For one breath, I almost believed I could survive it.
Then I saw Ryan.
He stood by the grill with one hand on Lucille’s waist.
She wore a red swimsuit under a sheer white cover-up. Her hair fell in perfect waves. She looked cool in the heat, untouched by sweat, motherhood, or humiliation.
I almost believed I could survive it.
Ryan had not seen me yet.
He was laughing at something his brother said.
He looked comfortable inside the life he had taken from me.
Then he turned.
His eyes found Daniel first.
Then me.
His smile shifted.
His eyes found Daniel first.
Elaine reached us before he did.
“Maggie,” she said, pulling me into a hug. “Oh, sweetheart. You look beautiful.”
I tugged at the side of my dress.
“It’s old.”
Her arms tightened around me for half a second.
Before she could answer, Ryan’s voice cut across the patio.
“Well! This is interesting.”
“It’s old.”
Conversations thinned.
People pretended not to look while looking anyway.
Ryan walked toward us with Lucille beside him.
“Maggie,” he said.
His eyes slid over Daniel.
“And who’s this?”
Conversations thinned.
Daniel stepped forward calmly.
“Daniel. Maggie’s boyfriend.”
The word boyfriend seemed to hang between the patio stones and the sky.
Ryan stared.
Then he laughed.
