“David?”
Ethan turned.
His smile disappeared.
David stood quietly near the doorway.
“Happy birthday, Ethan.”
Ethan looked from him to me.
“What are you doing here?”
I answered.
“I invited him.”
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“Claire, why would you do that?”
I set down the cake server.
“Because he’s your husband, Vanessa. I thought he might enjoy celebrating with us.”
Nobody answered.
One of our friends looked toward the door.
I could see the guests sensing that something wasn’t right.
So I did what I’d been doing all evening.
I kept my voice pleasant.
“David, would you like some cake?”
He shook his head gently.
“No, thank you.”
Vanessa stood.
“I need to speak to you.”
She was looking at me, not David.
“Of course,” I said. “In a few minutes.”
Ethan got up.
“Claire, what is this?”
I looked toward the staircase.
Noah and his cousin were upstairs.
The other guests were beginning to gather coats and handbags, clearly aware that the birthday dinner was ending.
