At her family barbecue, Nicole laughed in front of…

I turned to face her. “I’ve heard the things you’ve told your friends. About how you feel trapped.

About how I hold you back. About how you’d be happier if you’d never gotten married. I didn’t have to snoop.

People talk.”

Her face drained of color. “Who told you that?”

“Does it matter?” I said. “It’s not about who said it.

It’s about the fact that you said it.”

She crossed her arms, the defensive posture of someone used to winning arguments. “So what? You’re just going to throw away everything we’ve built because of one comment?”

“Because of one comment?” I stepped closer.