Chapter 7: Which Side

Daphne was already at the table when I got to Aldine, and she stood up to hug me.

It was the same table by the window.

I wondered if she knew that. I told myself she couldn't.

"You came," she said, and her eyes were wet. "I wasn't sure you would."

"I was curious."

"That's fair."

She had ordered a bottle of sparkling water and a plate of bread, and she pushed the basket toward me.

I did not touch it.

She was beautiful in a quiet, unhurried way.

Her hair was down and she wore almost no makeup.

"I owe you the truth," she said. "I've owed it to you for two years."

I waited.

"I know what I look like to you. The friend who's always there. The woman he runs to."

She turned her glass slowly.

"I love him. I won't pretend I don't. But not that way, Jo. He's the last piece of my brother I have."

The waiter set down our plates, and she thanked him by name.

"He feels responsible for me," she said. "He thinks the accident was his fault. I've never been able to make him stop."

"He told me about it."

"He did?" Her fork stopped. "He told you everything?"

"He told me he was driving, and that you told him he'd fallen asleep."

The color drained out of her mouth.

It was only a second. Then she smiled, a little sadly.

"Poor Gray. He doesn't remember. It's a mercy, honestly."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it was a horrible night."

She laid her hand over mine on the table.

"He'll come back to you, you know. Men like him do. He'll be so sorry. And then something will happen, and he'll come to me first."

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