OPENED THE DOOR AFTER A LONG DAY AT WORK – AND FOUND SIX OF MY HUSBAND’S RELATIVES SETTLED IN COMFORTABLY, WAITING FOR DINNER. I SMILED POLITELY, WALKED TO THE BEDROOM AND CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND ME. I HAD NO INTENTION OF COOKING – I’D ALREADY EATEN ON THE WAY HOME…

Marcus came in 14 minutes later.

I know because I had been watching the clock with a specific detached interest in my own patience.

“Hey,” he said.

He’d closed the door behind him.

“You okay?”

“Fine,” I said.

I turned a page.

“Are you coming out?”

I looked up from the book.

“No,” I said.

“Clara…”

I set the book down, keeping my thumb in the page.

“When did you know they were coming?”

A pause.

“This afternoon.”

“This afternoon,” I said.

“So you had several hours during which you could have called me.”