Chapter 5

By the time I returned to my parents' house in the Chicago suburbs, it was already dark.

My mom, Linda, saw me and froze.

"Tess? Why are you back so suddenly? You should have at least called."

She looked behind me.

"Where's Ethan? He didn't come back with you?"

I stayed silent for a long time before speaking softly:

"Mom, Dad, I'm getting a divorce from Ethan."

The living room fell silent for a moment.

"What happened?" Linda asked, her voice tight with worry.

I looked down at the coffee in my mug and slowly recounted everything.

From Evelyn returning…