CLAIRE

"Where were you?"

Ethan didn't stand when he asked. He sat in the dark living room with one lamp on beside him, his elbows resting on his knees, looking less like my husband and more like a man waiting to question someone who had disappointed him.

I se

CLAIRE

Roman read my message twice before looking up. "You're sure?"

I gave him a flat look. We were sitting in his car in the parking lot behind the coffee shop where we'd met earlier that week. I had asked him to meet me after my lawyer appointment, and for once

CLAIRE

Ethan set the wine bottle down slowly. "Okay."

He tried to smile. "That sounds serious."

"It is."

The smile disappeared.

The candles between us flickered like they had no idea they were about to become ridiculous. I looked at the flowers, then at Ethan.

"Before I