The driver said his name again.
Adrian raised one finger without looking back.
For several seconds he heard nothing except the low ticking of the SUV engine.
His mind began offering explanations faster than he could reject them.
Maybe Malik had been invited to discuss landscaping.
People did not usually pull landscapers through front doors by their shirts.
Maybe Simone stumbled.
She had not.
Maybe—
Adrian stopped.
He hated that his mind wanted a version of reality it could survive before he had actually seen what happened.
He turned toward the driver.
“Take my bags.”
“Sir?”
“Please.”
The man took them.
Adrian removed his wallet.
Paid for the canceled ride plus more than required.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
The SUV drove away.
Adrian remained beneath the magnolia tree.
He could go through the front door.
Shout Simone’s name.
Catch whatever was happening.
Instead he walked toward the side of the house.
Not because he wanted to sneak.
Because the garage door remained open six inches from when he took out trash that morning.
He crouched.
Lifted it manually.
Slipped beneath.
The silence inside felt different now.
This was his house.
His tools.
His daughter Maya’s bicycle leaning against the wall.
Seven-year-old Jordan’s soccer ball beneath the workbench.
A box labeled CHRISTMAS LIGHTS even though half the contents had nothing to do with Christmas.
Normal things.
Adrian stared at them as if he had entered somebody else’s life.
He opened the mudroom door quietly.
Voices came from the kitchen.
Simone.
Then Malik.
Adrian could not hear every word.
He moved closer.
Simone laughed.
A low laugh Adrian had not heard directed at him in months.
His stomach tightened.
Malik said:
“Thought he’d never leave.”
Simone answered:
“He’ll be gone until Saturday.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
There it was.
No misunderstanding left.
Malik spoke again.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“You said that last time.”
“He had a flight problem.”
A pause.
Then Simone:
“Come here.”
Adrian walked into the kitchen.
Malik had one hand around Simone’s waist.
Her arms were around his neck.
Their mouths were inches apart.
Neither noticed Adrian until he said:
“Flight problem.”
Simone screamed.
Malik spun around.
His body reacted before his mind did.
One step forward.
Hands half-raised.
Adrian did not move.
“Don’t.”
Malik stopped.
Recognition arrived.
“Adrian.”
Simone backed against the kitchen island.
Her face had gone completely white.
Adrian looked at her.
Then Malik.
Then Simone again.
Nobody spoke.
Adrian was surprised by how little anger he felt in the first few seconds.
Not because he was calm.
Because shock had frozen everything into observation.
Malik’s gloves sticking from his pocket.
Simone barefoot.
Two wineglasses on the counter.
One already poured.
A bottle of cabernet open beside the refrigerator.
It was 1:18 in the afternoon.
Adrian looked toward the wine.
“You opened that before I reached the car?”
Simone’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Malik said:
“I should leave.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Yes.”
Simone turned.
“Malik.”
Adrian’s eyes sharpened.
“No.”
She stared.
He continued:
“Whatever conversation you two planned after I left can happen somewhere else.”
Malik nodded.
He walked toward the mudroom.
Simone grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
Malik stopped.