Chapter 1

The music at the country club was too loud.

Mark, my husband, was across the room.

He was talking to Jessica Davis.

Jessica. His high school sweetheart.

Now, she was his sister-in-law, David' s widow.

Her hand was on Mark' s arm.

They were laughing, heads close together.

I felt a knot in my stomach.

Not jealousy. Something else. Unease.

Jessica leaned in, said something to Mark.

Her eyes flicked towards me.

She smirked.

Mark glanced my way, then quickly looked back at Jessica.

He shook his head, a dismissive gesture.

"Sarah? Nah, she's not the jealous type," I imagined him saying.

He always said that. "Sarah' s so secure."

He didn't come over. He didn't even wave.

My drink tasted sour.

I wanted to walk over there, to pull him away.

But my feet felt like lead.

My smile felt plastered on my face.

This was Mark' s fifteen-year college reunion.

I was supposed to be the supportive wife.

The one who understood his old friendships.

Jessica had moved back to town six months ago.

After David, Mark' s older brother, died in that hiking accident.

She brought her son, Kevin.

Mark had been spending a lot of time with them.

"Helping them adjust," he' d said.

Too much time.

He brought Jessica a fresh drink, his hand lingering on the small of her back.

He hadn't asked if I needed anything all night.

Someone from their old group shouted, "Mark! Jessica! Still look like prom king and queen!"

They both beamed.

A hot flush crawled up my neck.

I felt like an outsider.

"I need some air," I muttered to a passing acquaintance.

I turned towards the French doors leading to the patio.

"You okay, honey?" Mark called out, his voice barely reaching me over the noise.

A flicker of concern, maybe.

Before he could move, Jessica placed a hand on his arm again.

"I'll go with her, Mark," she said, her voice smooth. "You stay and mingle. We girls need a chat."

Her smile was tight. It didn't reach her eyes.

Outside, the air was cooler, but it didn' t help the tightness in my chest.

Ashley, a former classmate of theirs, stumbled towards me, drink sloshing.

"Sarah! You look amazing. Mark is such a catch."

She sighed dramatically. "My Bill is... well, he' s Bill. You guys have the perfect life."

I forced a smile.

"I remember," Ashley slurred, "Mark' s famous 'Ten-Year Love Blueprint.' He made it for Jessica, you know. Back in high school. So romantic. Shame it didn' t work out for them then."

Blueprint? For Jessica?

My smile froze.

Mark appeared at the doorway, his arm instantly going around my shoulders.

"There you are. Getting cold?" He kissed my temple.

His eyes, though, went straight to Jessica, who had followed Ashley out.

"Jess, you okay? You look a bit pale."

He guided Jessica to a chair, fussing over her.

I stood there, his arm still loosely around me, feeling like a prop.

Ten years we' d been together. Eight years married.

I thought our foundation was solid rock.

This "blueprint" for Jessica... it was a small comment.

But it felt like a tremor.

The unease I' d felt earlier sharpened.

It tasted like betrayal.