Lily had entered her home looking for Ryan while Ava was away. That required intention. It could not be blamed on being upset one night or a line crossed accidentally. "You came to my house hoping my husband would be alone." Lily whispered, "Yes."
"Did you use the key I gave you?" "Yes." Ava nodded several times. "Give it back." Lily reached into her purse with trembling hands and removed a silver key from her ring.
It had a small green enamel tag Ava had bought so Lily could distinguish it from her apartment key. She slid it across the table. Ava picked it up. The metal was warm from Lily's hand. She placed it in the pocket of her dress.
That small act felt more final than anything else that night. "You don't come into this house again unless I invite you," Ava said. Lily nodded, crying silently. "Not for clothes you left here. Not because you need something.
Not because Ryan tells you it's okay. This is my house too, and you lost the privilege of treating it like yours." "I understand." Ava looked at Ryan. "And you do not invite her here."
"I won't." "You do not make plans about that baby in this house without talking to me first while we're still married." Ryan swallowed. "Okay." Ava's expression hardened.
"And don't mistake that for me saying we are staying married." "I won't." For the first time, Ryan looked truly afraid of divorce rather than exposure. His eyes moved over the room as if he were seeing the house as something he might lose. Ava recognized the look and resented it.
"You thought you could keep all of it," she said. He stared at her. "Me. The house. Your life.
Whatever this was with Lily. And now a child. You thought if you managed the truth carefully enough, everything could somehow remain yours." "No." "Yes.
That's why you lied. People lie when they want reality without consequences." Ryan's shoulders dropped. Lily said quietly, "I told him we couldn't keep hiding." Ava turned to her.
"After you were pregnant." "Yes." "Not before." "No." Ava nodded.
"Then let's not call honesty a virtue here. The pregnancy made secrecy impossible." Lily accepted the words without defending herself. The rain began to soften.
In its place came a different sound from somewhere outside: tires moving slowly over the wet street, then the faint sweep of headlights across the front windows. Ava barely noticed. Cars passed all evening. Ryan did. His head turned slightly toward the hallway.
Ava caught the movement. "What?" "Nothing." The word made her laugh bitterly. "I may ban that word from this house."
Ryan looked back at her, but some of the color had drained from his face. Ava studied him. "Are you expecting someone?" "No." Lily looked toward the hall too.