Chương 6 - THE WOMAN I HAD BECOME INSIDE HIS HOUSE
Therapy asked me a question I hated.
“What did you give up before Roman cheated?”
I wanted to say nothing.
Then I remembered.
Work.
Before marriage, I designed commercial interiors.
Restaurants.
Boutique hotels.
Offices.
I loved old buildings.
Taking spaces people ignored and making them useful again.
After marrying Roman, I kept working.
Then less.
Then not at all.
Security complicated site visits.
Roman traveled.
Social events multiplied.
Pregnancy came.
Somewhere along the way I became professionally described as:
Mrs. Roman Carter.
I had allowed it.
Not because Roman forced me every morning.
Because his life was huge.
Mine became easier to shrink around it.
I contacted my former business partner, Leah Morris.
She answered:
“Are you calling because you finally realized rich husbands are terrible retirement plans?”
I laughed.
Then cried.
Leah gave me a project.
Small hotel renovation.
Six rooms.
Nothing glamorous.
Perfect.
I brought Noelle to the office twice.
Margaret watched her other days.
I remembered myself.
Roman noticed.
“You look different.”
We stood outside my townhouse during a custody exchange.
“How?”
“Happy.”
I almost became angry.
Then stopped.
He had said it without accusation.
“I am.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
The old Roman would have asked whether work interfered with Noelle.
This one asked:
“What are you designing?”
May you like
That was all.
We were learning how to become people who knew each other without possessing each other.
