Joanne brought the dinner over from Patrick's, placing each container gently on the table. The food was still warm, and she told herself that Jeffrey wouldn't be long now.
Valerie had just called, filling her in on everything that was happening at the office. She mentioned Jeffrey was buried in paperwork, going through files like a man possessed. Joanne smiled at that—he always got that intense when something mattered to him. But when she hung up, the smile slowly faded.
Because that text. That photo.
She hadn't told Valerie. She wasn't sure she could talk about that to anyone. But she and Jeffrey needed to talk about it, didn't they?
Just then, the familiar sound of tires crunching on gravel broke the stillness. Her heart stuttered.
Jeffrey walked up the path with heavy steps. His usual bounce was gone. No spark lit his eyes when he looked at her, no crooked smile that made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
