Simon nodded. His sudden surrender, because she had insisted on something, put her foot down—Eileen wasn’t sure how to handle it. She wasn’t used to being so…demanding. Instead of saying anything else, she nodded once and took a sip of her coffee.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and broke the heavy silence. She pulled it out. “It’s Eric again,” she said more to herself than Simon. “He’s called eight times since last night.”

“You should probably take it then,” Simon said.

Eileen met his eyes over the rim of his cup. “You said I told you last night how I planned to handle this situation with him.” She placed her palm flat on top of the upside-down pictures next to her. “What did I say?”

“You said you’d probably forgive him. Or maybe just act like you’d never even seen those. You talked a lot about the kids, how it would affect them. You said you were worried about all that change, if you left him, and how it would ruin everything.”

“Yes,” Eileen said. “That sounds just like me.” She held up her phone. “I’m going to take this.”

“I’ll be in my office if you need me.”

“Thank you.”

As Simon picked up his cup and left the kitchen, Eileen swiped her phone and held it to her ear. “Hello?”

“Eileen.” Eric sounded surprised she answered. “Jesus, I’ve been trying to call you since yesterday. Is everything…okay? I mean, of course it’s not. I know that, Clare, obviously. But, well I guess I thought you’d still be reachable. Are you all right? Is there… Are you all right?”

His tone was higher-pitched than usual, and he was fumbling around for words. It was so unlike him. Eric, always so steadfast and self-assured; normally he possessed a self-confidence that she sometimes felt came off as a little arrogant.

“I’m fine,” she said, not at all sure where this conversation could possibly lead. Now alone in the kitchen, she turned the photos on the counter faceup and fanned them out. It all depended on whether she decided to say anything. “There’s been a lot to process,” she said as she shifted through the photos of Eric and Lauren until the one of them spooning, Eric’s face nuzzled at Lauren’s neck, was clearly visible.

“I can imagine,” Eric said. “It’s such a shock. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with all this.”

“Deal with all what?” she snapped.

He didn’t say anything, and an uncomfortable silence stretched out on the line between them. Eileen closed her eyes. She hadn’t meant to lose her temper—she didn’t want to, not now, not when she wasn’t yet sure how she wanted to handle this situation. If she started an argument with him now, there would be no turning back. She wasn’t ready for that.