Page 120 of The Bad Husband

“And that’s the problem. You should’ve stopped him.”

My mouth falls open.

“Stop him from doing what?’

“From messing with your head. You think this is only a fling?”

“Have I missed the conversation in which we were talking about anything happening between us?” I ask.

She dismisses me with a clipped gesture.

“I don’t need to see it, so that I know it. He’s moving her out of his house.”

“She’s still here.”

“Do you know where the guesthouse is?’

“On the property, I suppose.”

“It’s half a mile away from here.”

I bite my lip.

“Yeah, right,” she goes on.

“She must be okay with it,” I say.

“I don’t think she has a say in this.”

“Tell me more.”

“You’re cheeky now, and you have no reason to be.”

“You know I could tell him about our conversation.”

“Go ahead. Do it. I’m only doing you a favor here.”

“You’re also questioning his judgment.”

“I’m not questioning his judgment. He does what any man would do if he were in his shoes. This story is as old as time.”

I ponder my next question.

“What’s your problem, Livia? You don’t like me? You don’t like him? You don’t like your job?”

“I have no problem with either of you, and I love my job.”

“What is it, then?”

She closes the space between us.

“I had a daughter just like you.”

“Had?”

“She’s a shell of her former self.”

“I’m sorry.”