I sat in the farthest corner of the room.
David stayed beside me.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Did you know?”
“Not about this.”
“Then what did you know?”
Someone across the room called his name.
David looked toward Carl.
Then back at me.
“Stay for ten minutes.”
“Why?”
“There’s something you need to hear.”
Then he walked away.
A few minutes later, David took the microphone.
“We have one piece of company business before everyone gets back to enjoying themselves.”
Two employees carried out a large box and placed it in front of Carl.
David smiled.
“I’d like to recognize Carl for his ten years with the company.”
People applauded.
Carl looked pleased.
For one absurd second, I thought they were giving him an award.
Then he opened the box.
Inside was a framed plaque.
And a large farewell folder.
Across the front were the words:
THANK YOU FOR 10 YEARS, CARL.
The people closest to him stopped clapping first.
Then the silence spread.
Carl’s expression changed.
David continued.
“We also want to wish Carl well with whatever comes next, since yesterday was his final official day with us.”
I stood up.
“What?”
David’s smile disappeared.
“Carl submitted his resignation three weeks ago.”
My entire body went cold.
Handover.
That was why he had used that word.
I stared at my husband.
“You resigned?”
“Laura—”
“You resigned from your job?”
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“After tonight.”
David frowned.
“I thought you knew.”
“Knew what?”
“He told me you knew about the move.”
I turned slowly toward Carl.
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