The night Charlotte was killed, Evan had been out of town for work. Liv met Noah at the hotel and told him it was over. They talked until three in the morning—much of it him trying to convince her to leave her husband—but she held her ground. The affair was an illusion, Noah lonely and isolated after Vicki’s death, Liv lonely and isolated in the throes of domestic life. She loved her family, loved Evan.

That night she’d fallen asleep, and when she awoke he was gone—left to tend to the house party that changed her life. On her drive home, trying to beat Evan’s return from his business trip, she ignored calls from home. When she arrived, Maggie ran outside and told her that the police had taken Danny.

She’d planned on telling Evan about the affair. Planned on telling the police, if they ever asked. But she decided the weight of her betrayal was more than Evan—more than her family—could bear. As it happened, the investigators never asked where she was that night. Why would they? They had their man the moment Danny walked into that station house alone.

She would never forgive herself. So she’d vowed she was done with Noah Brawn. She would never speak with him again. She certainly would never be alone with him. Promised God that if he would just set Danny free, she would never, ever …

But here she was. Planning to go to dinner with him tonight at the same Italian restaurant they’d gone to before senior prom. But why shouldn’t she go? Her fucking vow hadn’t freed her son. Hadn’t brought Evan back to her.

She nearly jumped when her phone rang and her husband’s name appeared on the screen.

“Hey there,” Evan said. “How’s our favorite town?” Evan sounded like he was in good spirits, upbeat. It was so infrequent lately that it was notable.

“It’s been a bizarre trip so far,” Liv said, looking around the ice cream store.

“Yeah? Sorry I missed your call. Your text said you worked things out for your dad. Everything else okay?”

“It’s fine. I’ll fill you in on everything later,” she said. “We’re at Sullivan’s.”

“I don’t miss much about Adair, but I do miss their rocky road,” Evan said.

Liv didn’t respond. She was in no mood for nostalgia.

“Sure you’re okay?” Evan asked.

She decided to swallow her medicine. “I saw Noah.”

“Yeah?” Evan said flatly.

Liv explained how he’d fixed the problem with the nursing home.

“That was good of him.”

“But that’s not the good part. He’s being appointed governor.”

“What do you mean? How—”

“Toad Face Turner is likely going to be indicted. Some tawdry mess with underage girls. I’m surprised you haven’t heard. It’s all over the news here.”