“That would explain this,” she said as she picked up an empty beer bottle from the coffee table. “Unless there’s something you want to tell me.”

He looked at her then. “Are you trying to be funny?”

“Yes. I want you to smile. I miss your smile.”

He gave her a fake smile before turning his attention back to the television.

“Logan—”

“I just want to watch the game.”

The moment Lina stepped into her master bedroom she knew Phil had been in the room. It wasn’t that anything was out of place, she could just sense him. She crossed to his wardrobe and stared into the empty space. Every physical trace of him was gone. She pulled the door closed, refusing to let her mind dwell on the finality of it. She opened the drawers to his dresser, and they too were empty. He had expunged himself from the room and yet, as she looked around, her eyes traveling from the bed to the sitting room and everything in between, his presence was palpable. There were too many memories.

“How long was your dad here today?” Lina asked Katie, who was sitting in front of a mirror in her room, applying mascara.

“I don’t know. I didn’t pay attention. He took a bunch of his clothes. Uncle Mike helped him, and then he came back again I think.”

“Did he find somewhere to live?”

“Yeah, a furnished house in Farside,” Katie said, referring to a ritzy neighborhood less than a mile away. “The owners are in Europe or something. It’s big.” She turned from the mirror. “I think he expects me to spend some weekends with him. I shouldn’t have to suffer because the two of you are separated. I see him more now than when he lived here, plus he calls me every night. It’s ridiculous. I’m sixteen, not six.”

“He calls you every night?” This was news to Lina.

“Yes, and there isn’t that much to say.” Katie returned her attention her eyelashes. “I want to tell him to stop, but he seems sad, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings. Would you talk to him?”

“No, it’s not my place.”

“You’re the reason he’s sad.”

Lina didn’t feel it was appropriate to remind Katie that he was the one who had an affair, so she instead changed the subject. “Why are you putting on makeup?”

“I’m going out.”

“With who?”

Katie hesitated. “Just friends.”

“Katie?”

“What?” Katie opened her eyes wider.

“I need to know where you’re going and with who.”

Katie rolled her eyes. “Not that’s it’s any of your business, but I have a date.”

“It is my business. And before you go out on a date I need to meet the boy.”

“How do you know it’s not a girl? Maybe I’m gay.”