Silence spread across the kitchen.
Only then did I begin noticing the details I had missed when I first walked in.
A thin mattress rolled against the wall near the pantry.
An old standing fan pointed toward the sink.
A plain apron hanging from a hook.
For a moment I simply stood there, absorbing the meaning of those objects.
My house had assigned a uniform to my wife.
Something inside me cooled into a steady, quiet determination.
I turned to Meredith.
“Go pack your things,” I said gently.
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
Allison stepped forward immediately.
“Evan, don’t start a scene. There are guests upstairs.”
