Page 98 of The Perfect Divorce
“What do you mean by ‘closure’?”
“I know what really happened to Kelly Summers now, and the world does too. If I hadn’t married Bob, I’m not sure I would have ever discovered the truth,” I say with a bit of conviction.
“How has all of this affected your daughter?”
“Her grief is complicated, like mine was with Adam when the world thought he was a monster. She understands her father’s actions were immoral, vile, and unforgivable, but he was still her dad. It’s been really hard for her, but she’s doing much better now.”
I did feel awful telling Summer what had happened to her father and what he had done. It took her a while to wrap her head around it. She didn’t believe it—for good reason, because it wasn’t true. But eventually, she came to terms with the narrative. We’re much better off now, just like I knew we would be. And she’s taken a liking to Alejandro too. He’s nice to have around; my relationship with him isn’t anything serious, mostly just sex. Plus, he’s a little bit of a loose end, and the only way to ensure loose ends don’t unravel is to keep them close. And I saylittlebecause who would ever believe the word of a felon? I mean, a person with felon status. Alejandro and I both have skeletons in our closets, and we know exactly who they are.
“Do you think you were a part of Bob’s master plan or merely a bonus?”
“I don’t know what I was to him, and I don’t care to know.”
“Understandable,” she says with a nod. “Adam’s mother, Eleanor Rumple, passed away before the conviction of her son was overturned. How do you think she would have felt had she been alive to see her son’s name finally cleared?”
“She would have been thrilled, and it’s a tragedy she didn’t get to witness that.”
“It certainly is,” Caroline says. “A federal jury in Virginia awarded you thirty-two million dollars for the wrongful conviction and execution of your husband Adam Morgan. Are you happy with that settlement?”
“Not really. How could that make me happy? It doesn’t undo what they did. It doesn’t bring Adam back.”
She pulls her lips in and nods before moving on with the interview. “Do you have any plans for the money?”
It’s an insensitive question, but people want to know.
“A portion of it will be set aside in a trust for Summer. I plan to reinvest the rest of it into the Morgan Foundation, intending to use the funds to continue to provide pro bono legal work to those who can’t afford it, as well as expand our Second Chance program, which helps previously incarcerated individuals reenter society in a positive and productive manner.”
“That’s very admirable, Sarah. Most people would take a vacation or retire early.”
“I’m not most people.”
She tightly smiles. “No, you are not. You have an incredible story, one that many have called stranger than fiction. You’ve lost so much, endured more than most could ever imagine, and yet you continue to persevere. You’ve made it your life’s mission to help others, despite the fact that there was no one there to help you and your husband Adam when you needed it. Do you feel any sort of resentment?”
“I’d be lying if I said no.”
“Then how is it you choose to lead with generosity and compassion?”
It’s the last question. I know this because I had them sent over beforehand so I could prepare my answers. This one I practiced more than all the others to ensure I hit the right tone and message. It’s short and sweet, rather ridiculous too. But America will eat it up. Good versus evil is mankind’s oldest fight. It’s clichéd and overly simplified because people aren’t inherently good or evil. They’re a little of both, maybe more of one than the other, but that’s too complicated for most to digest. So, I’ll give them simple. The light on set brightens just a little before I answer. How poetic.
“I don’t have a choice, Caroline. It’s just who I am,” I say with a soft, angelic smile.