Lauren turned.
“No.”
He stared at her.
She realized how that sounded.
“Jason, wait.”
I walked to the coffee table.
My wedding ring felt suddenly heavy.
I removed it.
Lauren stopped speaking.
I set it down.
The tiny metallic tap against the wood sounded louder than it should have.
“I was gone,” I said.
Her eyes stayed on the ring.
“To you.”
Her face crumpled.
The anger vanished almost instantly.
“Ethan.”
I picked up my suitcase.
That was when she noticed the two backpacks.
Her expression changed from fear to panic.
“No.”
I said nothing.
She rushed past me.
“Where are Sophie and Caleb?”
“With Natalie.”
“For how long?”
“Tonight.”
“You were going to take them?”
“I was going to leave the house without having this argument in front of them.”
“You can’t take my children.”
“They are my children too.”
Jason stood near the door looking as though he wished the floor would open.
I turned to him.
“Go home.”
Lauren said:
“No, wait.”
Jason looked at her.
Then at me.
Whatever courage brought him into my house had disappeared.
“I’m sorry, Ethan.”
I stared at him.
“You’re sorry you got caught.”
He swallowed.
Then left.
The front door closed.
Lauren started crying.
“Please.”
I lifted my suitcase.
“Don’t do this.”
I walked toward the door.
She grabbed my sleeve.
“Ethan, please.”
I stopped.
“This was one mistake.”
I looked down at her hand.
Then at her.
“One?”
Her eyes moved away.
That was all I needed.
I pulled my arm gently free.
“I’m not doing this tonight.”
“We need to talk.”
“We will.”
“When?”
“When I can hear you without wanting every answer at once.”
I stepped outside.
Lauren followed barefoot, leaving her heels somewhere near the foyer.
“Please don’t destroy our family.”
That sentence nearly stopped me.
Not because I agreed with her.
Because I had spent three months terrified of being the one who did exactly that.
I reached my truck.
My phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I nearly ignored it.
Then I looked.
My name is Rachel. I’m Jason’s wife. Before Lauren lies to you, there’s something you need to see.
A photograph appeared.
I opened it.
At first, my brain processed the obvious part.
Lauren.
Jason.
They were outdoors somewhere, both dressed casually. Jason stood with one arm around Lauren’s waist.
She was leaning against him.
They looked comfortable.
Not new.
Not nervous.
Then I saw the date automatically attached beneath the image.
May 14.
Almost two years earlier.
My wedding anniversary.
I remembered that day immediately.
I had made reservations at a restaurant Lauren loved.
At four that afternoon, she called me and said her mother had become sick and needed help.
Our children were supposed to spend the evening with Natalie so Lauren and I could celebrate alone.
Instead, Lauren picked them up early.
She told me she was taking Sophie and Caleb to Elaine’s house because she didn’t want to leave her mother alone.
I ate our anniversary dinner by myself after canceling the reservation too late.
Lauren came home after ten with the children asleep in the back seat.