Chapter 14: The Phone Call
Russell called one last time a year and a half after the divorce was final.
His voice was different—smaller, tired.
“I heard you’re doing well. Felix is happy. I just… I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
I listened without anger.
“I accept your apology,” I said. “But it doesn’t change anything. You made your choices. We made ours.”
He was quiet for a long moment.
“Can I see him sometime?”
“Through the court process,” I answered. “If you follow the rules.”
He didn’t argue.
After the call ended I sat on the porch and looked at the house I had paid for with five years of my life. The money, the sacrifice, the loneliness—they had all led to this moment.
My family was safe. My son was happy. My parents were with me.
Russell had smiled until one phone call took everything away.
May you like
I had never needed to raise my voice.
The truth and the law had done it for me.
