I waited a few minutes after her breathing settled—deep, even, the way it always sounded when she was fully asleep. Then I slowly slipped out of bed, careful not to shift the mattress too much. She didn't stir.
I stepped out of the room and into my home office, closing the door behind me with a soft click. My hands hovered over my phone for a moment before I finally tapped the number I'd stopped on earlier.
Charlie George Moreau.
My father-in-law.
My biggest critic.
The man who had never approved of me—dating Val, marrying her, or simply existing near her.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then—
] "You have some nerve calling this number."
Straight to hostility. Of course.
"I didn't call to argue," I said, keeping my voice level.
Silence. Not acceptance—just silence. The kind that said he was deciding whether to hang up on me or let me talk.
I breathed out slowly. "I just want to help."
Another beat of silence… then a scoff.
