Debbie Macomber - 204 Rosewood Lane

G race Sherman stared down at the legal form that would start the divorce proceedings. She sat in the attorneys office with Maryellen, her oldest daughter, whod come with her to offer support. Grace reminded herself that this should be straightforward, that her decision was made. She was ready to end her marriage, ready to piece together her shattered life. To begin again But her hand shook as she picked up the pen.

The inescapable fact was that she didnt want thisbut Dan hadnt left her with any other option.

Five months ago, in April, her husband of almost thirty-six years had disappeared. Vanished without a trace. One day everything was perfectly normal, and the next he was gone. Apparently by choice and without a word of explanation. Even now, Grace had difficulty believing that the man shed lived with, the man shed loved and with whom shed had two daughters, could do anything as cruel as this.

If Dan had fallen out of love with her, she could accept that. She wouldve found enough pride, enough generosity, to release him without bitterness. If he was that miserable in their marriage, she wouldve gladly set him free to find happiness with someone else. What she couldnt forgive was the misery hed heaped on their familys shoulders, what hed done to their daughters. Especially Kelly.

Dan had disappeared shortly after Kelly and Paul had announced that after years of trying, they were finally, excitedly, pregnant. Dan had been thrilled, and Grace, too. This baby was going to be their first grandchild. Theyd waited so long.

Kelly had always been close to her father and his disappearance at this critical time in her life had devastated her. Shed pleaded with Grace to postpone the divorce proceedings, convinced that her father would return before Tyler was born. When Dan did return, hed have a logical reason and would explain everything to their satisfaction.

He hadnt come back, though, and thered been no further information. Nothing but doubts, questions and a churning, deepening anger that intensified in the endless weeks that followed.

When Grace couldnt stand not knowing any longer, shed hired Roy McAfee, a private detective and former policeman she trusted. Roy had done an extensive search, certain that Dan had left a paper trail, and hed been right. What Roy had uncovered was a complete shock to Grace. A year earlier, Dan had purchased a travel trailer, paying cash for it. Grace had no idea where hed gotten that kind of money, nor did she know anything about the trailer. Hed never mentioned it, nor had she seen it. To this day she had no idea where hed kept it all those months. Or where it was now.

Given the mounting evidence, she had her suspicions. Grace believed that Dan had used the travel trailer to sneak away with another woman. Thered been one sighting of him and it had come late in May. It almost felt as if her husband had orchestrated this brief reappearance, as if he was taunting her, challenging her to find him. That day had been a low point for Grace.

A coworker of Dans had spotted him at the marina and Maryellen had hurried to the library to fetch her. But by the time Grace reached the marina, Dan was gone. A woman had pulled up to the curb and Dan had climbed into the vehicle and driven away, never to be seen or heard from again.

In retrospect, shed come to believe that Dan was providing her with the answers she so desperately needed. She could think of no other reason he would mysteriously arrive at the busiest place in town, where he was most likely to be seenand recognized. The library where she worked was less than two blocks away. Clearly, her husband lacked the courage to tell her there was someone else. Instead hed chosen another, crueler way to inform her; hed humiliated her in front of the entire community. Grace knew without being told that everyone in Cedar Cove pitied her.

That sighting had settled the matter in Graces mind. Whatever love she still felt for Dan died that afternoon. Until then, she hadnt wanted to believe there was someone else. Even when the VISA bill showed up with a hefty charge from a local jeweler, Grace had refused to accept that her husband was involved with another woman. Dan just wasnt the kind of man who would be unfaithful to her. Shed trusted him. Not anymore.

Are you okay, Mom? Maryellen asked, touching her arm.

Graces hand tightened around the pen. Fine, she snapped, instantly regretting her tone. She hadnt meant to sound so sharp.

Her daughter looked away. Grace focused on the divorce papers, hesitated a moment longer and then with haste signed her name.