The Husband’s Secret

On the front she had written, in careful block letters: FOR CLAIRE, WHEN SHE IS READY.

I carried the folder home without opening it.

PART 8

That evening, Lucas did not pretend it had been a normal day.

He placed his keys on the kitchen counter and asked whether I wanted him to sleep in the guest room.

“Yes,” I said.

He took a blanket upstairs without argument.

I sat at the dining table with the folder Miriam had given me.