Chapter 1

On our fourth wedding anniversary, I tucked the report confirming my pregnancy into a gift box. I planned to surprise my husband over dinner.

But that afternoon, I received a set of maternity photos of him with another woman.

Luke was kneeling in front of Chloe, a coworker from his department, kissing her rounded belly.

And on the hand cradling her baby bump, he was still wearing the wedding band we’d had custom made.

I gripped the mouse. My hands and feet went cold.

Without thinking, I zoomed in on his face, then back out again.

That white shirt was the one he’d left the house wearing that morning.

I’d bought him the tie and cufflinks.

Beside the image was a note from Mia, the retoucher I worked with.

“I tried a warmer edit on this morning’s rush maternity shoot. Take a look.”

Mia lived in Portland, Oregon, and handled editing for several photography studios. We worked together entirely online. She had never met Luke.

I hadn’t sent her any maternity photos that day, either.

But I didn’t stop to tell her she’d sent the files to the wrong person.

“Was anyone edited into these photos?”

I typed the question, hit Send, and stared at the chat window.

Her reply came almost immediately.

“No. I only adjusted the color. The originals are in the folder, too.”

I opened the folder and went through the images one by one.

Luke helping Chloe sit down. Straightening the skirt of her dress.

In the next photo, she held his collar as he leaned down, resting his forehead against hers.

Then Luke was on his knees in front of her, his lips pressed to her belly.

I let go of the mouse.

My palm was slick with sweat.

I remembered that morning. I had wanted to photograph him, too.

Inside the gift box were an ultrasound picture from my appointment at eight weeks and a pair of white baby socks. I’d set up my camera to capture the moment he learned he was going to be a father.

“Luke, open your gift first. Let me take a picture.”

I smiled and held out the box, my right thumb ready on the camera remote.

But he was looking at his phone. He picked up his coat, sounding slightly impatient.

“The client changed the schedule at the last minute. I have to go to Denver. I won’t be back until the day after tomorrow.”

I held the box a little closer and reminded him that it was our anniversary.

He said he’d make it up to me when he got back.

He didn’t even touch the lid.

After the door closed, I stood in the living room for a long time. Eventually, I gathered myself enough to put the gift back on the dining table.

Then I took my hard drive and went to the studio.

He’d lied about not having time for our anniversary.

Yet he had time to kneel in front of another woman.

Six weeks earlier, Chloe had sat in our home, crying.

“The baby’s father won’t take responsibility.”

I brought her water. Luke handed her tissues.

“It’s hard for her, doing this alone.” He turned to me. “Spend some time with her when you can.”

I agreed. I even asked whether she needed any baby supplies.

Now, on my screen, Luke was holding her from behind, their hands resting together on her belly.

I switched off the monitor.

My chest still felt painfully tight.

I looked down and rested a hand on my own stomach, still flat.

I hadn’t sent him the ultrasound picture because I wanted it to be a surprise.

“You’re going to be a dad.”

I had wanted to say those words to his face.

My phone lit up with a reminder from the restaurant.

6:30 p.m. Two guests. Anniversary decorations.

I didn’t open it right away.

I sat there for a long time, waiting for my breathing to settle.

Only then did I cancel the reservation.

Afterward, I turned the monitor back on. I downloaded the entire folder to my hard drive and saved my conversation with Mia.

Then I pulled up Luke’s contact.

I wanted to ask where he was at that exact moment.

My thumb hovered over the call button.

In the end, I pulled it away.

I didn’t want to hear another lie.

A little after four, I packed up my hard drive and drove home.

The camera was still set up in the living room. The gift box sat on the dining table beside it.

I had chosen that box so carefully.

Now the red and gold foil lettering on the lid seemed painfully bright.

Happy Anniversary.

I opened it and took out the ultrasound picture and the card, slipping them into my document folder.

The baby socks went into my bag.

Finally, I took off my wedding ring.

It landed at the bottom of the box with a soft click.

I closed the lid and left it on the table.

Another message came from Mia.

“The male client just made a specific request. He wants his wedding ring edited out of every single photo.”