Chapter 2 - "Mommy, Daddy's There"
Ella squirmed in my arms as we came up Warren's front walk. She had on a little yellow sundress with grass stains I hadn't managed to scrub out.
"Mommy, can I swim?"
"Not tonight, baby. We're just visiting."
"I want Daddy."
"I know, sweetheart. I know."
Warren's house was glowing. String lights crisscrossed the patio, women floated around in silk, men wore linen suits, and someone had set up a full bar beside the deep end. I felt like a smudge in the corner of a magazine spread.
Then I spotted Warren across the pool, drink in hand, watching us come through the gate. He smiled. But it wasn't the easy, familiar smile I was used to. It was warmer than that. Heavier. There was something underneath it I couldn't name yet.
Ella waved. He raised his glass toward us like he'd been waiting all night for us to show.
Then my daughter wriggled free and shot across the patio like she'd been fired from a slingshot. Her yellow dress flashed between the guests. Somebody laughed. Somebody else cleared their throat.
"Ella, honey — come back here, please!"
I hurried after her, apologizing to a woman in cream silk whose champagne I'd nearly knocked out of her hand. She gave me a smile that wasn't a smile.
Warren appeared out of nowhere, laughing, and swept Ella up under the arms like she weighed nothing.
"Gotcha, wild thing."
"Warren, I'm so sorry. I'll take her."
"Nora. Breathe. She's four. Nobody minds."
He settled her against his hip and turned her toward the pool lights. I watched my daughter's whole body go soft against him, the way it used to go soft against Danny, and something twisted in my chest.
Then Ella went completely still.
Her eyes locked on the side of Warren's head. Her little hand floated up toward his ear, fingers reaching, like she was touching something only she could see.
"Mommy, Daddy's there."
I froze. A waiter behind us slowed his steps.
The color drained out of Warren's face in one long pull, like a shade being drawn down a window.
He set Ella on the tiles too fast. She stumbled half a step, caught her balance, and pointed straight at him.
"Mommy, but Daddy's there. Look! You have to save him!"
Heads turned. A man near the bar stopped talking mid-sentence.
My face went hot in a way that had nothing to do with the summer air.
"Sweetheart. Come here. Come to Mommy."
I knelt and pulled her against me, smoothing her hair, whispering nonsense into her curls.
"Warren, I am so sorry. She misses her dad. Sometimes she just — says things."
He nodded, but he wasn't looking at me. He was staring at the ground between us.
"It's fine," he said. "It's fine, Nora. Kids, right?"
Then he stepped back. Just one step. It felt like a door closing.
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"Excuse me a minute."
He walked toward the far end of the pool, where the string lights hung low, and I watched him go while Ella's fingers stayed curled around the collar of my dress.
