“Tony bought a place up there when I was sick,” she said, referring to her brother. “He’s offered it to me for a few months.”

Jack shook his head. “Months? I don’t understand.”

“No, you wouldn’t.” She knew she sounded almost snide but didn’t care.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I can’t stand it here!” She waved her hand to indicate the house. “You don’t get it because you’re not here. You’re not me trying to live here without you.” The moment she said the words, she wanted to take them back. She didn’t want him to know how hard it had been.

He looked stricken. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. Just tell me you can take care of Maggie for a couple more months. I wouldn’t ask you for this if I didn’t need it. Really need it. I know you’ve already had them on your own for three years, but I’m asking for a few more months.” She willed herself not to cry.

“It’s not about Maggie. Of course I can take her. I just don’t see why you can’t stay somewhere in town if being in the house isn’t working. The girls are just getting used to having you home.”

She stood up and went to look out at the patio where the pool was covered for the winter. “If I stay in this town, how long do you think it’ll be before I run into you and your new wife in a restaurant or at the grocery store? How long will it be before your wife is getting out again and I come face-to-face with her at the dry cleaners? I need some time to get used to it before I have to see it all the time.” Keeping her back to him, she said quietly, “Don’t make me beg, Jack.”

“I’ll take Maggie. Of course I will,” he said in a wooden tone. “Will you explain this to her? She won’t understand.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Clare turned back to look at him. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, but I can’t see you all the time and expect to get past what’s happened between us. I need a break.”

“From me?”

“From you and your guilty face, from this house full of painful memories, from your babies and your new wife and your new life. From all of it.” It took everything she had not to dissolve into a puddle of tears at the flash of pain that darted across his handsome face.

“I knew it was all too easy.” He shook his head as he stood up. “You were so matter-of-fact about our divorce. I wondered when you’d start to hate me.”