Chapter 1
“I won’t make it home tonight. We’ll celebrate our anniversary another day.”
My husband, Evan, called just as I was slipping a report confirming I was nine weeks pregnant into a gift box.
“Something went wrong with the out-of-town project. Cancel the dinner reservation.” His words came quickly.
I held the lid in place.
“But I have good news.”
“Tell me when I get back, okay?” His voice softened. “I really can’t get away.”
I agreed, saving the words You’re going to be a dad for when he came home.
We’d been trying for two years.
One more day wouldn’t hurt.
At eleven, I called the restaurant to cancel and put the pregnancy report in a drawer.
Then Vivian texted.
“Happy anniversary! Take pictures. I want to see you in that dress.”
She was a brand consultant for my husband’s company. Over the past two years, she’d also become a friend, someone I regularly shopped and had lunch with.
She’d helped me choose the dress I’d planned to wear tonight.
“Something came up at work,” I replied. “We’re celebrating another day.”
“Don’t be sad. Make him go all out to make it up to you.”
I looked at the hug emoji she’d added.
“Here’s hoping,” I wrote back.
At three that afternoon, a package addressed to Evan arrived at the house.
I often opened his deliveries while he was away. I sliced through the tape as usual, then slowed when I saw the Tiffany blue gift box.
So he had gotten me something.
Inside was the same T Smile necklace in 18-karat rose gold that I’d tried on last year.
Only this one had diamonds.
That day in the store, he’d looked at the price and rubbed his forehead.
“Cash flow’s tight at the company right now.”
I’d immediately taken off the necklace and handed it back to the sales associate.
“I don’t love it that much anyway.” I’d slipped my arm through his and smiled as we left. “Better to save the money.”
Later, over coffee with Vivian, I’d mentioned what happened.
She’d squeezed my hand.
“Emma, you always put him first.”
Now I picked up my phone to take a picture and tell Evan his gift had arrived.
A card slipped out of the lid.
“Vivian, happy third anniversary. Tonight, I finally get to spend the whole evening with just you.”
Vivian.
Not Emma.
I read it twice, then checked the name and phone number on the delivery slip.
Evan’s name.
Evan’s number.
There had been no delivery mix-up.
His signature was at the bottom of the card, too.
I slowly sat down and reopened my messages with Vivian.
Make him go all out to make it up to you.
The words were still there.
She knew about the restaurant.
She knew about the dress.
And she knew why my husband wasn’t coming home.
They’d been together for three years.
She’d been my friend for two.
The first time she invited me to coffee, she was already having an affair with my husband.
I pulled up Evan’s number.
My finger hovered over the call button for a long time.
Then I closed it.
I hadn’t decided what to do next. I didn’t want to hear either of them explain away that card before I’d had a chance to think.
I only knew I didn’t want to face him in this house.
I photographed the necklace, the card, and the shipping box, then saved the pictures.
At six, I made myself some pasta.
As the water came to a boil, Vivian sent a selfie.
“Does this look good? I have plans tonight.”
She was wearing the black dress I’d helped her buy last week.
In the fitting room, she’d smiled at her reflection and said she was going to wear it for someone important.
I set down my phone and served the pasta.
I couldn’t swallow the first bite.
I put down my fork and waited for the tightness in my throat to ease.
Then I slowly finished eating.
At nine, Evan texted.
“Don’t wait up. Get some sleep.”
I dried my hands and muted them both.
A little after ten, I put the gift box and card back in the packaging and left it in the entryway.
Then I went to the bedroom, took out my pregnancy report, and slipped it into the pouch where I kept my important documents.
That morning, I’d considered sharing the good news with Vivian first.
Now I tucked the report safely away.
I opened the closet, moved the winter clothes piled on my suitcase, and rolled it over to the bed.
I still needed to decide where to stay.
And when to leave.
I unzipped the suitcase and put in the first piece of clothing.