CHAPTER SIX — THE EARLY ARRIVALS
By noon, the lobby was full of retirees carrying garment bags and former students waving photographs.
Lillian greeted them beneath a banner that read THANK YOU FOR TEACHING US TO BEGIN AGAIN.
Andrew helped a woman named Mrs. Daley find the elevator.
She had been Lillian’s classroom assistant for twelve years.
“Your wife told me you’re changing the weekend’s plans,” she said.
Andrew kept his face neutral.
“The schedule has changed slightly.”
Mrs. Daley lowered her voice.
“Hannah said you two were going through a difficult transition.”
He stopped beside the elevator.
“When did she say that?”
“Last week,” Mrs. Daley replied.
“She asked me to make sure your mother didn’t feel responsible when you spoke.”
Andrew thanked her and carried her bag to the lift.
Afterward, he stood alone beneath a chandelier shaped like falling leaves.
The lie had reached people who had never met Ethan.
It had been traveling for weeks.
He found Denise in the event office.
She looked relieved to see him.
“I suspended the closing video,” she said.
“There’s a complication, though.”
She turned her screen toward him.
A vendor had already printed seventy program inserts describing a shared personal announcement from Andrew and Hannah.
“They arrived this morning,” Denise explained.
“We’ll recycle them.”
“Who approved the wording?” Andrew asked.
“Hannah did,” Denise said.
“She approved the final proof on Wednesday.”
He looked at the date.
Wednesday was the day he had spent packing their bags together.
Hannah had smiled and asked him whether he wanted the blue suitcase.
He had offered to carry the heavy one.
“Please remove the inserts,” he said.
“And don’t bill my mother for them.”
“The hotel can absorb the printing cost,” Denise replied.
“This is not something she needs to handle.”
Andrew appreciated her calm.
Outside the office, he encountered his cousin Simon, who was carrying a large box of framed photographs.
“Hannah said you might need someone to talk to,” Simon said.
Andrew almost laughed.
“Apparently everyone knows my personal life except me.”
Simon set down the box.
“She told me you were trying to make the separation easier on your mother.”
“That wasn’t true.”
Simon’s face changed.
“Andrew, I didn’t know.”
“Neither did I.”
“What do you need?”
Andrew looked at the frames.
“Put those pictures where Mom can see them,” he said.
“Then help me make sure nobody turns her celebration into a family tribunal.”
Simon lifted the box again.
“You have my word.”
CHAPTER SEVEN — ETHAN’S SISTER
Ethan called Andrew that afternoon.
Andrew considered ignoring the number.
Then he answered.
“I found something you should know,” Ethan said.
“I’m not interested in another version of my marriage.”
“This isn’t about your marriage,” Ethan replied.
“It’s about my sister.”
Andrew heard voices in Ethan’s background.
“What about her?”
“Her name is Rebecca, and Hannah invited her to Saturday’s dinner as my guest.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Hannah told Rebecca she was finally leaving a marriage that had been finished for a year,” Ethan answered.
“Rebecca booked her flight because she thought she was supporting us.”
Andrew closed his eyes.
“Does Rebecca know the truth now?”
“I told her this morning.”
“And?”
“She’s furious with me,” Ethan said.
“She thinks I let Hannah use our whole family as an audience.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Andrew was surprised by the straightforward answer.
Ethan continued before he could speak.
“Rebecca works in community theater,” he said.
“She asked whether Hannah had prepared a slideshow, letters, or some kind of surprise.”
“She prepared a speech and video.”
“Rebecca thinks she may have contacted the guests personally.”
“She did,” Andrew said.
“My mother’s old assistant already knew the story.”
Ethan drew a slow breath.
“I need to tell her not to come.”
“That’s between you and your sister,” Andrew said.
“But don’t let Hannah speak for me again.”
“I won’t.”
They remained silent for a moment.
“I need to apologize,” Ethan said.
“Not because I got caught.”
“I listened to a story that explained away the uncomfortable parts of what I was doing.”
“I can’t tell you that makes things better,” Andrew answered.
“I know.”
“You didn’t know the truth about our marriage,” Andrew said.
“But you knew you were hiding from the man whose life you were discussing.”
“Yes.”
“Then learn something from that,” Andrew replied.
Ethan thanked him and ended the call.
Andrew returned to the balcony.
Below, resort employees laid towels along empty chairs as though tomorrow would be ordinary.
He wondered how many people were already carrying a script Hannah had written for them.
