relief, and hated being suspicious even of that relief. Healing could be humiliating.
One evening I asked whether Laura had contacted him since he ended the affair. He admitted, “Once.” My stomach tightened, and I asked, “When?”
“Two weeks after I ended it.”
“What did she say?” He repeated her message: “She said she was sorry for everything and that she wouldn’t contact me again.”
“Did you reply?”
“Yes.” He explained his answer: “I said, ‘Thank you. Please don’t.’” I checked: “That’s all?” He said, “That’s all.” I believed him,
