Chapter 1
After my best friend, Emily Summers, got divorced, she started coming over to my place for dinner all the time.
Her son, Sam Summers, loved meat, while my daughter, Lily Stanton, was a total veggie lover.
They were always bickering.
So my husband Charles Stanton would get off work an hour early every day to come home.
He'd personally whip up two meat dishes, two veggie dishes, plus a soup.
That was the only way to keep the kids happy.
One day, the property management sent out a notice that the power and gas would be cut off in ten minutes.
I suggested we grab dinner outside, but Charles shook his head and said, "The food out there isn't clean. I'll be quick. Why don't you and Lily help me wash the veggies?"
Charles wasn't kidding. He was really fast and managed to whip up two dishes in ten minutes.
Emily, who'd been lying on the couch with Sam watching TV, finally got up.
She looked genuinely surprised and said, "Wow, Charles, you nailed it. You made all Sam's favorite dishes."
"Mom, what about me?" Lily asked.
She stood by the bathroom door, her hands still stained green from prepping the veggies.
She tilted her head up at me, lips pouting, and asked in a small, timid voice.
I didn't know what to say.
Charles was busy pulling out a chair for Emily, acting like me and Lily had suddenly turned invisible.
He brought out two plates from the kitchen, grabbed two bowls, and set out two forks.
He sat down and watched Emily and Sam dig into the food with gusto.
The ribs I'd blanched that morning were supposed to be for Lily's soup.
But now, Charles threw some sauce on them.
And like that, they turned into Sam's favorite: barbecue ribs.
He was clearly enjoying himself.
The five-year-old boy, eyes sparkling with curiosity, asked, "Uncle Charles, why aren't you eating?"
Charles pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the grease from the boy's mouth.
His expression was gentle.
"I didn't make much today. It was only enough for you and your mom. I'm not really hungry," Charles replied.
As soon as he finished speaking, Emily tilted her head and deliberately leaned in close to Charles's right side.
Charles gave a helpless smile.
He gently wiped the sauce that Emily had accidentally gotten on her cheek.
Truth is, this wasn't the first time I'd seen something like this.
I never really thought much about it before.
Emily was my college roommate, and we'd been best friends for almost ten years.
She was my go-to for relationship advice, my maid of honor at my wedding, and even Lily's godmother.
No way there was anything between her and Charles.
But now, I wasn't so sure anymore.
Emily spotted me.
"Olivia, what are you standing there for? Come eat," she called out.
I didn't move.
She glanced at the table and instantly got it.
She raised her hand and smacked Charles hard on the chest.
"Charles, why did you only make meat dishes? How is Lily supposed to eat?" she demanded.
Charles finally seemed to realize what was going on.
He rubbed the spot where Emily had hit him, then turned around.
He looked at me and Lily with a hint of guilt.
"Olivia, I only had ten minutes to make these two dishes. Why don't you take Lily out for dinner instead?" he suggested.
What a joke.
Charles was telling me the food outside wasn't clean.
Now he didn't seem to care about that anymore.
Or maybe he didn't care if Lily and I ate something dirty.
But when it came to Emily and Sam, that was a whole different story.
Lily was still hungry, and I didn't want to argue with Charles in front of her.
So I took Lily to the entryway to put on our shoes.
My phone buzzed. I checked it. Charles had sent me 30,000 dollars.
Charles walked over.
He helped me and Lily straighten out our clothes.
He looked every bit the perfect husband and father.
"Don't worry. After dinner, take Lily to the mall. I'll handle things here," he said.
But before I could step out, Emily's voice rang out from the dining table.
"Charles, come help me with the ribs."
And with a loud bang, the door slammed shut.