“Ohmigod,” Polly said. “That was one of my favorite episodes of The Odd Couple. Remember, the one about ticket scalping, and Felix asked to use the blackboard in the courtroom? I couldn’t believe he actually said ass on TV—it was such a big deal back then.”

“Benny Hill did an assume sketch, too,” I said. “We had a huge family fight about which show stole it from the other one. My father swore up and down that they both stole it from Abbott and Costello. From then on, anytime anyone assumed anything at our house, everybody would start writing all over the place and doing their assume bits, and eventually all hell would break lose.”

Polly smiled. “I can’t even imagine how amazing it would be to be a part of a family like yours.”

I shrugged. “It’s loud. And occasionally obnoxious. No, that’s a lie. More than occasionally obnoxious.”

“But the unconditional love you all have. That’s gold. I’d give anything to give that to this baby.” Polly patted her belly. “I have to tell you, the first time your dad asked me to marry him—”

“What?” I said. The poison was back.

“I said we weren’t dating,” Polly said. “I didn’t say he didn’t ask me to marry him.”

“I’m not sure the distinction is quite as significant for me as it is for you,” I said.

“Sorry,” Polly said. “He just wants to make sure the baby and I are all right.”

“It seems to me,” I said, “that there are plenty of other people around who could take care of that.”

“I’m fine,” Polly said. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of this baby by myself. And I’m certainly not looking for a sugar daddy, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Ethan knocked on the doorframe, walked into our classroom. I was still standing in front of the whiteboard, holding the purple marker.

“Wow,” he said. “Your kids are way ahead of ours in terms of spelling words. We’re still working on cow.”

“Funny,” I said.

Ethan nodded at the board. “That was actually one of my favorite bits on The Odd Couple.”

“Mine, too,” Polly said. Polly and Ethan gave each other that look that always made me feel a little bit left out, like they had their own separate world.

“So what happened with the guy?” I asked Ethan. “Who was he?”

“Guy?” Polly said.

Ethan walked over to the kiddie table, sat down beside Polly.

“He was here,” Ethan said. “Your ex-husband. At dismissal.”

Polly’s cheeks turned bright red, then the color drained out of her face, leaving only the polka dots of her freckles behind.

“Holy crap,” Polly said. “How the hell did he find out where I work?”

“He probably tracked you through your cell,” Ethan said. “It’s not that hard.”