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about something else, but not law school. I’ve never wanted to

be a lawyer. I could see myself getting my master’s in art

history or something and teaching after that, maybe, but I

could never see myself practicing law.”

“Alright, then let’s talk.” Sandra sounded so hopeful that for

a moment Emily got her hopes up too. They were quickly

dashed. “But this is the only way that your dad can see to get

you out of this marriage. It would look so, so bad otherwise.

For both of us. And for you.”

“Then let it look bad! Let it look bad for me. Say I was the

stupid one. That I made the mistake. Blame it all on me.”

“Then people will wonder how we could have raised you to

be that way. To go off and get married to a woman you hardly

know. A woman who has tattoos and piercings and is at least

ten years older than you.”

“She’s not. And what do those other things matter? She’s a

good person and I’m not doing this to her. She has a business

to run. I’m not going to say terrible things about her and have

her suffer. That’s not okay. That’s not honest. Please don’t try

to do that, or I will share my side of the story and all of this

will blow up in your face.”

There was a long pause, then Sandra’s voice, cold and hard

as flint. “Is she worth it? Worth giving up your family for?

Your dreams about art school? Your career in anything? Is she

worth wrecking your father’s career? Would she stand by you

if it was the other way around? I don’t think she would since

she really is just in this for profit.”

Emily knew it had started that way, but over the past few

days, she’d seen a different side of Danica. She’d made love to

her, and Dani had responded in kind. Emily had never felt that