“I have never met Liam.

My decision about my house is not about him.”

Brenda was silent.

Then she said, “He told me you and he were separated months ago.”

The sentence landed heavily.

“That isn’t true.”

“He said you were only staying together until some finances were settled.”

I was beginning to understand how Kenneth could keep two people waiting for the same future: he had told each of us that the other woman was already moving out of the way.