“And the restaurant where she asked me not to mention the warehouse expansion?”
I remembered that too.
Ashley had said talking about freight contracts was boring.
I’d changed the subject.
“And when she called my car a junk heap?”
I rubbed my face.
“Mom, please.”
She stopped.
Then she looked at me.
“Nathan, I wasn’t keeping score. I thought you loved her, and I wanted to make things easier.”
I swallowed.
She spoke again.
“But yesterday, when she said I smelled like manure, I wasn’t hurt because of the smell.”
I looked up.
“I was hurt because she knew you’d hear her.”
My throat tightened.
Mom continued.
“She wanted me embarrassed in front of you, and she expected you to let it happen.”
I stared at my plate.
Then I remembered the wedding band.
I reached into my jacket pocket.
The narrow gold ring was still there.
I placed it on the table.
Mom looked at it.
“You shouldn’t have taken that from her.”
“I was furious.”
“I understand. But it’s her ring. You gave it to her.”
I stared at the small circle of gold.
“Are you defending Ashley?”
“No. I’m reminding you that being hurt doesn’t give us permission to do whatever we want.”
