My face must have looked strange.
"Oh yeah! Daddy has the best stuff in his trunk. There's a really long yellow wig. A shiny pink dress with sparkles. And these huge sunglasses, like a movie star's. Oh, and red lipstick!"
My innocent and clueless daughter said it as if she were describing a birthday cake!
"You... you saw all of that yesterday? When you went and got your jacket?"
"Uh-huh. I opened the trunk by accident. The button on the keys did it."
"There's a really long yellow wig."
I kept my voice level. "Did Daddy tell you anything about those things you saw?"
"Nope. But Josephine thinks it's probably a present for you or something. You know Daddy likes surprises."
My daughter went back to her favorite pastime humming, just like that. My seven-year-old was calmer than I was.
I drove the rest of the way home very carefully because everything in my body wanted to speed.
My seven-year-old was calmer than I was.
***
That evening, I fed Ava, read her two chapters of her favorite bedtime story, and kissed her forehead goodnight. Then I sat on the couch, pretending to read a book. But let me tell you, I didn't turn a single page of the book in my lap.
***
At 8:40 p.m., headlights swept across the living room wall.
I stood up.
I didn't turn a single page of the book in my lap.
I wasn't going to ask him inside, where the family photos of us were. I wasn't going to cry where our daughter could hear. I was going to meet him in the driveway, and would demand that he open that trunk.
I hoped that he hadn't removed the items and that I'd catch him red-handed. Otherwise, it would be my word against his. David could easily pretend she'd imagined everything. I prayed for an outcome in my favor.
I wasn't going to ask him inside.
The porch light flicked on as David's sedan rolled into the driveway and then into the garage.
I stood on the concrete right by the open door with my arms crossed, trying to look calm. But I didn't feel calm.
My husband climbed out with his usual tired smile, briefcase in one hand, coffee thermos in the other.
"Hey, you," he said. "You decided to meet me outside today, huh?"
"Give me your car keys."
He stopped mid-step.
"You decided to meet me outside today, huh?"
"My keys?"
"Your car keys, David. Now."
His face did something complicated. First confusion, then a flicker of panic, then a shade of red I'd only ever seen on him at our wedding when he tried to give a toast.
"Willow, can we, uh, can we go inside first? I had a long day, and I really wanted to..."
"Open the trunk," I said, cutting him off.
"The trunk?" he squeaked out.
