He didn't want to make an effort for the wife he'd been married to for seven years.

The understanding didn't arrive like a blow. It arrived like something settling into place, a bone clicking into a socket that had been empty for a long time. I pressed my thumb against the inside of my wedding ring, turning it slowly, and felt the truth sit in my chest like a stone dropped into still water.

"The doctor said you should eat less tonight and try to stay active." Dante's voice carried across the lobby, low and warm, the voice he used when he wanted someone to feel safe. I knew that voice. I had married that voice. "In the early stages of pregnancy, digestion can be tricky, so let's follow the advice this time, okay?"

Cara leaned into him, her lips pushing into a playful pout. "Aww, fine, I got it!" She swatted his arm lightly. "But it's your fault! You bought way too many dumplings."