were harsh, making the world seem stark and ugly. The bur

s kind. She clucked her ton

she said. "Your wife

I lied, the words tasting li

ook. She didn't believe me, but s

voices drifted in from the hallway. Eleanor and Hudson.

or was saying, her tone a mix of exaspera

ear," he whined. "Kiss

ad never called me anything but Jefferson o

as a fool. A complete, utter fool. I had built my life on the foundation of a woman's grat

cold, hard truth. I wasn't from her wo

to the nurse, paid in cash, and fled the c

waiting for me, her arms cros

you been?" s

said, holding up

it second, I saw something-a flicker of guilt,

d, the bitterness sharp in my voice.

udson is sensitive! He's not like you. He's important to me, and he's

erstanding husband while she slept with another man. To pu

t I refused to cr

ing for, and I was finally seeing her. Cold. Calculating. Selfish

ly I wasn't sure if I'd said

t?" she asked

thi

ormative weariness. "Look, I'm sorry. Let's go to the b

beach, the "two of

sat on the sand, a book in my lap that I couldn't read. I didn't know how to swim, a fact Eleanor

d set. Golden, bea

leaving me alone with him. Hudson waded out of the wa

dropping onto the sand next to me. "Do

was surprisingly strong. He dragged me

ssed in my ear

d my head und

s burned. I thrashed wildly, but his hand was like a vis

to die, he pulled me up. I cough

ing. "See? N

ng, the panic, the darkness. He was

hink she cares if you live or die?" he whispered, his voice full o

art, refused to believe him. She c

reading my mind. He smiled, a truly e

ove the churning water, as we wai