“Me,” Ezra answers, point-blank. “It was just something I started doing awhile back. Seemed like the right thing.”

June nods. “Well, thank you for that. I’d tell you to send the bill to my mother, but she’s dead.” Another one of June’s inappropriate jokes to break the tension.

Ezra chuckles, but his eyes are full of sympathy. He gives a little wave as he pushes his way through the screen door.

I want to hang on, to be alone with June, but I can feel the fading start, as though the breeze from the open door is blowing my loosely knit particles apart. June puts her head down on the table, resting it on her folded arms. I push in to see if she’s crying, but it’s no use. My time is up.

JUNE

After Ezra leaves, I sit on the couch and stare into space, my mind swimming through memories of our time at Avril Island, trying to capture evidence of this affair my mother had.

I know infidelity well. It’s making excuses to have the place to yourself. It’s finding reasons for frequent escape. It’s lies and always trying to stay one step ahead of everybody. It’s being distracted by thoughts of your lover. It’s stolen moments and then returning home sick with guilt.

I think of all the times my mother sent us into town to buy only one or two items, but they were “of utmost importance.” Of the many nights she stole away in the boat. The way her mood changed when my father arrived for the weekend—her laughter didn’t come as quickly and she was tense and short-tempered, quarreling easily with him if he asked too many questions.

It’s sad to say, but it’s not hard to place my mother in the role of adulterer. Her longing for something more was palpable. I wanted so much more than this—at times she’d come right out and say it.

West, on the other hand, is a stretch. He was such a kind and gentle man, more comfortable working outside in nature than indoors. Growing up, I thought he was the perfect dad to Ezra. Quick to forgive, always reaching for his boy to pull him close or ruffle his dark hair. A man easy to love but not easy to corrupt, I would have thought.