"You don't even know what he did for you, do you?"
I stepped back. "Frank, this isn't the time."
He shook his head hard, almost losing his balance. "You think I don't know about the money? The hotel room? Same one, every time?" He let out a short, bitter laugh. "God help him, he thought he was being careful."
Frank swayed slightly, his hand heavy on my arm like he needed me to stay upright.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"You don't even know what he did for you."
The room felt too hot. Too bright.
"That he made his choice, and it cost him everything." Frank leaned closer, his eyes wet. "He told me. Right there at the end. He said if you ever found out, it had to be after. After it couldn't hurt you anymore."
My daughter appeared then, her hand on my elbow. "Mom?"
Frank straightened with effort, pulling his arm back.
"He said if you ever found out, it had to be after."
"There are things," he said, backing away, "that aren't affairs. And there are lies that don't come from wanting someone else."
My son was there then, guiding Frank toward a chair. People were whispering. Staring. But I just stood there, frozen, while Frank's words echoed in my head.
Things that aren't affairs.
Lies that don't come from wanting someone else.
What did that mean? The answer came a few days later.
Frank's words echoed in my head.
Continued on the next page
