“Doesn’t matter if you knew or not. You wanted something out of me, and you got it, and no harm done. We both had a real nice time. No hard feelings. I just want to make things absolutely clear, though, for the future. If you do a single thing to hurt Irene, I mean if you cause her the smallest amount of misery—”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Because she’s been through hell already, and she’s got the kindest heart in the world, and I know Mallory meant the world to her. I don’t want her having to relive all that. It’s in the past.”

“I appreciate your concern for her, Leo. I really do. But she agreed to speak to me. I wouldn’t be here if she didn’t. I told her exactly what I wanted from her, and she said yes. She wants the story told. She wants the truth told. And sure, sometimes it stings a little, when you bring up all the old memories. Like lancing a boil, as they say. But in the end, we all feel better when the truth is out there in plain sight. Nobody likes a secret.”

“That’s a cute speech, Janey. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“I didn’t realize you’d asked one.”

“Can you promise me you won’t hurt her? And I don’t mean lancing some damn boil. You know what I mean. If you use her the way you used me—”

“Believe me, I won’t do that. Not unless she invites me, anyway.”

He brings his fist down on the table, hard enough that the wine sloshes in its glasses. “You tell her the truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God. That’s what I’m saying. You come to her clean. She gets to decide what she tells you and doesn’t tell you.”

I spit in my palm and hold it out to him. “Promise.”

He stands up and clasps my hand. “All right, then.”

His grip is strong. He doesn’t pull back, and neither do I. We stare at each other across the table. From somewhere upstairs comes the sound of a child calling Maaaama!

“You’re staying in the guest cottage, is that right?” Leo says.

“That’s right.”

He nods and releases my hand. “I’ll walk you back.”