Chapter 22

I stared at the five hundred-dollar bills lying against the white hospital blanket. Six months ago, standing outside a half-open patio door in the dark, I had watched Jason pull five bills just like these from his wallet while my husband bet that I was too weak to leave him. Beneath the cash was a folded sheet of heavy paper. I unfolded it. The letter inside was written in Jason's cramped handwriting, with Eric's signature at the bottom. Natalie, We know we have no right to ask for your...