She started to stand, intending to leave the table, but McNeil stretched out his leg, blocking her path.


    Victoria froze. If she tried to walk past, she''d have to squeeze right by him, and with just the slightest move from McNeil, she''d likely end up tumbling into his arms or worse, right onto hisp.


    "Daddy, Mommy, aren''t you going to eat?" Gwh had picked up on the tension between her parents.


    McNeil peeled a shrimp and ced it on his daughter''s te, though his gaze never left Victoria. "Go ahead and eat, Gwyn. Daddy and Mommy need to talk."


    Victoria''s appetite disappeared in an instant.


    "I made ns to have dinner with my mother tonight. You and Gwyn shoulde with me."


    McNeil didn''t ask about Paul again, and Victoria wasn''t about to bring it up herself. She just felt a cold emptiness settle inside her.


    "I don''t know your mother that well. Why don''t you take Gwyn yourself?"


    Dinner at Madonna''s house? In six years of marriage, she''d never been invited to her mother-inw''s ce. Now, with divorce looming, she wasn''t about to tempt fate.


    "We''re going to the amusement park this afternoon. It was my mother''s idea to invite you and Paul."


    Victoria was stunned. He''d invited Paul to Madonna''s?


    The rest of the afternoon, Victoria couldn''t focus on anything. Her mind kept circling back to Paul-Paul and Madonna. Both were from the same town, so what were they to each other? The thought left her with a throbbing headache.


    Meanwhile, McNeil seemed utterly at ease, leading his wife and daughter through the park. Victoria, though, was miles away in her thoughts.


    Gwh was having the time of her life but every now and then, she''d tug McNeil down to whisper in his ear.


    "Daddy, why aren''t you taking me and Violet out anymore? Why is it just you and Mommy?"


    McNeil ruffled her hair. "Just because."


    He didn''t borate. When he fell silent, Gwh shrugged it off. Being with Mommy was fun, too-no nagging, a ymate for every game, and nobody to stop her from eating what she wanted.


    Violet had been super busytely, so busy that Gwh hadn''t seen her in ages.


    At the amusement park, McNeil and Victoria did their best to keep up with their energetic daughter.


    Sitting at a red light near the park''s entrance, Isaac nced out the passenger window and did a double take. "No way-am I seeing things?"


    His shout made Violet and Marcus Green, squeezed together in the back, frown in confusion.


    "What''s got you so worked up?" Marcus asked.


    It had been ages since this group had hung out. Isaac had rounded everyone up for a casual drink and some catching up, even managing to persuade Violet to join. He''d tried calling McNeil, but couldn''t get through-maybe he''d have better luckter tonight.


    Violet, for her part, had been in a funk. McNeil hadn''t visited her in days. Work had been hectic, and she was worried that constantly chasing after him would make her seem desperate, just another clingy woman. So she forced herself to hold back, barely daring to call him. But if the guys arranged something, McNeil would never say no.


    "Is that McNeil with his daughter?" Marcus nced up from his phone.


    "Why not?" Curtis replied. "It''s an amusement park. Violet''s been awfully busytely-of course McNeil would bring his kid by himself."


    Violet looked at Curtis, batting hershes. "Mr. Garcia, I hope you realize how dedicated I''ve been. I''ve barely seen McNeil-I''ve thrown myself into work, just like you wanted."


    Her voice was sweet and delicate, so different from her usual professional tone at the office. Curtis felt a chill run down his spine. "Maybe you should tell McNeil that. I don''t mind giving you a couple days off—otherwise, you two are both going to me me."


    Isaac pped Curtis''s arm, earning a re. "What?"


    "I''m telling you, Violet isn''t McNeil''s wife. Look over there-am I crazy, or did he bring his wife out today? He''s never let us meet her before, has he?"


    At that, both Marcus and Curtis craned their necks, curiosity piqued, straining to see where Isaac was pointing.


    In the golden light ofte afternoon, McNeil was holding hands with a woman whose long, chestnut hair reached the small of her back. She wore a soft beige dress, her movements graceful. Gwh skipped andughed beside them.


    From a distance, the woman''s face was hard to make out, but for some reason, both Marcus and Curtis felt a flicker of recognition.


    But Violet-she knew instantly. Her eyes locked on McNeil and Victoria''s joined hands. Her face drained of color, lips pressed so tight she nearly drew blood. "It''s too far—you probably saw wrong," she managed, voice trembling.


    She knew all too well: McNeil never brought Victoria anywhere.


    "No way. We''d recognize McNeil anywhere, even in a crowd," Isaac insisted.


    Silence fell over the car as the reality set in. Violet forced a brittle smile, fighting to keep herposure.


    "Your eyes must be ying tricks. If you''re really curious, just call McNeil when we get there and ask him toe out. If he''s really with his wife, would he still show up to hang out with us? If you don''t want to bother him, I''ll call myself-he''ll definitelye."