“Ridley Drake. The man I’m seeing. You remember him. His son, Chad, went to school with Claudia.”

This isn’t real, thought Edie. She looked at her mother. She looked at Nathan. He knew that name; she’d told him everything.

“Like I said, it’s not serious,” continued Michelle. “We’ve known each other a long time. He grew up in Greenwich, too.”

It was real. What should she say? The summer Ridley got her pregnant Edie’s parents were still running around the world on tour, and as far as she knew, they had no idea what had happened between them. She needed to talk to Claudia. Now.

“He’s a dick, Mom.”

“Excuse me?”

Edie wanted to say, He sleeps with teenagers. But instead she just muttered, “He’s so sleazy.”

“I don’t expect you to approve,” she said. “And obviously this is not how I wanted you and Claudia to find out.”

“What about Dad?”

“What about him?”

“Does he know?”

“Yes. I told you he did.” Edie’s body felt like it was melting into the sofa, but her mom stood, unburdened now, ready to wrap up the conversation. “I just wanted you to know in case you see anything online. Like I said, it must be a very slow news week. Anyway, can I get you anything? Do you have bottles? I’d love to feed her when she wakes up. You two can get some rest. Take a walk, even. It’s beautiful out.”

“We’re fine, Mom.” Edie couldn’t look up.

“Okay. I’ve talked to your father and I’m going to stay here for a couple nights. I don’t want to feed this Ridley thing. You know how this stuff goes. If they can snap a few more pictures it’ll live longer, but if we lay low they’ll move on.”

We. Her mother and Ridley Drake were a we.

When Michelle finally went upstairs, Nathan closed his laptop and sat next to Edie.

“What can I do?” he asked.

“I can’t believe he’s fucking my mom,” said Edie. “That’s … insane. I need to talk to Claudia.”

She asked Nathan to find her phone and when she scrolled into her messages she saw it had been nearly two weeks since she’d sent the text to Claudia. Edie started typing: I’m sorry for the bitchy text. I love you. We need to talk! You need to meet your niece! Call me! Come to the house!

Lydia started whimpering in her bassinet. The sound sent chills up Edie’s spine. Nathan put his hand on the girl, wrapped like a papoose in a thick cotton blanket. Shhhh, he whispered. Shhhh. The baby quieted. What kind of person recoils from the sounds her child makes? Edie was supposed to be happy, but mostly she felt burdened. And now her mother had brought Ridley Drake into her life again.