She’d noticed a bruise on my forearm, the result of Spencer gripping me during a disagreement.

I claimed I’d caught it on a cabinet.

Laura didn’t accuse me of lying.

She said, “If there’s ever anything you want to tell me, you can.” I had resented her for that gentle sentence because it threatened the story I was using to remain in place.

Tonight she did not ask whether she had been right.

While I stood beneath the awning, I sent a short message to my office manager, Tessa, telling her I had a personal emergency and would need her to handle the morning calendar.

She responded almost immediately: Of course.