Chapter 8 - The Final Clearing
The following evening, Daniel drove to the house for the first time since the night he returned. The rain was coming down in heavy, relentless sheets, beating against the roof of the sedan and turning the front lawn into a muddy mess.
He unlocked the front door using his key and stepped into the entryway. The house was eerie and half-empty. Cardboard packing boxes were stacked high along the living room walls. Most of the decorative items—the wedding photos, the framed vacation pictures, the cozy living room rugs—had been taken down or packed away.
Emily was sitting on the edge of a bare wooden chair in the kitchen, a mug of cold tea sitting untouched in front of her. The baby was sleeping in a portable car seat on the floor nearby.
When she heard his footsteps, she jumped up, looking at him with bloodshot, exhausted eyes.
“Daniel,” she whispered, taking a small step toward him before stopping herself when she saw the expression on his face. “I got the legal papers today...”
“Then you know you need to be out by Friday,” Daniel said, standing near the kitchen island with his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his jacket.
“How can you be so heartless?” Emily cried out suddenly, her emotional exhaustion finally breaking through her guilt. “I made a mistake, Daniel! A horrible, terrible mistake during the darkest, loneliest period of my life! But I was your wife for five years! How can you just throw me and an innocent baby out onto the street like trash?”
“You threw us out the second you let another man into our bed,” Daniel answered, his voice icy and steady. “You didn't think about five years of marriage when I was dodging artillery fire in Syria and you were lying to me on the phone. Don't talk to me about heartlessness, Emily. You destroyed this family. I’m just cleaning up the wreckage.”
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“He has nowhere to go!” Emily yelled, pointing frantically at the sleeping newborn in the car seat. “Henry blocked my number! He won't even help buy formula! I have no job, Daniel! I gave up my career to support your military assignments!”
“Then call Henry’s parents,” Daniel replied coldly, turning his back on her to walk toward the front door. “Or call a lawyer and sue him for child support. He’s the father. Not me.”
