When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 16

So this was what being rich looked like.

“No.” Jonah’s answer was calm, almost distant. “All my meals are planned out. It’s been ages since I had anything homemade.”

“Oh, okay.” Nelly poked at her food with her fork, not sure what else to say. Did rich people even eat differently from everyone else?

After dinner, Jonah was the first to get up and offered to handle the dishes. With a dishwasher in the kitchen, it didn’t take much effort anyway.

Nelly didn’t argue. She’d been on her feet all day and just wanted to rest. She sank into the sofa and, before she knew it, drifted off to sleep.

When Jonah came back, he found her curled up in the corner, dressed in cozy white pajamas that made her look like a small, sleepy kitten tucked into itself.

He quietly rolled up his sleeves and, with steady arms, picked Nelly up and carried her into the master bedroom. He laid her gently in the middle of the bed, pulling the blanket over her with surprising care.

“Brody… I hate you…”

Just as Jonah turned to leave, he heard her mumble. Her lips quivered, and there were faint traces of tears at the corners of her eyes. Even though she was clearly hurting, she still managed to act like everything was fine. Jonah felt an ache in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain.

*

After Nelly hung up on him, Brody didn’t bother calling her back.

Instead, he had Alan drive him straight to Sheila’s place. The whole ride over, Brody was giving off an icy anger that made the air feel heavy.

Once they got there, Brody, Carrie and Sheila all had dinner together. The mood finally eased enough for Alan to pull Brody aside and quietly deliver the news: Nelly had quit her job.

He hadn’t even gotten to the part about the divorce before Brody’s pen went flying across the room, slamming into the door with a loud thud.

He had no idea what would happen to Nelly, but he was pretty sure he couldn’t take much more of this.

“Sir, maybe I should try reaching her again?” Alan managed, his voice shaky. The pen clattered onto the desk.

Alan panicked, thinking this was the end for Nelly, and quickly tried to reassure Brody. “There’s no need to worry, sir. Josh is already handling the projects Mrs. Garland was in charge of. Even if she leaves…”

“Who said she could leave?” Brody’s words cut him off, his face blank and his stare sharp enough to make Alan forget how to breathe.

“Did you give her permission to just walk away whenever she wanted?”

Alan shook his head, practically falling over himself. “I’m sorry, sir. I misspoke. I’ll go talk to Mrs. Garland tomorrow…”

“Take me home.” Brody didn’t look at him. He glanced at his watch. It was eleven thirty. By now, Nelly should definitely be home.