Chapter 23: At the Gate (Present Day)

Ryan was in the backyard with the kids. Cindy lay on a sun lounger, and her son was passed out, napping next to her. Ryan had Michael on his shoulders and was walking around the pool while Nicole chased them with a water gun. He looked relaxed. As nothing had happened, when he saw us, he smiled and set Michael down.

“Afternoon, Nick,” he said. “Kids have been asking for you.”

Sarah stopped at the gate. Her hand rested on the latch. She did not open it. Ryan walked over to the gate. He was wearing swim trunks and nothing else. His chest was still damp from the pool. He looked at Sarah first, then at me.

“How are you both feeling?” he asked me. His voice was easy. Friendly. The same voice he used at work.

“Fine,” I said. The word came out flat.

Sarah stayed quiet. Her fingers tightened on the latch. Ryan looked at her again. Something passed between them that I could not read. She looked down at the concrete.

“Roxie’s inside,” Ryan said. “She wanted to talk to Sarah for a minute. The kids are good out here. Cindy will keep an eye on them.”

Sarah nodded. She still had not looked at me. She pushed the gate open and walked past Ryan toward the house. He watched her go. His eyes stayed on her ass as she turned the corner and disappeared from view. Then he turned back to me.

“You want a beer?” he asked.

I stared at him. The kids were laughing behind him. Michael was trying to climb back onto his shoulders. Nicole was reloading the water gun. The afternoon looked normal. It was not.

“Sure,” I said.

Ryan nodded like that was the answer he had expected. He walked toward the cooler by the pool. I followed him. My hands were shaking. I shoved them into my pockets so he would not see.

Ryan handed me a beer. I opened it and took a long drink. The beer tasted like nothing. I kept my eyes on the kids so I would not have to look at him.

“She okay?” he asked.

“She’s quiet.”

“Yeah.” He took a drink of his own beer. “Last night was a lot for her.”