Chapter 3

Maren knew the code to my front door, and I did not know who had given it to her. Her voice echoed in the dark hallway. I sat up on the guest room bed. My bare feet hit the floor before I had time to think. It was two in the morning. I opened the bedroom door and walked out to the top of the stairs. Down in the foyer, the lights were on. Maren was casually kicking off her boots. She didn't look like a guest. She looked like someone coming home. "How did you get in?" I asked. My voice was quiet, but it made her jump. She looked up, clutching her purse. For a second, she looked caught. But then, she smoothed her expression into that familiar, easy smile. "Oh. Hey, Talia," Maren said, entirely unbothered. "I used the door code. Nolan gave it to me a few months ago." I walked slowly down the stairs. "He gave you the passcode to our house." "Just for emergencies," she said lightly, waving a hand. "You know, to grab my camera gear when I'm shooting late in the neighborhood. Or to bring in your packages if it rains. Or to feed the cat when you guys are out." We didn't have a cat. We had a dog. And he died three years ago. I walked past her, straight into the guest room where I had just been trying to sleep. I flicked on the bright overhead lights. Maren followed me, stopping in the doorway. Maren moved past me and opened the closet. She knew exactly where to look. On the lower shelf sat a pair of white running shoes. A folded set of blue pajamas rested above them. She opened the bathroom cabinet and removed face wash, a toothbrush, and a phone charger. None of it looked forgotten. The charger was wrapped neatly. The shoes were clean. Her name was written on the toothbrush cover. These were not items left after one careless night. It was enough to prove she didn't just come in for emergencies. She slept here. In my house. In the bed I was just lying in. "What is going on down here?" Nolan's voice came from the stairs. He walked down in his sweatpants, rubbing his eyes. When he saw me holding Maren's night cream, he stopped halfway down the last step. His face went completely pale. "Talia," he started, holding his hands up defensively. "How long?" I asked. "She just keeps a few things here!" Nolan stepped between me and Maren, instinctively shielding her. "When you're traveling, she sometimes drinks too much. I don't want her driving home. She works late nights downtown. It's safer for her to crash here." He said it like proof of good character. I traveled for work about once a month. Nolan had told me he spent those nights alone. Sometimes he called from bed and said the house felt empty without me. It had not been empty. He had shared our private space with her, then used those same nights to make me believe he missed me. "You gave her our house code. You let her sleep here," I said, staring at my husband. "And you never told me." "Because I knew you'd react exactly like this!" Nolan yelled. "I knew you would make it weird! She's my best friend, Talia. Not everything is about you!" Maren peeked out from behind Nolan's shoulder. Then, she stepped out from behind him. She looked like the perfect peacemaker. "I'm so sorry, Talia," Maren sighed softly, playing the bigger person. "Maybe I came at a bad time tonight. I really didn't mean to cause a fight. But Nolan told me you guys haven't been a real couple in over a year-" "Maren, don't!" Nolan snapped, spinning around to cut her off. Then he turned to look at me. "Tal, wait, that's not what I meant-" I didn't wait to hear his excuse. I didn't scream. I didn't cry. I turned around, grabbed a plastic grocery bag from the trash can liner, and shoved her charger, toothbrush, and clothes inside. I walked over and pushed the bag hard into Maren's chest. "Get out," I said. Maren let out a dramatic gasp, but she didn't argue this time. She gave Nolan a pitiful look and walked out into the cold night. I slammed the door shut. Nolan rushed up behind me. "Talia, please listen to me! I was just stressed one night! I only said that about the separate rooms because I needed someone to talk to!" I ignored him. I walked back up the stairs, pulling out my phone. I opened the smart lock app. I found Maren's name. Delete. Then, I opened the entry logs. I scrolled through the dates. She had used her code seventeen times in the last four months. Nine happened while I was traveling for work. Four happened while I was caring for my mother. The remaining visits took place during dinners or weekends when Nolan had claimed he was home alone. I didn't show Nolan the screen. My thumb hovered over the first date, but I didn't demand an explanation or ask if they had slept together. I just walked into the guest room, locked the door, and opened my laptop. Short-term rental apartments. Nolan had apparently ended our marriage everywhere except inside our home. For the first time, I began making his story true.