The following morning, I found Brad sitting at the dining table.
The folder was open again.
He had arranged the papers into neat piles.
The appointment documents were on one side.
The financial estimates were on the other.
The pharmacy receipt was underneath them.
He looked up when I entered.
"I made some calls."
I poured myself a glass of water.
"About what?"
"The arrangements. I wanted to make sure nothing had been finalized without your agreement."
I sat opposite him.
"And?"
"Nothing has been finalized."
I nodded.
That was good.
But it wasn't enough.
Brad pushed a document toward me.
"I also made an appointment with a marriage counselor."
I looked at the paper.
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
He continued.
"I thought we might need someone who isn't involved in either side of this."
I studied him.
"Are you asking me to go?"
"Yes."
"Because you want to repair our marriage?"
He nodded.
"Because I want to understand what I've done and whether we can move forward."
I placed the document down.
"I'll consider it."
He didn't pressure me.
That surprised me.
In the past, he would have asked again.
He would have tried to convince me.
This time, he simply nodded.
I went into the kitchen.
I opened the cupboard.
The black mug was still there.
I took it out.
The words Best Husband faced me.
I stared at them for a few seconds.
Then I placed it on the counter.
Brad appeared in the doorway.
"Are you getting rid of that?"
"I haven't decided."
He looked at the mug.
"I remember when you gave it to me."
"So do I."
"I used to love that cup."
I looked at him.
"I used to love giving it to you."
He lowered his eyes.
I washed the mug.
Then I placed it on the drying rack.
I wasn't ready to throw away every reminder of our marriage.
But I wasn't ready to pretend those memories were still uncomplicated.
Later that afternoon, Chloe sent one final message.
Brad showed it to me before replying.
She wrote that the office had completed the changes to her reporting arrangements.
She also said she would no longer contact him about anything personal.
I read the message.
Then I handed the phone back.
"Keep it professional."
"I will."
He sent a short acknowledgment.
Nothing more.
I thought that would be the end of it.
But that evening, Margaret called.
She wanted to know whether I had considered speaking with Brad's family about what had happened.
I told her I wasn't ready.
She understood.
Before ending the call, she asked me something.
"Do you still love him?"
I looked toward the dining room.
Brad was sitting alone, reading the appointment paperwork.
I didn't answer immediately.
"I don't know what love is supposed to feel like right now."
Margaret was quiet.
"I understand."
After we hung up, I sat beside Brad.
He looked at me.
"Everything okay?"
"Margaret called."
He nodded.
I looked at the folder.
"There's something I want to make clear before we go to counseling."
"All right."
"I won't agree to have a child just because we're afraid of losing each other."
He put the paper down.
"I understand."
"And I won't stay married because of the years we've already spent together."
He looked at me.
"I don't want you to stay out of obligation."
I studied his face.
"Then you need to accept that I might decide to leave."
He swallowed.
"I know."
I wanted to believe him.
But trust was no longer something I could give him simply because he asked.
That night, I returned to the spare room.
Brad didn't follow me.
I closed the door.
And for the first time, I began thinking about what my life might look like if I had to start again.
Not because I wanted to punish him.
Because I needed to know I could.
Click here to continue reading: PART 18: Our First Counseling Session Exposed the Damage We Had Both Been Avoiding, and Brad Finally Heard What His Silence Had Done to Me
I Thought My Husband Was Meeting Another Woman That Morning, Until One Small Detail Made Me Question Everything
Part 17 of 20
