Chapter 3

On Monday morning, Ethan left for work as usual.

Before he went, he warmed a glass of milk for me and arranged the remaining injections by date.

"Sunday is Lily's birthday," I said.

His hands stilled on his tie.

"I remember."

"Meet me at the cemetery at four."

"I will." He came back and stroked my hair. "You won't have to be there alone."

The moment the door closed, I went to Mara's office.

She confirmed that the lakeside cottage was my separate property from before the marriage, and that we could petition the court to freeze the memorial fund.

I signed the divorce papers.

Mara looked at me. "Do you want him served now?"

"Sunday night."

"Why wait?"

I slipped the moving company's reservation into the folder.

"Before I leave, I want to see if he can keep one last promise to Lily."

On Saturday afternoon, I received an alert from the cottage's smart lock.

Nine guests entered within thirty minutes.

That morning, Ethan had told me he was attending a company dinner.

I drove to the lake.

Pink and white balloons covered the yard. A sign hung from Lily's favorite swing.

WELCOME, BABY LILY.

The living room was full of people I knew.

Ethan's business partner. Our neighbors. My college roommate. Even Rachel, Lily's godmother.

Every one of them had attended Lily's funeral.

I slipped in through the side door and stood in the shadows of the upstairs hallway.

The nursery had been completely transformed.

Lily's photographs were gone. The walls were cream, and the closet was filled with new dresses.

Natalie sat on the edge of the bed with the gray rabbit in her arms.

She pressed its left paw.

Lily's faint giggle came from inside the toy.

Then came a soft, clumsy, "Daddy."

Natalie smiled. "Did she record that?"

Ethan took the rabbit from her and switched it off.

"It's just an old recording. We'll replace it later."

I braced a hand against the wall behind me.

"Ava?"

Rachel stood at the top of the stairs, her face suddenly white.

She pulled me into an empty guest room and shut the door.

"What are you doing here?"

"This is my house."

"Please don't make a scene today. Natalie has been having contractions."

"How long have you known?"

Rachel said nothing.

"You called me on Lily's birthday last year," I said. "You listened while I cried, and all that time, you were keeping their secret?"

She lowered her head.

Downstairs, someone tapped a glass.

Ethan began to speak.

"Thank you, everyone, for keeping this quiet. Ava can't handle the truth right now, but I'll take care of it."

Someone asked, "What if she divorces you?"

Ethan laughed.

"She won't leave."

"How can you be so sure?"

"She can't even let go of Lily's room. She'll never let go of me."

Laughter rose from downstairs.

Rachel could not look at me.

I took out my phone and texted Ethan.

"Tomorrow at four, bring Lily's gray rabbit and a birthday cake to the cemetery."

His phone rang downstairs.

Ethan read the message, then held the screen up for everyone to see.

"See?"

Seconds later, his reply appeared.

"Of course. You won't have to face tomorrow alone."