“She said she might help him get it running again.”
Ethan sat down slowly.
“Again?”
Clare’s voice became quieter.
“Ethan, I do not know the full story.”
“Tell me what you know.”
“She said his first location failed during a lease dispute.”
“She said he had a chance to take over another space if he could put together enough money.”
“How much money?”
“I do not know.”
“Did she ever mention borrowing against our house?”
Clare went silent again.
Ethan stood so quickly the sofa cushion shifted beneath him.
“Clare.”
“She asked me a question once.”
“What question?”
“She asked whether married people could open a home equity line without the other spouse being involved.”
Ethan stared at the wall.
“When?”
“August.”
“Did you ask why?”
“Yes.”
“She said it was hypothetical.”
Ethan pressed his fingers to his forehead.
“Why did you not tell me?”
Clare’s voice cracked.
“Because I did not know she actually tried.”
Ethan said nothing.
“I thought she was thinking about remodeling your kitchen,” Clare added.
“She told me you two had discussed it.”
“We discussed waiting until next year.”
“I know I should have asked more questions.”
Ethan heard the shame in her voice.
He also understood something important.
Samantha had not told Clare the same story she told Dylan.
She had not told Dylan the same story she told Ethan.
She had maintained separate versions of her life for different people.
That required effort.
It required planning.
It was not one impulsive night.
“Did Samantha ever say she wanted to leave me?” Ethan asked.
Clare breathed out slowly.
“Sometimes.”
Ethan waited.
“She would say things when she was angry.”
“What things?”
“She said she felt like your marriage had become a contract.”
“She said you were emotionally safe but not exciting.”
“She said Dylan made her feel like she was twenty-four again.”
Ethan looked down at his wedding ring, which he had slipped into his jacket pocket before leaving the house.
He had not realized he was touching it through the fabric.
Clare continued carefully.
“But she also said she would never actually leave you.”
“Because I was stable.”
“Yes.”
“Because I would not leave her.”
Clare did not answer.
Ethan already knew.
“What changed last night?” he asked.
“I do not know.”
“She asked you to cover for her.”
“Yes.”
“What exactly did she say?”
“She texted that she might stay with me after a girls’ night because she did not want to drive.”
“Were you having a girls’ night?”
“No.”
“So you knew she was asking you to lie.”
