“I didn’t mean for Grace to get involved.”

“Neither did I.”

We sat in silence, hearing the refrigerator hum and an occasional car pass outside.

Derek wanted me to reassure him that everything could be repaired.

I wanted him to offer a complete explanation without being pushed.

Neither of us got what we wanted.

He agreed to stay in the downstairs guest room while we discussed next steps with counsel.

In the morning he would make breakfast for Grace, because he had promised her he would be there on Sunday.