In my previous life, despair had swallowed me whole. I'd thrown myself at Denise, clawing at her clothes, screaming:
"Why are you doing this to me?! Why do you have to destroy everything I have?!"
Our fight drew Ezra and his commanding officers.
Denise crumpled into Ezra's arms, the picture of wounded innocence:
"Captain Mason, I was just delivering the premarital exam results. She seemed so nervous, I made a little joke to lighten the mood. I never imagined your wife would get angry enough to hit me!"
I begged Ezra through my tears, trying to explain how she'd slandered me, fabricated diseases out of thin air.
All of it to tear us apart and ruin the only happiness I'd ever managed to find.
Denise just blinked those wide eyes of hers, her voice dripping with hurt:
"I never said that! I said you had a little cold. You must have misheard me. It's all just a misunderstanding."
"Besides, I don't even know you. Why would I want to ruin your happiness? If anything, I hope Ezra finds all the happiness in the world!"
I tried to pull Mrs. Abbott and the other older relatives over to back me up.
But Ezra cut me off, his tone measured and dismissive: