I stood there staring at Daniel and the young woman, unable to breathe.
For one terrible second, I hoped there was some innocent explanation.
Maybe she was a coworker.
Maybe she was a relative I had never met.
Maybe I had misunderstood the way his arm had been wrapped around her waist.
Then Daniel saw me.
His face changed instantly.
The smile disappeared.
His hand dropped from her body.
— Laura…
The young woman turned toward me.
Trace Family History
She looked no older than thirty.
Beautiful. Confident. Perfectly calm.
That calmness somehow hurt more than anything else.
— Who is she? I asked.
Daniel opened his mouth, but no words came out.
The woman looked at him.
— You said you were going to tell her.
My stomach tightened.
— Tell me what?
— Laura, not here, Daniel whispered.
I laughed bitterly.
— You brought another woman to a resort after telling your wife you needed to “be alone,” and now you’re worried about where we have this conversation?
The woman stepped back.
