Shortly after ten, we finally arrived home and cuddled together on the couch. Bella slurped down her dinner while Michael drank a Guinness and I sipped my second glass of wine. Michael absently stroked my hair. “Kate, promise me one thing.” “What’s that?” “If anything ever happens to Dale, swear to me that we won’t adopt Bandit.” I snuggled in deeper and smiled. “Deal.” I wanted that moment to last forever. Wrapped up in Michael’s arms. Warm. Contented. Safe. But I knew that our temporary harmony would crumble under the weight of the next secret, and in my life, there would always be a next secret. Michael and I both deserved a relationship that was solid. A relationship we could count on. I drained the last drops of oaky Chardonnay and took a deep, bolstering breath. “We need to talk.” Michael’s body stiffened, but I forced myself to continue.
