Because someone lied to them. Someone told them that every year would be a little better than the last one. These were people who were working hard. They heard the silent promise floating through the air. And they probably believed it. Until one credit card bill after another started to pile up. And the private school tuitions were too much. And maybe we need to pull our kids out. Or move out because New York’s too expensive. And experience the shame because our friends would know why. And our children would know that this was never the plan. And for some of them, the children loved the school. And the children would be so sad. It all comes crashing down. It all comes crashing in on you. That can happen when you have too much. Like some people do.

But Fritz and Amelia were different. They were truly deserving and generous. Truly. They were raising a principled daughter and they were instilling decent values in her. Fritz and Amelia were talented, sensitive, cultured, intellectual types with fine sensibilities, well read, with sophisticated taste. I felt myself to be so very fortunate—that Fritz and Amelia and Natalie had entered into my life. All that they were. And it was because I knew that I was my best version of myself when I was with them. Yes. When I was in their house. In their company. I became the person I’d always wanted to be. Possibilities opened up for me. I knew I could help them. First and foremost, I could help Fritz to find Amelia.

And later, when Amelia returned … I could help them have the baby they longed to have. It was clearer than ever to me now. In life, sometimes we have an opportunity to choose our family. I couldn’t imagine there were any other people in the world with whom I’d have had such a strong connection. It was a certain kind of ecstasy to know where I belonged.

Fritz descended the stairs holding Natalie’s hand. I didn’t want her to see me, so I stepped back into the library and around the corner. A car horn beeped outside. Natalie kissed her father. Cello case in hand, she headed out the door, knowing nothing of her mother’s absence. The door closed behind her.

The house was now empty except for Fritz and me. I thought about the Straubs’ king-size bed, the mountain of pillows, their organic cotton sheets, and felt my body sliding under the sheets next to Fritz, his body on mine. I would help him get through this. He needed me right now. I needed him too. Holding Fritz close to me might ease the pain I was feeling. The excruciating pain of Amelia’s absence. I moved back into his line of sight.

He took a step back. “The important thing here is I need to find Amelia.”

“Yes.”