The front door opened before she did.
Ellen entered carrying a bottle of wine.
She smiled at me, then at Claire, then at Mark.
The smile changed almost invisibly when she saw Bill at the table.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Dinner,” Claire said.
“Sit down.”
Ellen looked at me for help.
For thirty-eight years, that glance had been enough to make me step beside her.
I remained in my chair.
Mark sat across from Claire.
Ellen chose the chair nearest him, then seemed to realize what she had done and moved one seat farther away.
Claire noticed.
She served the food.
No one ate.
Finally, she placed the manila folder between herself and Mark.
“I’m going to ask one question,” she said.
“You both get one chance to answer honestly.”
Mark leaned back.
“Both of us?”
Claire looked at her mother.
“How long have you been having an affair with my husband?”
The color left Ellen’s face.
Mark’s reaction came faster.
He laughed once, too loudly.
“What? Claire, that’s insane.”
Ellen whispered her name.
“Sweetheart—”
“No.” Claire’s voice remained level.
“Do not call me that while you decide which lie to use.”
Mark turned to me.
“You put this in her head, didn’t you?”
“I saw you at the party.”
He looked toward Bill.
His father folded his arms.
“So did I.”
Mark shook his head.
“You saw Ellen touch my arm.
That’s what this is about? She’s family.”
Claire opened the folder.
“The hotel garage in Savannah charged Mom’s car for an overnight stay while you were at the conference.”
Ellen’s mouth opened.
Claire slid out the phone records.
“You called each other one hundred and twelve times in four months.
Most of those calls happened while I was on night shifts.”
Mark’s eyes moved over the pages without focusing.
“That doesn’t prove an affair.”
Claire placed the tablet on the table.
“No.
Your voices do.”
For the first time, Mark looked afraid.
Ellen reached toward Claire.
“Please let me explain.”
Claire moved her hand away.
“Explain Savannah.”
Ellen looked at me, then at Mark.
