She isn't sure how to answer the question, how to convey the complexity of what she is feeling, so she simply says, "I'm tired."

He lets out an uneasy laugh and says, "Well, other than being tired, how are you? Are you . . . okay?"

"Yes," she says, offering no further explanation, wondering when she will let her guard down completely, finally spill her heart. Wondering if such a thing is even possible for her. She has the feeling that it just might be, with him.

"Are you you okay?" she asks him, thinking that he has more on the line, much more to lose, and frankly, much more reason to feel guilty. okay?" she asks him, thinking that he has more on the line, much more to lose, and frankly, much more reason to feel guilty.

"Yeah. I'm okay," he says softly.

She smiles in response, but feels it fade quickly, her buzz displaced by a dose of heavy remorse as she hears the sound of piping voices in the background. His children. A far different matter from his wife. After all, she-Tessa, Tess Tess-could be to blame in all of this, or at least a joint culprit in her own collapsing marriage. But there is no way she can reconcile what she is doing to his two innocent children, and certainly not with the convoluted rationalization that creating a family cancels out the breaking up of another-or that it exculpates her from the unabashed violation of the Golden Rule, in her mind, the only rule that really matters.

"Daddy. More butter, please!" she hears his daughter say, trying to picture her, grateful that she can't. She thinks of the framed black-and-white photos in Nick's office, the ones she has thus far managed to avoid.

"Sure, honey," Nick replies to the little girl.

"Thank you, Daddy," she chirps, her voice becoming singsongy. "Very! Very much!"

Her sweet voice and good manners stab at Valerie's heart, adding to her burden of guilt.

"What are you all having for breakfast?" Valerie asks. It is a nervous question, one designed to acknowledge his children without directly asking about them.

"Waffles. I'm the waffle king. Right, Rubes?"

She hears the little girl giggle and say, "Yes, Daddy. And I'm the waffle princess."

"Yes, you are," he says. "You're the waffle princess, for sure."

She then hears the little boy, talking exactly as Nick joked-like a cross between the Terminator and a European gay man, a staccato trill. "Da-ddeeeee. I. Want. More. But-tah. Tooo."

"No! That one's mine!" she hears the little girl say, remembering Nick's joke that Ruby is so overbearing that his son's first words were help me. help me.

Valerie closes her eyes again, as if to shut out the sounds of his children, and all that she knows about them. Yet she still can't help herself from whispering, "Do you feel. . . guilty?"

He hesitates-an answer in itself-then says, "Yeah. Of course I do ... But I wouldn't take it back."

"You wouldn't?" she asks, wanting to be certain.

"Hell, no ... I want to do it again," he says, more quietly.

A chill runs down Valerie's spine, just as she hears Ruby ask, "Do what again? Who are you talking to, Daddy?"

"A friend," he tells her.

"What friend?" the little girl presses, as Valerie wonders if it is mere curiosity-or some sort of freakish intuition.

"Uhh . . . you don't know this friend, honey," he tells his daughter, carefully keeping the gender neutral. And then, to Valerie, in a hushed voice, "I better go. But can I see you later?"

"Yes," she says as quickly as she can. Before she can change her mind-or her heart.

33.

Tessa A short time later, after I've avoided two follow-up calls from April and exchanged somewhat tearful good-byes with Cate, I am on my flight back to Boston, eating a standard-issue bag of miniature pretzels and unwittingly eavesdropping on two loud-talking men in the row behind me. From a quick glimpse over my seat, I glean that they fall into the beefy, guywalks-into-a-bar category, both sporting goatees, gold chains, and baseball caps. As I stare at the map in the back of my in-flight magazine, examining the myriad of domestic flight possibilities, I do my best to tune out the discussion of the "sweet Porsche" one wants to buy, and the other's "douche of a boss," before the conversation really revs up with the question: "So you gonna call that chick from the club or what?" short time later, after I've avoided two follow-up calls from April and exchanged somewhat tearful good-byes with Cate, I am on my flight back to Boston, eating a standard-issue bag of miniature pretzels and unwittingly eavesdropping on two loud-talking men in the row behind me. From a quick glimpse over my seat, I glean that they fall into the beefy, guywalks-into-a-bar category, both sporting goatees, gold chains, and baseball caps. As I stare at the map in the back of my in-flight magazine, examining the myriad of domestic flight possibilities, I do my best to tune out the discussion of the "sweet Porsche" one wants to buy, and the other's "douche of a boss," before the conversation really revs up with the question: "So you gonna call that chick from the club or what?"

"Which club? Which chick?"

(Hearty laughter accompanied by either a knee slap or high five.) "The double-jointed chick. What's her name? Lindsay? Lori?"

"Oh yeah, Lind-say. Lind-say. Hell, yeah, I'm gonna call her. She was sexy. Sexy as Hell, yeah, I'm gonna call her. She was sexy. Sexy as shit!' shit!'

I cringe, comparing them to my intelligent, respectful husband who would never, under any circumstances, think of putting sexy sexy and and shit shit in the same sentence. Then I close my eyes, preparing for our descent, imagining the likely scene upon my return: my family breaking all the usual rules, perhaps still in their pajamas, eating junk food, the house an utter wreck around them. I take strange solace in the thought of such chaos, the idea of Nick's domestic incompetence, the belief that he would be lost without me-in more ways than one. in the same sentence. Then I close my eyes, preparing for our descent, imagining the likely scene upon my return: my family breaking all the usual rules, perhaps still in their pajamas, eating junk food, the house an utter wreck around them. I take strange solace in the thought of such chaos, the idea of Nick's domestic incompetence, the belief that he would be lost without me-in more ways than one.

Yet when I burst through my front door less than an hour later, I am dismayed to find my family gone, the house clean and orderly. The kitchen is sparkling; the beds are made; there is even a load of laundry, freshly washed and folded, in a wicker basket on the stairs. I wander aimlessly around the house, finding myself in the living room, the most formal and least used space in the house, eyeing the high-backed, rolled-arm couch that I don't think I've sampled since the day my mother and I chose it from a decorator's showroom. I remember the afternoon well, the hours we spent considering various styles, discussing fabrics and wood finishes for its graceful feet, debating whether to pay extra for stain guard. A project that now seems trivial.

As I carefully sit on it now, doing my best to enjoy the rare moment of peace, I can't make myself feel anything other than lonesome, disturbed by the loud silence, grimly imagining what it would be like if Nick and I ever split up-all the blank space and empty moments to fill. I remember once joking to him, after a particularly trying day, that I would make a superb mother if I were only on duty on Mondays, Tuesdays, and every other weekend. He laughed, telling me not to be ridiculous, that being a single parent would be miserable, that he he would be miserable without me. I hold on to this thought as I dial his cell. would be miserable without me. I hold on to this thought as I dial his cell.

"Hey there!" he shouts into the phone. I feel instant relief just hearing his voice, although I can't shake the feeling that I'm in detective mode as I try to discern his background noise. It sounds like a mall, but the chances of Nick voluntarily going shopping are more unlikely than an affair.

"Hi," I say. "Where are you?"

"The Children's Museum," he says.

"With the kids?"

"Yeah," he says with a laugh. "It generally wouldn't be a place I'd come without the kids."

I smile at my silly question, feeling myself relax.

"How's New York?" he says. "What are you up to?"

I take a deep breath and say, "I'm home, actually."

"You're home? Why?" he asks, sounding startled.

"Because I missed you," I say, which isn't entirely untrue.

He says nothing in response, which unnerves me enough that I begin to ramble. "I just need to see you," I say. "I want to talk to you . . . about some things."

"What things?" he asks, a dose of unease in his voice-which could be because he's done something wrong. Or it could be that he's done nothing nothing wrong and therefore assumes that wrong and therefore assumes that I I am the one with an issue. am the one with an issue.

"Just things," I say, feeling sheepish for my vagueness, suddenly questioning my judgment in coming home, initiating a conversation in this way. After all, I might have a legitimate reason to be worried, but was it really enough to cut my trip short by a night, without so much as giving Nick a heads-up before my arrival? It occurs to me that he could think this is a true true emergency-a health crisis, an affair of my own, a foray into a deep depression-rather than what is likely going on here: April stirring the pot and me snooping through his text messages. emergency-a health crisis, an affair of my own, a foray into a deep depression-rather than what is likely going on here: April stirring the pot and me snooping through his text messages. Two paranoid housewives. Two paranoid housewives.

"Tessa," he says, agitated. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

"Yes. Yes. I'm fine," I say, feeling ashamed and more confused than ever. "I just want to talk. Tonight. Is Carolyn still coming? I was hoping we could go out. . . and talk."

"Yeah. She's still coming. At eight."

"Oh. Great," I say. "What. . . were your plans?"

"I didn't have specific plans," he replies quickly. "I was thinking of seeing a movie."

"Oh," I say again. "So . . . did you go out last night?"

"Uh . . . yeah," he says. "I did. For a bit."

I start to ask what he did, but stop myself. Instead I tell him I can't wait to see him and silently vow that I will not beat around the bush when we finally sit down to talk. I must be direct, confront the hard topics: fidelity, sex, his career, my lack of one, the underlying dissatisfaction in our marriage. It won't be easy, but if we can't have a frank discussion, then we really are are in trouble. in trouble.

"Me too. . . . But I better go now. The kids are running in two separate directions. So we'll just finish up here and be back by five or so? . . . Does that work for you?" he asks.

His words are innocuous but his tone is detached, with the slightest hint of condescension. It is the way he often talked to me when I was pregnant and, in his words, behaving irrationally-which I must confess was often the case, such as the time I actually cried cried over our Christmas tree, insisting that it was ugly, disturbingly asymmetrical, even suggesting that Nick unstring the lights and over our Christmas tree, insisting that it was ugly, disturbingly asymmetrical, even suggesting that Nick unstring the lights and return return it for a new one. In fact, I almost it for a new one. In fact, I almost feel feel pregnant now-not physically, but emotionally, in a verging-on-tears, hormonal, utterly needy way. pregnant now-not physically, but emotionally, in a verging-on-tears, hormonal, utterly needy way.

"Sure. That works," I tell him, clutching the arm of the couch, hoping that I sound less desperate than I feel. "I'll be here."

I spend the next hour rushing around, showering, dressing, and primping, as if I'm going on a first date, all the while vacillating between despair and calm, at one moment telling myself my intuition must be on track and then berating myself for being so insecure, having such little faith in Nick and the bedrock of our relationship.

But when my family returns home, there is no denying the chilliness in Nick's hug, his kiss on my cheek. "Welcome home, Tess," he says, an ironic suspicion in his voice.

"Thanks, honey," I say, trying to remember how I interacted with him before all of this began, trying to pinpoint when when all of this began. "It's so good to see you guys." all of this began. "It's so good to see you guys."

I kneel down to hug the kids, both of whom have clean faces and combed hair, Ruby even wearing a pink bow, a small triumph.

Frankie bursts into a mirthful laugh, clamoring for another hug. "Pick. You. Up. Mama!" he shouts.

I don't bother to correct his pronoun, but instead scoop him up in my arms, kissing both cheeks and his sweaty little neck, warm from all the layers his daddy remembered to bundle him in.

He giggles as I put him down and unzip his coat. He is wearing a mismatched outfit-navy cords with a striped orange and red shirt, the lines and colors slightly clashing, the first sign that their father has been on duty. Once free of his coat, Frank begins to spin in circles, flapping his arms, dancing in his rhythmless, random way. I laugh, for one moment forgetting everything else, until I turn to Ruby, who is doing her best to look miffed, steadfastly maintaining her position that she should have been invited on the girls' trip, although I know she secretly relishes time with her daddy.

She coolly regards me now and says, "What did you bring me?"

I panic, realizing that I never made it to the American Girl or Disney store as I promised. "I didn't have a chance," I say lamely. "I was going to do it today."

"Oh, man," man," Ruby says, her lip curling into a pout. "Daddy Ruby says, her lip curling into a pout. "Daddy always always gets us something when he goes away." gets us something when he goes away."

I consider the trinkets that Nick has brought back from conferences, often cheap airport souvenirs, and feel guilty that I didn't at least save her my pretzels from the plane.

"Rubes. Be kind to your mother," Nick says, a mechanical reprimand. He then removes his own layers-a jacket, a fleece pullover, and a scarf-hanging everything on a hook by the door.

"She came home early," he adds. "That's your surprise. Our Our surprise." surprise."

"And my surprise was a clean house," I say, giving him a grateful look.

Nick smiles and winks, taking full credit, although something tells me that Carolyn did the laundry.

"Coming home early isn't a surprise," Ruby says.

"Maybe we'll get you a treat tonight. Ice cream after dinner?" I offer. Ruby is not sold on this, her pout conveying both disappointment and disgust.

She crosses her arms and attempts to negotiate a better deal. "With hot fudge?"

I nod while Frankie chortles unintelligibly, oblivious to his malcontent sister and the unspoken tension between his parents. I watch him flap his arms and spin again, filled with affection, admiration, and envy for my simple, happy child. As he falls down, dizzy and giggling, I say a prayer that Nick and I can somehow return to that pure place, where we want to drop everything we're doing, just be in the moment, and dance.

34.

Valerie Hi, Val. It's me. Hope you guys are having a good day. We're here at the Children's Museum, in the Bubble Room. Good times... Anyway, I'm so sorry, but I'm not going to be able to see you tonight, after all... Give me a call if you get this message soon. Otherwise... I... might not be able to talk... I'll call when I can and explain... Anyway, I'm sorry. Truly... I miss you...Last night was incredible. You're incredible...All right. Bye for now.

Her heart sinks as she listens to the message in the parking lot of Whole Foods, having just gone shopping for tonight's dinner. Charlie and three bags of groceries are in the backseat behind her.

"Mommy!" Charlie says impatiently.

"What, honey?" she says, glancing at her son in the rearview mirror, doing her best to look and sound upbeat, the opposite of how she feels.

"Why aren't you driving? Why are we just sitting here?"

"Sorry . . . I was listening to a message," she says, starting the car and slowly backing up.

"From Nick?" he asks.

Her heart skips a beat. "Yes. That was Nick," she says, the risk of what she is doing further crystallizing in her mind, along with the realization that, already, Nick has become Charlie's first guess, even before Jason or her mother, just as he was the first one Charlie called from school when he couldn't reach her.

"What did he say?" Charlie asks. "Is he coming tonight?"

"No, sweetie," she says, turning out of the lot.

"Why not?"

"I don't know," she says, silently ticking through the possibilities. Maybe he couldn't find a babysitter. Maybe his wife came home a day early. Maybe he changed his mind about her, about them. Whatever the explanation, she realizes with acute sadness that this is how it's going to be, that these sorts of disappointments and messages and cancellations come with the territory. She can pretend and dream all she wants-and she certainly did last night-but there is no way around what they are doing. They are having an affair, and she is on the sidelines, along with Charlie. It will be her job to shield him from disappointment while hiding her own.

"Mommy?" Charlie asks, as she makes a turn onto a backstreet, taking the longer but more scenic route home.

"Yes, honey?" she says.