Chapter 2: Drawing Boundaries

The next day, I came home from work and found the debris from the previous day completely untouched. I pretended not to see it, simply packed a few clothes, and left again.

Allen didn’t see me when he got home from work and called to ask.

“I’m on a business trip. Back next week,” I said.

Allen paused on the other end of the line, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately just said, “Okay, take care.”

After hanging up, I immediately applied for a business trip through the company system. An hour later, Susan from the finance department—also Allen’s aunt and our matchmaker—called and asked cautiously, “Cathy, you just got married, why are you going on a business trip? Did Allen upset you?”

To be honest, being treated like that by a stepson wasn’t worth getting angry over, but some boundaries just had to be set from the beginning. I didn’t like to air family matters, so I just told her the trip had been scheduled long ago, and I’d forgotten to apply for it in the busy days prior.

Susan hung up, half-convinced but still doubtful.