We met at a coffee shop near my office.
She looked different without the bright apartment behind her.
She seemed nervous and kept twisting a ring on her finger.
“I thought you and Eric had separated last winter,” she said.
“We hadn’t.”
“He told me you were living together as you figured out the separate housing.”
I shook my head.
“We were planning Thanksgiving with his parents. He kissed me goodbye every morning.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
“He said your marriage was over, but you didn’t want Noah to know until after his birthday.”
“That’s why he asked Noah to keep the house secret.”
“I thought you knew about the house,” she whispered. “That you two had finally figured out the living arrangements.”
“He hadn’t even mentioned divorce.”
Rachel stared down at her coffee.
She told me they’d met through a supplier event the previous February.
Eric said he was separated.
