Lila's made a habit of stopping by the house when Mom isn't home. The first time it happened, I chalked it up to a misunderstanding between the two of them. Lila seemed plenty embarrassed once I reminded her Mom was working second shift. Ducking her head, she apologized for disturbing me. Then it happened again. And again. Now, I didn't go to college like Lila's son, but I have sense enough to know what my mom's friend is...

I can tell you the exact moment the seed of betrayal implanted itself in my mind. It was during Christmas dinner at the beach house where we were all staying. Wearing my festive red sweater dress, I had done my best to play the role of perfect wife. I was nauseating in my attempts to flatter Kelly, my mother-in-law. Though I heaped praise on every dish she'd prepared, she merely gave me a withering smile in return. I was...

From his apartment directly below mine, Darren must have heard me crying. Clueless as to how loud my sobbing was, I was surprised when he knocked on my door at a little after seven that evening. Though we'd been neighbors for more than a year, he and I remained mere acquaintances. Answering his gentle knock, I peered out at him through swollen eyes. The acute distress overwhelming me at that moment made it impossible to f...