Chapter 3

The next afternoon, Daniel’s parents held their usual Sunday brunch.

Daniel acted as if the night before had never happened.

He did not mention that Chloe had worn his sweater, slept on my pillow, or forced me out of our bedroom.

Chloe did the same.

She arrived at brunch in a soft cream sweater. Her hair fell neatly around her shoulders, and her face looked fresh.

She showed no sign of the woman who had supposedly suffered a panic attack only hours earlier.

Across the table sat Matthew, Daniel’s older foster brother, and his wife, Laura.

Matthew had lived with Daniel’s family before Chloe arrived. Like Daniel, he considered her a younger sister.

Halfway through the meal, Chloe accidentally knocked over a glass of orange juice. It spilled all over her shirt.

Matthew pointed toward the stairs.

"You still have an old sweatshirt in our bedroom closet. Go change before that gets sticky."

Chloe stopped wiping her sweater.

Her eyes moved from Matthew to Laura.

"No, that wouldn’t be appropriate."

Laura smiled.

"I don’t mind. You can go get it."

Chloe shook her head.

"It’s not about whether you mind. It just wouldn’t feel right."

Laura stood and offered to go upstairs with her.

Chloe accepted immediately.

Daniel’s mother watched them leave with an approving smile.

"She’s always been so considerate."

My fork remained still above my plate.

The night before, Chloe had searched through my dresser without permission.

She had taken Daniel’s sweater, climbed beneath our blanket, and placed her head on my pillow.

Now she would not enter another married couple’s bedroom alone because it did not "feel right."

She knew where the line was.

She simply did not believe it applied to her when the wife was me.

When the meal ended, Chloe picked up a tray of empty glasses and headed toward the back door.

I followed her out and slid the glass door shut behind me, blocking her path back inside.

Chloe turned around, wearing Matthew's oversized sweater. She gave me a bright, innocent smile.

"If you know you shouldn't go into Matthew's bedroom," I said coldly, staring right at her, "why were you in my bed last night? "

Chloe didn't panic. She just tilted her head, her big eyes blinking in confusion.

"Emma, why are you being so mean? " she whispered. "Daniel is different. He promised he would always protect me. "

"Stop it, Chloe," I took a step closer. "You knew exactly what you were doing last night. "

Chloe looked at me for a long moment.

She didn't yell. She didn't confess.

Instead, she let out a soft, sympathetic sigh.

"I can't help it if Daniel worries about me, Emma," she said lightly. "He just naturally puts me first. It’s an instinct. "

Before I could say a word, the glass door slid open.

Daniel stepped into the garden.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Emma was checking on me after last night. "Chloe said "She wanted to make sure I was feeling better."

She made my anger sound like kindness.

Daniel’s tense shoulders immediately relaxed.

"That sounds like Emma," he agreed softly. "Emma has always been the most thoughtful wife. "

He walked over and rested his hand against my back.

The same hand had held Chloe in our bed a few hours earlier.

I looked at her.

She gave me a grateful little smile, as though I had truly come outside to comfort her.

If I corrected her, Daniel would see me attacking a frightened woman after she had already praised me.

If I stayed silent, Chloe’s version became the truth.

That was how she crossed boundaries.

She never defended herself.

She made Daniel defend her, then thanked me for allowing it.