I closed my eyes and held out my hand. Eight years ago, when he
asked me to do this, he’d slipped a promise ring on my finger the
day after I told him I was pregnant. This time, with my palm open,
I felt a piece of flat metal press against my wedding ring. My eyes
opened to the sight of house keys. In seconds, my mind processed
that these shiny keys meant we could relinquish the cramped cottage to another renter.

“Well?” His dark eyes were wide and excited that he pulled off this
surprise, and his expression conveyed that he was expecting a shower of grateful kisses and hugs, but I felt stunned he had made the purchase without me.

“Where is it? What does it look like? Is it close to the school? I
thought we were going to look”—my voice trailed off—“together.”

Copyright 2022, Judith F. Brenner. All rights reserved.