Page 144 of Our Daughter's Bones

Gardens gave a clue to what happened behind walls. A lump sat at the base of her throat.

Sterling was in the living room, reading a newspaper.

“Hey, you’re home!” He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Babe. At least let me know that you’re spending the night at work. I had to hear it from Troy.”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

What should she say first? Blindly, she put away her bag and coat. She felt Sterling’s eyes on her the entire time. She averted her gaze.

“You okay, Mack?” He put the newspaper away. “I heard Nick got hurt. Is he going to be okay?”

She nodded. Her thoughts swam, making her head feel bulky. She looked for something to do, something to clean or fix. But the house was spick and span.

“Why aren’t you looking at me? Are you still mad? I’m so sorry.”

There was no way out. Nothing could distract her. She was cornered. She sunk onto the couch across from him.

“I think you’re sleep deprived. Why don’t you take a nap? When you wake up, we can plan our trip to Victoria.” He waggled his eyebrows. “You thought I’d forgotten, hadn’t you?”

She searched his handsome face. He had shaved. His black hair crowned his head in perfect curls. His light eyes sparkled. If she said it now, everything would change forever. There would be no going back. If she stayed quiet, she could pretend to be ignorant. Theycouldget past it.

“I know you cheated on me.”

Sterling’s face crashed. His lips parted. He stared at her, devastated.

“Are you going to deny it?” she asked. A part of her hoped he would. That Nick had lied about everything. That there was a mix-up at the hotel.

“Did Nick tell you?”

She dug her nails into her palms. “No. The hotel called. Your mistress left her hair straighteners.”

He hung his head low. “Shit, Mack, I––”

“No.” Blood pummeled through her veins, angrily. She was hopping mad. Like a fly trapped in a jar, she had an urge to bash herself againstsomething. “How long did it go on for?”

He looked at her pleadingly. “We don’t have to do this.”

“How long?” she repeated, like she was talking to a child.

“Only two weeks. I ended it.” His neck turned crimson red.

“How many other women have you been with?”

“Mack!” He was stunned. “I… it was a one-time mistake. It meantnothing.”

“That’s what bothers me!” She leaned forward and hissed through clenched teeth. Spit sprayed out her mouth. “You betrayed me for nothing. Forfun? That’s how little I meant to you? I thought you’d fallen in love with someone else, Sterling. At least, I would have understood that. But you did this to me for afling.”

“No! I love you! I only love you.” He was begging.

“Fuck off,” she blurted, and marched away. She felt like a caged animal. She wanted to claw and punch. He followed her and grabbed her elbow. Blood rushed to her head. She spun around and shoved him away. “Stay away from me!”

He stared at her, shocked. He breathed hard and paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair. “Please tell me how to fix this. Please. I will do anything.Anything.I just wantyou.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“If I didn’t want you, I wouldn’t be here. I would have ended our marriage. But I want you.”

A bitter laugh erupted from her throat. “Oh! You just want to have some occasional fun then? I’m going to sit here while you go around and screw another Samantha Walker for two weeks and then come back to tell me that it was a mistake?” His mouth fell agape. “Of course I know who she is. I’m a cop.”