Chapter 3 - THE CIVIL MARRIAGE
The marriage certificate was real.
Cook County.
No fake ceremony.
No forged license.
Richard Miller and Abigail Hale.
Eight months earlier.
Two witnesses:
their attorneys.
No family.
No announcement.
Claire held the copy in her hands the next day.
Christopher stood across from her in the kitchen.
He had spent the night at a hotel after police interviewed everyone.
Claire’s slap was documented too.
She admitted it.
Separate conduct.
Separate accountability.
Christopher stared at the marriage certificate.
“They married?”
“Yes.”
“He never told me.”
“No.”
“He married your mother.”
“Yes.”
Christopher laughed once.
Then looked sick.
Claire said:
“That still doesn’t explain why you attacked her.”
He looked away.
“I thought she was sleeping with him behind everyone’s back.”
“They were widowed.”
“I know that now.”
“You knew your mother was dead.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Christopher struggled.
He had grown up seeing Richard as emotionally frozen after Helen’s death.
No dating.
No public relationships.
No vulnerability.
Then suddenly he found a fertility file with Abigail’s name and his father listed as genetic parent.
His brain filled the gaps.
Affair.
Humiliation.
Betrayal.
He drove to Claire’s house.
Saw Abigail.
Demanded answers.
She refused.
Then rage took over.
Claire said:
“You keep explaining the feeling.”
“I know.”
“Explain the choice.”
Christopher looked at the floor.
“I wanted her to admit it.”
“So you hit her?”
Silence.
He nodded once.
Claire’s face tightened.
“You don’t get to turn shock into permission.”
He cried.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
May you like
He had no answer.
Not yet.
