Chapter 12: Take Two

Bennett stood in the middle of the booth with his phone still in his hand.

"We wait," he said. "We wait for Darren."

"We could wait," Philip said. "Or we could watch what he's coming to explain."

"No."

"Bennett."

"It's his phone. It's his private footage. We don't have the right."

"It's footage he put in front of a full room," I said.

He turned to me, and I saw the boy who had asked whether the end was too quiet.

"Mom, please. If you do this, and it's nothing, I will never be able to look at him again. He's the only one who stayed with me when Dad was away."

"Then watch it with me," I said. "That way you won't have to wonder what I saw."

He didn't say yes.

He sat down in the chair by the wall and put his elbows on his knees.

Philip moved the mouse.

The first numbered file was the clip from the screening. We all knew how it went, and I made myself watch it again anyway.

The dressing room. The takeout boxes. Danica's hands in my husband's hair.

A man's voice behind the camera, easy and friendly, asking when they were going public.

"Ask Daddy."

"Once things settle down. Our baby..."

Philip clicked.

I had expected the clip to end there, because that was where the booth had cut it.

It didn't.

Randall's phone rang on the screen, and he glanced at it and stood up, still smiling at Danica.

"Take that for me, love."

"Go on."

He went out of the frame, and the door shut.

The camera stayed where it was, and for a few seconds there was only the dressing room.