The crowd applauded.

I stepped out of the shadows of the foyer and walked directly into the center aisle.

The crowd parted as they noticed the woman in the wet winter coat carrying a child. Dominic’s eyes swept the audience, and then he saw me.

The confident smile slid off his face like wet clay.

The woman in emerald frowned, leaning into him. “Dominic? Who is that? Is this the unstable ex-wife you told us about?”

Panic flashed in his eyes, then vanished under aggressive indignation. He didn’t know how I’d gotten up here, but he assumed I was still the powerless, penniless teacher.