“But we lost part of her—the tough part, the part that was never afraid. Do you remember her?”

“Yes.” His voice was hesitant, unsure.

“I don’t think she was lost. I think she was just buried.”

About two hundred white wooden chairs faced a simple white arbor covered in green ivy with dozens of candles to the left and right. Lina and Phil were seated on the bride’s side midway down and towards the center aisle, beside Wayne and Diane. Despite a light breeze, Lina knew the men were warm in their tuxedo jackets. It was a black tie affair, and she let her eyes wander over the guests, amused at how it was acceptable for the men to dress exactly the same, while women were expected to wear unique dresses.

They were surrounded by familiar faces. All Phil’s partners and their significant others were in attendance, as well as at least two dozen associates. The bride had come to the firm after graduating from law school five years earlier and was popular among her colleagues.

“She’s two rows up and three seats to the right of yours,” Phil whispered, not long after they took their seats, his warm breath tickling her ear.

Lina followed his direction, her heart pumping a little harder as she focused on the back of a blonde head. And then the head was turning, and she watched as Kim’s eyes zeroed in on Phil. Kim openly stared at him for seconds before her gaze slid to Lina.

Their eyes met and held. Lina unconsciously lifted her chin, not looking away as the other woman blatantly looked her over, and then Kim’s eyes returned to Phil momentarily before she turned back around. Lina released her breath. Kim looked sophisticated and cultured in a classic black strapless dress, no evidence yet of her pregnancy, a string of pearls her only jewelry, her shoulder-length hair cut in long layers. She didn’t look like the type of woman who would settle for the mistress role. She was beautiful.

“Lina?” Phil whispered, and she realized everyone was standing. She came to her feet and turned to watch the bride and her father making their way down the aisle. She felt the warmth of Phil’s palm as he rubbed his hand over the bare skin of her upper back. “I love you,” he said against her ear. “Only you.”

A cocktail party in an outdoor garden followed the ceremony, and Lina sipped her wine as she searched the gathering for Kim. “Forget about her, Lina,” Phil whispered against her ear. “Pretend she isn’t here.” They were part of a large group, which seemed to consist entirely of the senior members of the firm and their dates.

“Where is she?”

“I have no idea.” He kissed her cheek as he stroked his hand down her arm. “And I don’t care.”