A quietness settled over the lobby. Several guests near the café had begun looking toward them.
Trevor’s face tightened.
“You’re acting completely irrational.”
Audrey studied him.
“Interesting. When I paid, I was generous. The moment I stopped paying, I became irrational.”
Brooke looked toward her mother.
“Mom, say something.”
But Diane remained silent.
Then Trevor said the words that ended whatever small part of Audrey had still wondered whether the marriage could be repaired.
“Maybe if you were easier to love, my family wouldn’t have to try so hard around you.”
The sentence landed softly.
That was almost the strangest part.
Five years earlier, Audrey would have carried those words home and examined herself for months. She would have asked whether she was too serious, too ambitious, too guarded, too independent. She would have tried to become smaller and warmer and easier, though no one had ever asked Trevor to become kinder.
That morning, however, his cruelty gave her something unexpected.
Clarity.
She reached into the folder and removed a sealed envelope.
“These are your condo keys.”
Trevor blinked.
“What?”
“The parking remote is inside too. Rebecca will contact you today.”
Diane found her voice.
“That condo belongs to my son.”
Audrey looked at her without anger.
“No. The deed is in my name. The down payment came from my savings. The mortgage comes from my account. Trevor lives there because I shared my home with my husband.”
Trevor took one slow step backward.
“Audrey, don’t do this here.”
She closed the folder.
“Don’t worry. I’m finished doing anything here.”
At that moment, Owen approached.
“Mrs. Bennett, your car to Jacksonville International Airport is ready.”
Trevor stared at her.
“Airport?”
Audrey picked up her handbag.
“Yes. Yesterday you wanted to leave me behind. Today you can watch me leave on purpose.”