She walked toward the table before she had consciously decided to do so.
Vanessa looked from Andrew to Claire, then to Daniel who had followed a few steps behind. Her expression shifted from confidence to something closer to the particular panic of a person realizing that private arrangements have just become very public.
Claire told Andrew not to say her name as though they were having an ordinary conversation.
The entire room was silent now.
Andrew stood and said he could explain.
She asked him to start with the anniversary text. Or perhaps to explain how their marriage had been quietly funding his separate arrangements for months.
Vanessa’s head turned sharply toward him.
She asked Andrew whether he was actually married. She said he had told her they were separated.
Andrew closed his eyes for a brief moment.
That was enough of an answer for everyone in the room.
Daniel looked at Vanessa and told her she had told him she was at a marketing conference in Boston.
Nobody had an adequate response to any of it.
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