It was the perfect answer.
Not because it was romantic.
Because it was true.
We did not kiss that night.
I am glad.
Some doors should not open just because pain makes people reach for warmth.
We let time do what time does when no one tries to force it into a movie scene.
Another year passed.
The divorce finalized after Ryan realized dragging it out made him look worse professionally. Caldwell, the executive who had demanded the Dallas meeting, eventually testified in deposition that Ryan had not been required to attend in person and could have joined remotely.
That testimony broke something in Ryan’s case.
It also broke the last excuse I had secretly kept for him.
He had not needed to leave.
He had chosen to.
After the divorce, custody settled into a structure: I had primary physical custody. Ryan had gradually expanded visitation, first supervised, then unsupervised day visits after completing court requirements. No overnights until Lily was older and until he demonstrated consistent infant care.
