A Good Marriage(92)

“No, no. You saved me. I promised Maude I would start running. Her father died of a heart attack when he was my age. She lives in fear.” He made a face. “Or maybe she wants to kill me. Either way, I would rather not run, but anything to get back on Maude’s good side.”

Amanda took a deep breath as they continued on toward the Ninth Street exit to the park. “Can I ask you something that’s none of my business?”

“Sure,” Sebe said. “Seeing as I was responsible for you falling.”

“How do you and Maude do it?”

“Do what?” he asked, and it was clear from the wary look on his face that he was worried Amanda meant his and Maude’s unorthodox sex life.

“How can you be angry at each other and stay so, I don’t know, connected?”

Sebe considered this for a moment as they walked on. Darkness was descending quickly around them. “Forgiveness is a side effect of love,” he said finally. And sadly, almost. “If you are going to be married, share the ups and downs of life. What other choice is there?”

“Right,” Amanda said, like this was indeed a thing that was obvious.

They were quiet until they reached Prospect Park West, when Amanda saw two women running together and suddenly remembered: Carolyn.

“Oh, shoot,” Amanda said. “Can you tell me what time it is?”

“Sure.” Sebe pulled his phone out. “It’s eight thirty-nine. Do you need to be somewhere?”

“I was supposed to meet my friend, and she never showed up. I was running home because I was worried about her.”

“Do you want to call?” Sebe offered his phone.

“Oh, yes.” Amanda reached for it. “Wait, I don’t have her number memorized.”

“Ah, damn technology. None of us know anything by heart anymore. Here, wait, a cab.” Sebe raced forward to flag down a lime-green sedan. “You take it. I’d better finish my run. Got to pay penance to Maude.” He handed Amanda the change from the water. “Take this for the cab fare. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’m fine. Thank you so much. For everything.”

Amanda had not fallen asleep when Zach finally got home at 11:45. Late, even for Zach. Not that Amanda had been waiting up for him. It was the conversation she’d had with Carolyn when she got home from the park that was gnawing at her as she lay alone in the dark.

“Are you okay?” Amanda had gasped when Carolyn finally answered the phone. “What happened?”

She’d truly panicked when there’d been no explanatory message waiting for her when she rushed in the house. Her legs had felt shaky as she’d dialed Carolyn’s number. But there her friend was: alive and well. Not only that—Carolyn sounded irritated.

“What happened where?”

“You were supposed to meet me in the park. Remember? Eight p.m.”

“Oh, shit. Sorry.” But there was something nonchalant about it, and Amanda wondered if maybe she hadn’t been planning to show up in the first place. “I forgot.”

That was it. No explanation. No extenuating circumstances.

“You forgot?” Amanda had asked.

“Yes.” Carolyn had snapped. “I got busy. I have a job, remember?”

“Oh, I was just so worried about you. I kind of freaked out.” And, weirdly, Amanda was unable to shake the feeling that something terrible had happened to Carolyn. Even though Carolyn was there on the phone, proving that it hadn’t. “And I just—I was going to tell you that I plan to do what you said. I’m going to stand up to Zach. You’re right. I need to change things. I wasn’t okay moving Case here, and I’m still not. I sent him to that stupid camp to make up for it, and now that’s giving me nightmares. It’s ridiculous. All this because I didn’t say something earlier. With my dad around again, especially, I need to—I’m going to have to tell Zach.”

She waited for Carolyn to say “Hooray!” To tell her how fantastic she was and then launch into one of those excellent Carolyn pep talks.

“Great,” was all Carolyn said. Like she didn’t care at all.

Anger bubbled up in Amanda’s chest. “You know, I think maybe my dad was following me in the park because I was stuck there alone waiting for you.”

“Really?” Carolyn asked, paying attention finally. But she did not sound nearly as remorseful as Amanda wanted her to.

“Yeah, really.”

“Listen, Amanda, there’s something I need to tell you,” Carolyn said. “I should have told you this before. But I didn’t want to freak you out. It sounds like you already are, though, so …”

“What is it?” Amanda’s palm was damp beneath the phone.

“I think I saw him.” Carolyn exhaled in a gasp, like she’d been holding her breath.

“Saw who?”

“Your dad. When I was leaving your house.”

“What?” Amanda’s slick hand had started to tremble. She tried to take a deep breath, but her chest resisted.

“He was a few houses down, sitting on a stoop,” Carolyn said. “He got up to leave when he saw me coming. It was dark, so I can’t be one hundred percent sure. But I think it was him. He’s so big. He’s kind of hard to miss.”