Chapter 2

Daniel came home at six forty the next morning wearing Noah’s old sweatshirt.

That sweatshirt belonged at Leah’s house.

He walked into the kitchen and saw the anniversary cake in the trash.

Then he noticed the calendar still hanging beside the refrigerator.

The thirty-seventh black square had not fully dried.

“You threw out the cake?”

I set my coffee on the table. “Was Leah’s roof damaged?”

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck and avoided my eyes.

“The branch was taken care of. She was in bad shape and couldn’t stop crying. I slept on the couch for a few hours. Nothing happened.”

He was quick to explain where he had slept. He did not ask how I had spent the night.

“I didn’t ask if you slept with her,” I said. “I asked why you stayed after you knew the house was safe.”

“Because she was scared.”

“So you turned off your phone and let one hour become the entire night?”

Daniel took out his phone and looked at it as if he had only just noticed the dead battery.

“Emma, my brother died fourteen months ago. Every thunderstorm takes Leah back to the night the police knocked on her door. Noah asked me to take care of her before he died.”

I had heard that sentence before.

It could explain bringing her dinner once, answering one late-night call, or helping her fix a lock.

Daniel had used it to cover thirty-seven nights.

“Last night was our wedding anniversary.”

“I know.” His voice softened. He reached for me. “I’ll make it up to you. We’ll celebrate again this weekend. I’ll book your favorite restaurant.”

I stepped away.

“Our anniversary can be rescheduled, but every feeling Leah has must be dealt with immediately. Have you ever wondered why?”

His hand remained suspended between us. The regret on his face gave way to exhaustion.

“Are you really going to compete with a woman who lost her husband over which of you needs me more?”

He had found the same trap again: make Leah’s grief the subject, and my husband’s choices disappeared from the room.

The calendar beside the refrigerator kept them visible.

While he was gone, I wrote three names beside Leah’s on a notepad: Helen, a friend who lived ten minutes from her, and the therapist she had stopped calling.

I added the number of the repair company that had inspected her roof.

Daniel could still attend family events and help with planned errands.

The overnight visits had to end.

“Starting today, you don’t spend another night at her house. You stop being her only emergency contact. If she needs help, you can go during the day, and you tell me beforehand.”

Daniel stared at me.

“You want me to abandon my family?”

“I’m asking whether you’re willing to stop acting like her husband.”

His jaw tightened.

“Noah’s memorial gathering is next week. Drawing a hard line now would make things uncomfortable for everyone. We’ll talk after the memorial.”

“I’ve already waited fourteen months.”

“Wait one more week.” He picked up his keys. “Don’t force me to make this choice right before Noah’s memorial.”

The door closed again.

This time, he did not promise to be back in an hour.

At nine that morning, Leah sent me the schedule for the memorial.

The title read, Monroe Family Remembrance Day. Everyone’s responsibilities were listed below.

The first line said:

Family hosts: Daniel Hayes and Leah Monroe.

I kept reading until I found my own name in the final section.

Guest: Emma Hayes.

After twenty-two years of marriage, it took a guest list to show me the truth.

My husband had already taken his place inside another family.

I would need an invitation to enter.