Every time he appeared exactly when I needed him.
Raymond had never simply been my supportive friend.
He had known everything from the beginning.
“Mom,” Caleb said from the doorway, “please don’t be angry with us.”
I turned toward my sons.
They looked frightened.
Nothing about them had changed.
They were still my boys.
“I’m not angry with you,” I said. “I just don’t know what I’m feeling.”
I picked up my phone.
My hands were shaking almost as badly as they had the morning I discovered the basket.
I called Raymond.
He answered almost immediately.
“Kim.”
From the way he said my name, I knew he understood.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to tell him our friendship was finished.
I wanted to ask who gave him the right to manipulate the biggest decision of my life.
Instead, I said only two words.
“Come. Now.”
Thirty minutes later, Raymond stood on my porch.
He looked pale but calm.
He didn’t pretend he didn’t know why he was there.
We sat at my dining table with that old wicker basket between us.
Then Raymond finally told me everything.
“I loved you before Ben,” he said.
I stared at him.
He had loved me since before my marriage.
But when I chose Ben, Raymond stepped aside.
After my divorce, he remained silent because I was devastated.
“So you secretly created a family for me instead?” I asked.
Raymond lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
PART 3
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