And before I could, the sound of small heels came tapping rapidly across the marble floor, and a voice I loved more than any other in the world called out a single word that would, in about thirty seconds, drain every drop of color from my ex-husband’s face.

Chapter 5 — Mommy

“Mommy!”

A four-year-old girl with dark curls raced through the crowd of guests and launched herself into my arms, and I caught her, laughing, the whole cruel weight of the previous conversation dissolving in an instant.

“Emma!

Slow down,” I said, hoisting her onto my hip.

She wrapped both arms around my neck.

“Dad and I have been looking everywhere for you!” she announced, with the enormous urgency of the very young.