Across Every Line He Claimed Me

Five years into the marriage, Asher Crowe tells his wife Gwyneth Payne three separate times that when the two of them emigrate, Liana Quayle is coming with them. The third time, Gwyneth sets down the dishes she has just finished making and asks him why. He does not soften it. "I don't want to keep this from you anymore. Liana lives in the residential area beside ours. She's spent nine years with me, and I owe her too much. I must bring her with me when we migrate." Gwyneth does not cry and she does not raise her voice. She goes and books Liana a seat on their flight, and Asher takes that for agreement, decides his wife has come round at last, and stops worrying about the arrangement. On the day of departure Gwyneth stands in the terminal and watches the two of them board. Then she walks to another gate and takes a flight to her parents' house.