“You said you slept in separate rooms.”
We did not.
“You said he knew you wanted out.”
I looked at my wife.
She could not meet my eyes.
“You told him I knew?”
Leah whispered:
“I didn’t say you knew everything.”
That sentence was so absurd I almost smiled.
“What does that mean?”
She started crying.
“I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Nolan laughed bitterly.
“That’s convenient.”
Leah turned on him.
“Shut up.”
“You told me after the promotion you were leaving.”
My stomach tightened.
Not after her birthday.
Not after Christmas.
After the promotion.
This party.
Tonight.
The celebration had apparently been a deadline for two people.
Just not the same deadline.
Amanda covered her mouth.
Corey looked at me.
I felt strangely calm.
“So that was the plan?”
Leah shook her head.
“No.”
“Nolan.”
He stared at the floor.
“She said once the promotion was official, she’d make a decision.”
I looked at Leah.
“Were you planning to leave?”
She cried harder.
“I don’t know.”
“That is not an answer.”
She looked around the room.
“I can’t do this with everyone standing here.”
I nodded.
“Good.”
Then I turned to the guests.
“Please go home.”
This time nobody argued.
People collected coats in near silence.
Some avoided Leah.
Some avoided me.
A few hugged me.
Most did not know what to say.
Corey stopped at the door.
“You want me to stay?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Amanda said:
“I’m staying.”
Leah snapped:
“No.”
Amanda stared.
“You’re my sister.”
“I don’t want you here.”
“You don’t get to decide everything tonight.”
I almost laughed.
Nolan headed toward the door.
I called after him.
“One question.”
He stopped.
I looked at him.
“When I asked Leah directly if anything was happening, she said no.”
Nolan looked ashamed.
“I know.”
“How?”
“She told me.”
That hurt differently.
“She told you I asked?”
“Yes.”
“What did you say?”
He rubbed his face.
“I told her maybe we should stop.”
Leah looked at him.
“That is not what happened.”
“We stopped for six days.”
Amanda closed her eyes.
I nodded slowly.
“Go.”
Nolan left.
The front door closed.
The house became very quiet.
Party debris everywhere.
Half-finished drinks.
Food.
A microphone on the floor.
The green dress.
The cream folder.
My marriage.
Leah looked at me.
“Please tell me you haven’t filed.”
“I haven’t filed.”
Relief crossed her face.
Too quickly.
“But I have retained counsel.”