“So I told myself she was better at family details.”
Denise stared.
“You told yourself parenting was a detail.”
That one hurt.
Damon nodded.
“Yes.”
They sat quietly.
Then Denise asked:
“Do you want to save the marriage?”
He did not answer for a long time.
“I don’t know.”
“Good.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“Anyone who knows after four days is performing.”
Damon almost smiled.
“I love her.”
“I know.”
“I’m furious.”
“I know.”
“I don’t trust her.”
“That matters.”
“She loves the children.”
Denise thought.
“Yes.”
“You hesitated.”
“Because love is not the question.”
He looked at her.
“What is?”
“Whether her love is safe enough to live with.”
Renee began individual therapy.
Not because Damon requested it.
Because Ava would not speak to her on the phone.
The first call lasted twelve seconds.
“Hi, baby.”
“Hi.”
“I miss you.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry.”
Ava whispered:
“I heard you.”
Then handed the phone to Damon.
Exactly what he had suggested.
Renee cried afterward.
Damon knew because she called him.
“I broke something.”
He sat inside his office.
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to fix it.”
“Neither do I.”
“Are you leaving me?”
He closed his eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“You always know.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“I usually decide.”
“Same thing.”
“It isn’t.”
Renee laughed weakly.
“What do you want from me?”
“The truth.”
“I told you.”
“No.”
He looked at the Brooks Reset documents.
“I think you told me the part you could tolerate.”
Silence.
“What else is there?”
Renee did not answer.
Damon waited.
Finally:
“The videos.”
His stomach tightened.
“What videos?”
She cried quietly.
“I recorded dinners.”
He went completely still.
“How?”
“Phone.”
“Where?”
“On the shelf.”
“For the program?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Maybe twenty.”
Damon stood.
“Did the kids know?”
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“I told them we were testing family routines.”
“They are five and eight.”
“I know.”
“Where are the videos?”
“Cloud drive.”
“Have you shown anyone?”
Silence.
“Renee.”
“Vivian.”
“Dr. Keller.”
“Yes.”
“Anyone else?”