She had used those hours to invite Marcus into the house.
“Did you sleep together?”
“Yes.”
“Here?”
“No.”
I laughed.
Allison flinched.
“That’s the detail you want credit for?”
“I’m not asking for credit.”
“Good.”
Marcus looked ashamed.
I didn't care.
I held up the DNA result.
“You knew he might be yours.”
Another photograph.
“You met him in secret.”
The townhouse paperwork.
“You made plans involving him.”
Then I pointed toward the bedroom.
“And when six years of lying got too complicated, you started sleeping together again.”
Allison cried.
“I never planned it.”
“None of this looks accidental.”
“I was confused.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You were conflicted.”
“There’s a difference.”
She looked at me.
I continued.
“Confused people don't organize this well.”
That shut her down.
Marcus stood.
“I should leave.”
“Yes.”
He picked up the duffel.
I stopped him.
“Papers stay.”
He handed me the envelope and folder.
At the door he paused.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
He said nothing.
“That’s what I thought.”
He looked at me.
“I never wanted to take Lucas away from you.”
“You still entered my house while I was working.”
“Yes.”
“You slept with my wife.”
“Yes.”
“You let my son carry a secret about who his father was.”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
“Then your intentions aren't worth much to me tonight.”
He nodded.
He left.
The front door closed downstairs.
Allison and I remained silent.
Finally she said:
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
I stared.
“That sentence doesn't mean anything anymore.”
“I love you.”
“Then why didn’t love require honesty?”
She looked down.
“I thought if I told you the truth, you'd leave.”
“Maybe.”
She looked up.
That answer surprised her.
“You might have?”
“Yes.”
I leaned forward.
“Or maybe I would have stayed.”
She began crying again.
“You took the decision from me.”
“I was protecting Lucas.”
“No.”
My voice hardened.
“You made Lucas protect you.”
She stopped.
That was the sentence that finally broke through.
She sat down.
For a long time she stared at the floor.
Then whispered:
“I know.”
I believed her.
Too late.
But I believed her.
I took a pillow from our bedroom.
“Where are you going?”
“Guest room.”
“For tonight?”
“As long as necessary.”
“Ryan, please don’t decide everything tonight.”
“I’m not.”
Relief flashed across her face.
Then I continued.
“I am deciding three things.”
She waited.
“You never ask Lucas to hide anything from me again.”
She nodded.
“Marcus does not enter this house.”
Another nod.
“And tomorrow we speak to a family attorney.”
Her head lifted.
“Divorce?”
“Family.”
I looked at the paternity result.
“Before you and I figure out what happens to our marriage, we figure out what this means for Lucas.”