He was humming softly.

Our daughter had wrapped her tiny fingers around his thumb.

For a moment, I remembered the man I’d fallen in love with.

Perhaps he could still be a wonderful father, even if he had failed as a husband.

Perhaps I could tolerate an imperfect marriage so our daughters would have financial security.

Then bedtime came.

I’d placed an extra blanket on the living room sofa.

Ryan noticed it immediately.

“I’m not sleeping out there.”

“I can’t pretend nothing happened,” I told him.

He climbed into our bed.

“You can’t keep treating me like a criminal over something that’s finished.”

“Ryan, you betrayed me.”

He gave a bitter laugh.

“If you’re going to treat me like I’m single, don’t be surprised if I start behaving that way.”

I picked up my pillow and went to the nursery.

I spent that night lying on the floor between my daughters’ cribs.