at it had been for the

rm's clients didn't offer her much time to recount her woes, and when she returned home, she was too tired to dwell on them. But the mornings came with the hurting reminder that Oliver was not the man she fell in love with two years ago. Maybe he was still that proud and

t lived to h

who could never subject himself to hit a lady – but there were days when Michelle wished he could tell her what she had done, even hit her, and reconcile their differences. But Oli

, and by a miracle, receive the affection she

he buried her full-length mirror in the lower drawer of her dressing table alongside the many items she had loved to use in beautifying her looks. Now, all she stared at in the morning was a pa

om and met Oliver in his

he would take his gaze off the magazi

rds inscribed on the pages were becoming invisible. He gripped the edges of the Morning Digest and focused on the biography of the man of the month. After bei

she wanted to cope with the stress at Bernard, Cole, and Dylan's law firm. She fet

ad from the blank pa

, he told himself.

cused her that she was drunk that night but over the past few months, Oliver wondered if he had not made a mistake donning his suit and standing by the altar while his d

f she was a repentant sinner. When Michelle turned her head

helle was dying to have a conversation with him, but he was past in

gain. She pursed her lips and blamed herself for trying too much. Maybe sh

e had decorated in their first month as a couple. Michelle had many things she wished to

ough the window as she slid

Follow her and tell

bed, realizing she could be opening

*

affection and her eyes poured out her emotions every morning in the solitude of her car. Her eyes were blinde

e cried int

ing call from Michelle, she

opposite window, she glanced at the busy street with wo

. "I'm freaking tired, Bev. I

can't do that, Mich. What happ

he tears hanging on her lids. "No...I wish he d

he's going through a

months ago and his face was on the Morning Digest t

should ta

hful to my marriage with him. It hurts so much when the person you love ch

er today. How

on. Those were the times when Oliver will look at her and offer a smile. They were the times he used endea

he could revel in the pretenses and begin t

six. What time d

ere's not much to do

And Michelle...please, be hap

as no

miss our little space. I miss how I use

bed. "You spent a fortune decorating when

e you, you grab a good guy

tter and make her heart bear lesser sorrows. "At least, you ap

eet and joined the traffic of

e heard Beverly say. "Be p

my best to be the best wif

at the tra

mean tha

attached to the traffic light. "I know. I

double carriage road. She made a stop at Bernard, Cole, and Dyl

w, Bev. It's going

ee you

ur

. She stared at the daunting building. It was anot