Chapter 2

Outside the law office, the city air felt heavy and humid. Andrew immediately walked over to Gabby, who was waiting by his black sedan. She was leaning against the passenger door, a triumphant smirk on her face.

He put his arms around her, whispering something that made her smile. She glanced over his shoulder and her eyes met mine. The smirk widened.

He started to walk back toward me, but Gabby grabbed his arm, her voice loud enough for me to hear.

"Andrew, what are you doing? It' s inappropriate for you to be seen with your... ex-wife. Especially with your re-election campaign starting. People will talk."

Andrew stopped. He looked torn, but only for a second. He gave me a weak, apologetic shrug from across the pavement.

"I' m sorry, Maddy. I' ll call you later. I' ll fix this, just... once Gabby calms down."

He got in the car with her and drove away, leaving me standing on the curb.

I took a cab back to the brownstone we once shared. The key still worked. I let myself in, my mind replaying the reasons for the last seven divorce filings. They were a parade of absurdity.

The first time, Gabby was upset Andrew missed her dog' s birthday party. The third, she had a nightmare that he was abandoning her and woke up hysterical. The sixth, she didn' t like a dress I wore to a fundraiser. Each time, Andrew capitulated. Each time, he promised it was the last time.

The house was a mess. Flour dusted every surface of the kitchen, and a sticky, burned smell hung in the air. I found Andrew and Gabby in the middle of the chaos, laughing. He, the man who was obsessively neat, had flour in his hair and on his expensive suit. He looked happy.

He saw me and his smile faltered slightly. He grabbed a clean apron from a hook.

"Maddy, you' re back. Perfect timing. Gabby wants that coq au vin you make. Can you whip it up?"

I stared at him. Then I looked at the entitled expression on Gabby' s face. Something inside me, something I thought had died long ago, sparked.

"No."