Chapter 20: The Driveway

Lila did not answer her father.

She stood on the stage with her mouth open, and the silence told the whole lawn.

Her mother began to cry, a high, broken sound.

Her father let go of Lila's arms and stepped back from her.

Then he turned to Tony.

"Son," he said. "I'm sorry."

Tony nodded once.

He set the microphone down on the boards, very quietly, and walked down the steps.

The guests parted for him.

I followed with the clicker still in my hand.

Behind us the party came apart.

People gathered purses and jackets, and the trio packed up without being asked.

The women from my floor stood in a tight, wide-eyed knot, and one of them squeezed my arm as I passed.

By the time we reached the front drive, half the crowd had spilled out ahead of us.

The valets stood frozen by the cars.

Then I heard Lila's voice behind us.

"You said she'd never look!"

She came down the front steps in her white dress, with her shoes in her hand.

Brett was three steps ahead of her, walking fast.

"Don't," he said.

"You said Valeria trusted you too much to check anything! You said Tony was too busy to read a credit card statement!"

"I said a lot of things!"

"You said you loved me!"