Chapter 14 - THE RING ON THE TABLE
Arthur asked for the wedding ring back.
Naomi almost laughed when Julia told her.
“He gave it to me.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“He says it was his grandmother’s diamond.”
Naomi stopped.
That part was true.
The stone had been removed from an older setting before Arthur proposed.
Naomi had forgotten.
Legally, Julia believed the ring was Naomi’s gift to keep.
Emotionally, Naomi no longer wanted it.
She arranged to return it after the divorce.
Arthur asked whether he could collect it personally.
Naomi said no.
Then changed her mind.
One final meeting.
Neutral office.
Ten minutes.
She wanted the marriage to end with an actual exchange rather than another courier envelope.
Arthur arrived early.
He looked healthier.
That irritated Naomi.
She had imagined accountability should leave visible damage.
Reality did not care about symbolism.
Naomi placed the ring box on the table.
Arthur did not touch it.
“I’m sorry.”
Naomi waited.
“For the coffee.”
Still she waited.
“For grabbing you.”
Arthur swallowed.
“For telling Brooke about your account. For the lender representation. For hiding Hawthorne. For using her as the reason when it was my investment too.”
Naomi looked at him.
Months earlier he would have followed each sentence with an explanation.
Stress.
Fear.
Family.
This time none came.
“And for telling myself you made me do things because you said no.”
That one hurt.
Naomi lowered her eyes.
Arthur continued:
“My therapist keeps asking what I thought marriage entitled me to.”
Naomi almost smiled.
“Expensive therapist?”
Arthur actually laughed.
“Painfully.”
Silence settled.
Then he said:
“I loved you.”
Naomi looked back at him.
“I know.”
“That somehow makes what I did harder to understand.”
“Only if you think loving someone automatically means treating them well.”
Arthur nodded.
He finally picked up the ring.
“Do you hate me?”
Naomi considered lying.
Instead:
“Sometimes.”
His face tightened.
“Other times I miss you.”
That hurt him more.
“Does that mean—”
“No.”
Naomi did not let hope grow where she did not intend to feed it.
“Missing you isn’t permission.”
Arthur looked down at the ring.
“Okay.”
He stood.
At the door, he turned.
Naomi tensed without meaning to.
Arthur saw it.
He looked devastated.
But he did not step closer.
“Goodbye, Naomi.”
“Goodbye.”
May you like
He left.
The table between them stayed dry.
