"Zoe, get yourself ready. Time for work." His voice had already gone gentle when he spoke to her, the gloom wiped from his face.
"Mm." Zoe gave a soft nod and rose to follow Corey out.
One of them young and lovely, the other rich and generous.
Watching their backs as they left, a decision settled in me all at once.
The truth was, I'd known the answer for a long time. It was only that six years of marriage still left a thread of reluctance.
Now, even that was gone.
After the two of them left, Constance leaned back in her chair, picking at her teeth. "You there. Go get my medicine ready."
The "you there" she meant was Lena.
"Lena, don't bother with her."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Constance glared at me. "Corey said it himself, told you all to take good care of me. What are you trying to pull?"
"Lena, go pack up her things and Zoe's. Throw them all out. Get someone in to replace everything in the bedroom."
"I asked you what you think you're doing." Constance stood and jabbed a finger at me.
"This is my home, and you're not welcome here. That's what I mean."
"You think I won't call Corey right now?"
"Suit yourself."
I got up and headed upstairs.
My mother hurried after me. "Susan, did you and Corey have a fight?"
"No. I've just worked some things out. I'm getting a divorce."
"You're sure about this?"
"Mm."
"Then I'm behind you."
She pulled me into a hug, then turned to Lena. "Go pack up Zoe and her mother's things. Don't leave a single piece behind."
"Mom, I'm sorry you've had to put up with all this."
My mother was never the weak sort, but for my sake she'd swallowed it all quietly these past days.
To keep this family of mine intact, she'd willingly given up her room and willingly endured Constance's cold, cutting remarks.
Now she didn't have to anymore.
"You... you just wait."
Constance kept up her shouting and got Corey on the phone right away.
I went up to the third-floor terrace and stood in the morning light, looking out at the road.
I waited, patient, to see whether Corey would come running back.
To see what choice he'd make next.
Soon his car came into view. He had come back, just as I expected.
For the sake of Zoe's mother, the engine roared as it sped toward the house.
I took out my phone and placed a call. "I want to divorce Corey. Can you handle that?"
Corey came back, and he brought Zoe with him.
Her eyes were rimmed red. "Susan, if you have a problem with me, you can say it to my face. But bullying my mother the second I'm gone, that's going too far."
"You worm your way into someone else's nest and then play the victim? If you had any shame left, you'd take your mother and get out right now."
"Susan Simmons, you've gone too far."
Corey's face was cold. "Apologize to Constance. Now."
"If the two of you don't leave, you haven't seen 'too far' yet."
"You're really asking for it." Corey strode toward me.
"Corey Mason, you lay one finger on my daughter and see what happens."
My mother stepped in front of me.
"What has my daughter ever done to wrong you, that you'd pull a stunt like this? Are you even human?"
"What did I do?" Corey roared. "Zoe is my assistant. She's having a hard time in her life, and I helped her. Is that a crime?"
"You think this is a normal way to help someone?" My mother's eyes were red. "I'm not blind. The two of you have been making eyes at each other right under my nose and my daughter's. There's no bullying quite like yours."
"Watch your mouth. There's nothing between me and Zoe. It's a normal boss-and-assistant relationship. People with filth in their hearts see filth in everything."
