotionally.
I call Lucas immediately.
Some growth remains aspirational.