Chapter 7: The Envelope

"It's Kristen's ex," I said. "Ian. He stopped by to apologize for the weekend mix-up."

Neil turned the jacket over in his hands.

"Kristen's ex was in my kitchen?"

"For ten minutes. He left in a hurry when he saw your lights."

"Why would he leave in a hurry?"

"Because he felt awkward," I said. "He's the sort of man who does."

Neil looked at me for a moment longer than usual.

Then he tossed the jacket on the table and laughed.

"That guy is a total weirdo. Don't let him in again.

"He'll start telling you how to run your life."

"I won't."

"Good."

He went upstairs and left the jacket lying where it fell.

I stood alone in the kitchen with my heart going hard.

My phone buzzed with a text from Ian: Are you okay? Did he see me?

I wrote back: Fine. Your coat is safe. Don't come here again.

It was not what I wanted to write, but it was what I needed to.

Monday afternoon was warm.

The parents at school pickup stood in the shade of the oak by the fence.

I was there early with the two boys' scooters, waiting for the doors to open.

Kristen arrived five minutes later, in sunglasses and a linen jacket, talking on the phone.

She waved at me and kept walking.

At 3:10 the doors opened, and the children came out in a flood.

Cody found me. Kristen's son found his mother.

And a navy truck pulled to the curb, and Ian climbed out of it in his uniform.

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