Lina sat on the floor of the shower, her eyes closed, her arms cradling her legs as she slowly rocked, the water splashing over her body, enveloping her in its warmth. She craved showers when she was upset, had since she was a young girl, gaining comfort in the wet solitude. Her husband was having a baby with another woman. How could he possibly be a father to a child who wasn’t hers? Why hadn’t she thrown him out? Isn’t that what most women would do in these circumstances? Well, she’d already proved she wasn’t like most women. No, she needed him too much. She shook her head in disgust, trying to clear a vision of him collapsing against her as an orgasm shook his body, his sperm filling her at the same time his baby grew inside another woman. She reached up and turned the hot water knob to the left, forcing herself to endure the spray of ice-cold water. Her skin was bright red when she stepped out of the shower.

She tried to call Adele, but the phone went straight to voicemail, and then she began to call Diane but changed her mind. She didn’t want to talk to Diane. Diane was on Phil’s side. Diane had been defending him for weeks. She would call Alice.

When Alice didn’t answer, Lina dropped down on her bed and stared at her phone. She needed to talk to someone. Suddenly an image of Dr. Drayton flashed in her mind. Before she could change her mind, she dialed his office number. Her body slumped when someone from his answering service picked up. She almost hung up, but instead found herself leaving a message the woman promised would be conveyed to the doctor. It was Sunday, Lina remembered. Of course he wasn’t working on a Sunday.

Several minutes later, the ring of her cell phone startled her. “Hello?” she said hesitantly, not recognizing the unfamiliar number.

“This is Dr. Drayton.”

His voice sounded different on the phone. Cooler, more professional. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you,” Lina rushed out.

“Is Katie—”

“Katie’s fine,” she managed before she started to cry.

“Lina?” His voice gentled.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, struggling to gain control of her emotions. “I just found something out about my husband. I shouldn’t have bothered you. This has nothing to do with Katie.”

“What can I do to help?”

She closed her eyes and lay back on the bed. “Nothing. I just wanted to talk.” She tried to picture him in the chair in his office.

There was a brief pause. “Would you like to meet?”

Twenty minutes later, Lina pulled her Mercedes into the empty lot in front of Dr. Drayton’s office building. She’d left the house without alerting Phil, and he’d called twice during her short drive over. She looked at the display on her phone and discovered he’d also sent a text.

I’m just worried. Please let me know you’re okay. I love you. She considered replying but instead slipped the phone back into her purse, deciding she didn’t care if he was worried.