I sigh and bury my face in my pillow. Then I hear the doorbell ring, female voices in the hall. Elise. Shit.

“Molly?” Corrine knocks on my door.

“I’m coming.” Might as well face her too.

Elise is sitting in the living room, dressed in neat khakis, a blue scarf over her white blouse. The harbor lies behind her like an enormous beast. “How are you, Molly?”

She stands and embraces me, but I don’t return the hug. “I’m okay. Why are you here?”

Corrine shoots me a look. “I called her. I told her what was going on, including the letter. I thought she could help.”

“I don’t need anyone’s help,” I snap. “The cops are handling it. So if you’re here to tell me what a great guy Jay was, Elise, you can save it, okay? I can’t think about him right now.” I pace the room in little circles. “I can’t think about my husband right now. I need to take care of myself.”

“I understand.”

I stand still in front of her, shake my head. This woman doesn’t understand. No one can possibly understand. “I’m sure you know all about me now, right?”

“Yes.” But she doesn’t meet my eyes.

“Jay told you, didn’t he? You didn’t just hear it on TV.”

“No. I didn’t hear it on TV. I knew all along, Molly.”

I clap my hands together. “Great. I knew it.”

“Jay didn’t tell me,” she says. I tip my head, wait for her explanation. “I read your file when you were at the office for treatment. Before you and Jay were a couple.”

“What? Why? That was confidential. I wasn’t your patient!”

Elise raises a palm. “I’m sorry. It was an accident. I picked up a file from Candace’s desk. I thought it was one of mine. One I’d just handed her a moment earlier. I didn’t read it all, Molly. When I realized my mistake, I put it down.”

“Oh, Christ, Elise. Really?” I nearly laugh. “But you didn’t put it down before you read all the good stuff, right?”

“I’m being honest here. I never told a soul. I didn’t even tell Jay I knew. I wanted to respect your privacy.”

“Well, that’s just great. So, now that Jay’s gone, you think you can help me?”

Her eyes meet mine. “You went through hell, Molly. Most children need ongoing care after something like that.”