Chapter 5: On a Retreat

By Friday morning the video had two million views.

I found out from Dot, who held her phone up over the counter before I had my tea.

"Look at the comments, hon."

I looked.

"Fourteen years and he can't say her middle name."

"The wife said she doesn't even like diet soda."

"Somebody get that woman a lawyer and a medal."

I scrolled until my thumb hurt.

Nobody had my name yet, only "the wife in the diner."

That would not last.

Seth put a plate of toast in front of me, and for a moment his hand stopped near mine.

"Eat," he said. "You haven't been eating enough."

I took a bite.

I had been eating enough for two, though he did not know that.

At nine the diner television, which Dot kept on mute behind the pie case, flashed a banner.

LOCAL FAVORITE: AUTHOR STUART HARMON LIVE.

"Turn it up," I said.

Dot found the remote and pressed the button.

Stuart sat on a yellow studio couch next to a smiling host in a bright blue blazer.

He wore the good navy jacket again.

His eyes were red, and I knew he had practiced that look in the mirror.

"Stuart, we have to ask about the video that's going around," the host said.

"I know." He nodded gravely and took a long breath. "It's very painful. That video was taken without my knowledge in a private moment."

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