“We’re leaving,” Brandon announced. He pulled me up from the chair, wrapping his arm around my waist as he guided me out of the lion’s den.

In the car, he was still fuming. “I’m so sorry about them, Maureen. They’re vultures. I’d choose you over that money any day.”

“I know,” I said softly. “You’re wonderful, Brandon.”

Liar. We arrived home to the sound of pop music blasting from the living room.

Denise was there, lounging by the indoor pool that opened into the living area. She was wearing a neon pink bikini that left nothing to the imagination. She was wet, dripping water onto the expensive rug, sipping a cocktail.

I stopped in the doorway. The exhaustion of the day, the doctor, the dinner, the lies—it all boiled over.

“When is she leaving our house?” I asked. My voice was cold, cutting through the music.

Denise looked up, feigning surprise. “Oh! You guys are back early.”

“I asked a question,” I said, turning to Brandon. “When is she leaving? It’s been months.”

Denise’s face crumbled into a pout. “Oh, wait. You don’t want me here anymore? I’m sorry, Maureen. Did I do something wrong?”

“I just don’t want her walking around like that,” I said, gesturing to her nearly naked body. “It’s inappropriate. It seems like she’s trying to seduce you, Brandon.”

“What?” Brandon laughed, a nervous, incredulous sound. “Maureen, what are you saying? She’s like a sister to me! That’s disgusting.”

“She’s not your sister,” I snapped. “And she’s not mine. She walks around half-naked, she drinks all our wine, and she disrespects me in my own home. I’m tired of it.”

I looked him dead in the eye. “Choose, Brandon. It’s her or me. I’m not living like this anymore.”

I turned on my heel and marched to the bedroom.

Brandon followed me, slamming the door behind him.

“What was that?” he demanded. “Are you crazy? Kicking her out? She has nowhere to go!”

“She has a brother,” I said, pulling my earrings off. “She can go to Kyle.”

“You’re being unreasonable,” he paced the room. “Are you jealous? Is that what this is? You’re jealous of a twenty-two-year-old girl?”

“I’m jealous that my husband seems to care more about her comfort than his wife’s feelings!” I shouted back. It felt good to yell, even if the reason was fake. “I just lost a baby, Brandon! And I have to come home to… to that? To a frat party in my living room?”