She curled up on the couch as she unlocked her phone, mindlessly scrolling through social media. While watching a funny video, she heard a knock at her door. She placed her beer on the side table and waited to see if there’d be another. Sure enough, three quick knocks sounded again.

She pulled open the door to find Jill on the other side, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her coat and her shoulders slumped forward. Reagan gripped the doorframe. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought you were going to stick around until I came back. But you didn’t. You left.”

“Well, I couldn’t stand being in the house of someone who clearly hates me.” She crossed her arms and lifted her chin, as if daring Jill to refute that statement.

“I get it.” Jill cleared her throat. “I stopped by because I wanted to check on you. I needed to make sure you were okay.”

Reagan dropped her arms and sighed. “Want to come in?”

“Thanks.” She stood between the living room and dining room, opening her mouth a couple times, but nothing came out.

“Want something to drink?”

The question seemed to shake her from her thoughts. “No, thank you.” She clenched her hands in fists at her sides and looked up at Reagan with pain in her eyes. “I am sorry for everything—my mother’s words, my silence.” She licked her lips as she wrung her hands together. “I’m not her. And I’m certainly not him. I could never apologize enough for the nasty words my mother said to you. Douglas has been screwing around behind her back for years, probably since the day they got married. Lately, it seems like he doesn’t even try to keep it a secret. The words she spat at you had absolutely nothing to do with you. Please understand that. You are not some ‘plaything’ as my mother said. I have never thought of you like that and I never will. I know I haven’t always been the relationship type in the past, but this,” she gestured between them, “means something to me. You mean something to me, Reagan. I know I can be a bitch sometimes, cold and closed off. You make me want to work on that. And I am trying. I’m not them. I swear.”