He didn't answer.
"Exactly what words did you use?"
"Laura, it wasn't like that."
"What was it like?"
He said Melissa already knew he'd exaggerated some things about his marriage at work.
They had become friendly through vendor meetings.
When he told her about the party, she thought the situation was funny.
She agreed to come as a joke.
"A joke."
"At first."
"At first?"
He looked miserable.
"Then once we got there, people kept asking questions."
"So she answered them."
"Yes."
"As me."
"Not as you exactly."
I laughed so hard I almost cried.
"She wore a wedding ring."
"It was costume jewelry."
"I don't care if it came from a vending machine."
He covered his face.
I stood up.
"Did she know about Ben?"
"Yes."
"Did she pretend he was her son?"
Daniel didn't answer.
That was worse than anything else so far.
