Chapter 26: The New Life
242 words
Three months later, the smell of mildew and stale beer was a distant memory, replaced by the salty tang of the Pacific Ocean. I bought a villa on the coast—not a mansion, but a sanctuary with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the light in.
The 'Miller Asbestos Relief Foundation' was officially up and running. Dad’s name was on the letterhead, helping families who were drowning in medical bills just like we had been. Writing those checks was the best therapy money could buy.
To celebrate the launch, Brenda insisted on taking me to Le Ciel, the most pretentious seafood restaurant in the county. I wore a sapphire gown that hugged curves I forgot I had.
"To freedom," Brenda toasted, clinking her crystal flute against mine.
I reached for my water glass, but it was empty. A busboy hurried over with a pitcher, his head bowed low, avoiding eye contact. His hands were shaking so badly the ice audibly rattled against the glass.
I knew those hands. I knew the dye job on the hair, now fading to a pathetic gray at the roots.
"Water, madam?" he mumbled, his voice rough.
I looked up. Richard stood there in a stained white uniform that was too tight around the middle. He froze when he saw me. The pitcher wavered in his grip.
"Careful," I said, my voice steady. "You wouldn't want to spill. The managers here are very strict about... messes."
End of Chapter 26
