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It sounded, she realized, like the rantings of a paranoid fantasist. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t true.

‘Look, Mary, I know he’s an obnoxious little shit – don’t repeat that, if you don’t mind – but isn’t this a bit unlikely?’

‘It sounds that way,’ Mary said. ‘But who else could it be?’

‘That I don’t know. But he’s asked for you to withdraw your accusation, or he’s going to raise this as an official matter with the partner group.’

This, she now saw, was all part of his plan. Not only did he want to publicly humiliate her, he wanted to make this a professional issue.

Good luck to him. She was not going to back down. And when Gray found the proof of what he’d done, it’d be him who had the professional problems.

‘I don’t doubt he does,’ she said. ‘But if that’s what he wants, so be it. Thanks for the call, but it’s getting late now, Norm, and I need to get to bed.’

‘I understand.’ Norman sighed. ‘I’m not sure what’s going on, but you know I’m always here for you, Mary.’

She thanked him, and put her phone down. The shower was still running and steam was leaking from around the door; she pulled it open and turned on the fan, then got into the shower and let the water run over her.

When she was done, she wrapped herself in a towel and walked into the bedroom. She turned off the light and went to pull the blinds. At the window she paused, and looked out up at the night sky. It was clear, the stars bright.

A movement in the shadows at the back of the yard caught her eye.

She peered into the darkness. Was it Wally? Or another animal?

She froze.

It was a person, walking along the back fence.

She stepped to the side of the window, where she could still see into the yard, but wasn’t visible herself.

The person stopped and glanced up at the window. Had they seen movement from the corner of their eye? Did they know they were being watched?

She looked around for her phone so she could call Ryan and tell him to look outside. It was on the bed; she walked over and picked it up, then returned to the window, searching for the figure.

There was no one there. The back yard was empty.

She put her phone down. She and Ryan could go out and search around their yard, but they wouldn’t find anyone. Whoever had been there was gone.

For now, she thought. Gone for now.

Two Months Earlier

She sits up, the puppy spilling off her chest and into her lap. You pause, unable to take your eyes off her.

It has been so long since you were this close to her, since you were actually, physically in her presence, that you are, for a moment, overwhelmed. You cannot move. You cannot take a step.

Your world has shrunk to your heart beating in your chest.

You were not sure this moment would ever come. It has been incredibly difficult to find her, and there were many times when you thought you never would.

But you did not give up.

Because you love her.

You have always loved her. Ever since you first met, you have known that she was the one for you.

The only one.

You were nearly together, briefly. It only confirmed what you already knew: you were meant to be together.