Henry started grabbing for the spoon, as if he wanted to feed himself. He couldn’t, not yet. But he would be there soon. And crawling and talking and walking all lay ahead. Everything with him would speed past like the scenery outside a fast-moving train.

“It’s tough for me to be charitable to a woman who came after you,” Amanda said, “and then was involved with Blake.”

“We don’t know what went on between Blake and Jennifer,” I said. “But Blake said he ended it when he and Sam were going to get back together. I believe him.”

Henry seemed content to play with the spoon. He tried to get it into his mouth. Then he banged it against the high chair tray. Amanda and I had both quickly grown deaf to the noise he made. The pounding, the rattling, the squealing. The spills and the mess. At some point we just let go, figuring all of these things were going to happen, so no need to get bent out of shape about them.

Amanda arched her back, stretching and groaning, and leaned against the counter.

“You saw Blake earlier in the evening yesterday,” she said. “And you didn’t tell me.”

“Would you have wanted me to?”

“I told you, Ryan,” she said. “I don’t want to think we have secrets from each other. You kept this Jennifer stuff from me. You didn’t tell me you had coffee with Blake last night. I said I can try to be more charitable toward him. To respect your friendship with him.”

Bang, bang, bang went the spoon against the high chair.

“I heard all that,” I said. “And I appreciate that. But it wasn’t planned. I ran into him. But if you don’t want me to hide my interactions with Blake, I won’t. I’m not sure there are going to be too many more of them.”

Amanda glanced at her phone. “Nothing from Sam.” She set it down and looked up at me. “I don’t want to turn into one of those couples who keep things from each other. The way my mom doesn’t tell my dad when she buys something expensive. Or the way he doesn’t tell her when he’s going drinking with his friends. It’s just . . . I don’t know. Unpleasant, I guess.”

Bang, bang, bang.

“But my parents were always honest with each other,” I said.

“You always said that. And it’s a shame your dad isn’t here to see how you’re doing. Or to meet Henry.”