ed for work. It was meant to be a surprise, a happy reunion after two long months apart. He was supposed to be settin

im. F

her little legs kicking the seat in front of

t thumping with anticipation. I imagined his face, the sho

ace temporarily while he house-hunted. As we walked down the hallway, a neighbor, an older woman watering her plants, gave us a strange look

quiet. I used the spare key Mark had mailed me, turni

world s

woman' s sweater was draped over a chair. On the small table by the door, next to a framed photo of Mark and Lily

t recog

intly of a perfume

led, running past me

s waist. His hair was wet. The smile on his face

laced by a forced, overly bright expression. "Ava! Lily

arms and peppering her with kisses. He bur

is audience anymore. I was a critic

blivious. Her face, so much like his, was pure

suitcase digging into my palm. I had to hold it togethe

"Honey, you should have told me you were coming

d not

flight," he said, his voice too loud, too cheerful. He w

the airport, the flight, the past two months of waiting-it all felt