Chapter 1

Two days before Christmas, I learned that my husband, who had been unemployed for five months, was leaving on a fourteen-day vacation with his mother and his ex-wife.

I would be staying in Chicago to work and pay the bills.

My husband was not the one who told me.

After dinner, my mother-in-law pushed a folded list across the table.

"There is only enough dog food for three days, so pick some up tomorrow. Miles said you would be here anyway. You can take care of everything."

The list included dog food, a package she had forgotten to return, a leaking faucet downstairs, and groceries for their welcome-home dinner on January seventh.

"Where are you going?"

Her hand froze around her water glass.

Miles stood at the sink with his back to me. He did not turn around.

That was when I knew I had not forgotten a conversation. They had deliberately kept me out of one.

"Denver," he finally said. "Grandma is getting worse. Mom wants to spend Christmas with her. After that, we are staying in Aspen for a few days."

"How many days?"

"About two weeks."

I was twenty-nine weeks pregnant and still working full-time. Since Miles lost his job, I had covered the mortgage, insurance, and nearly every expense after his mother moved into our guest room.

Yet somehow, they had planned a two-week holiday without telling me.

Miles insisted he was protecting me from airports, snow, and long drives. His mother said I should not turn a sad family situation into an argument.

Then I asked who else was going.

Miles hesitated.

"Serena is meeting us in Denver."

His ex-wife had recently left her second husband and moved back to Denver. Miles's family had known her for more than twenty years. According to him, she should not have to spend Christmas alone.

"So you are taking your ex-wife to Aspen and leaving your pregnant wife at home?"

"You hear her name and immediately make it ugly."

He placed a hand on my stomach. I stepped back.

"If the vacation does not matter, stay here with me."

His expression hardened. "Do not make me choose right now, Jo."

He spoke as if he had not already chosen.

His phone lit up with a hotel confirmation. Before he could stop me, I read it.

His mother had a standard room.

Miles and Serena were sharing a two-bedroom penthouse suite.

The remaining balance was $7,840, scheduled to be charged the next morning to a card ending in 4418.

My credit card.