"When?" "A few weeks ago." Claire thought about the last few weeks. "Day or night?"
"Afternoon."
Her mind found the day before Vanessa finished speaking. A Wednesday. Claire had been in New Haven for a site meeting. Ethan had texted to ask what time she would be home.
"October eleventh?" Vanessa's expression confirmed it. Claire closed her eyes.
She remembered sending Ethan a photograph of a brick facade that afternoon because the building had reminded her of a place they loved in Boston. He responded with a thumbs-up emoji. At that exact time, perhaps Vanessa had been sitting in a car outside Claire's house.
"What did you do?" Claire asked. "We talked." "In the driveway?"
"In his car." "Did you kiss him?" Vanessa hesitated. Claire nodded to herself. "Okay."
"I'm sorry." "Stop saying that unless you know what you're sorry for." Vanessa looked down.
Claire was suddenly exhausted. Anger required energy, and hers had begun to drain away. The room no longer looked sharp at the edges. The balloons blurred. The gold letters on the banner seemed childish.
She wanted everyone out. She wanted every object that had existed before the light switch to be removed from the room because it belonged to another life. She looked at Ethan. "Pack a bag."
His head lifted. "Claire." "Go upstairs. Pack enough for a week."
"This is my house."
"I know whose name is on the deed. I'm not asking a legal question. I'm telling you that if you have one ounce of respect left for me, you will not sleep here tonight."
"Where am I supposed to go?" Thomas laughed without humor. "You can stay at our house if your mother agrees not to strangle you." Margaret shot him a look, then turned back to Ethan. "You can stay in the guest room."
Ethan looked from his parents to Claire. "And what happens tomorrow?" "Tomorrow exists tomorrow." "We can't decide our marriage in front of everyone."
"I'm not deciding our marriage. I'm deciding where you sleep tonight." He took a breath, then nodded. Vanessa moved toward the front door. "I'm going."
Claire did not stop her this time. Ethan stepped toward Vanessa instinctively. "Wait." She spun around. "For what?"
"We need to talk too." The audacity of it stunned even him once the words were out. Claire stared. Vanessa's mouth opened slightly, then she gave one incredulous laugh. "You need to talk to your wife."