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pissed her off more in death than in life. Every time she had mentioned meeting his parents, he’d insisted that they weren’t worth meeting. “Jasper made the introduction. He had to. This whole display is disgusting.” She felt her bile start to rise.
    Marcus was hugging Jasper’s mother and wiping her tears. Daisy gritted her teeth. The exchange between Marcus and Mrs. Stevens seemed familiar, almost familial. She held her chest when she noticed the flower pinned to his lapel, which was like five other men’s. “Pallbearer,” she mouthed.
    She followed Marcus with her eyes as he walked toward a woman who was adjusting her black, veiled hat. Camille. Daisy held her breath as Marcus bent to kiss her and reach for her hand. She eased forward an inch, as if she couldn’t get close enough. She had to see the woman who’d made Jasper love her enough to marry her. She wanted to confront her, but she’d promised Jay that she’d stay with him. Wonder filled her as Marcus’s body blocked her view. What’s so special about her? Is she prettier? Smarter? She felt a tug on her dress and turned around.
    Jay grabbed her and held on. “I want to go home. There are ghosts.”
    Daisy bent and kissed the top of his head. “No, baby, there are no ghosts.”
    “Yes. Look.” He pointed.
    Rays of light danced on the wall. Daisy’s gaze followed them to where they began: Camille’s wedding ring. Even from the balcony, she could see its brilliance.
    “It’s just the sun,” she whispered to Jay. She looked down at her own naked ring finger, which told of her unimportance. She’s the wife. I was the standby.

    “Daisy?” Gigi yelled.
    “In the bathroom,” Daisy yelled back, combing her hair.
    “Ming Li and I are going to the store. Do you or Jay want anything?”
    “No. We’re fine.”
    “Okay. We’ll be back in a few.”
    Daisy winced at the sound of the front door slamming, then listened for movement upstairs, something to indicate whether the door had wakened Jay. She sighed at the silence. “Good. He needs all the rest he can get.”
    She grabbed the remote from the coffee table. “Finally, I get time to myself.” She plopped down on the sofa, reveling in being alone for the first time in more than a week. Just as she was about to turn on the television, the doorbell rang.
    “Come in. It’s not locked,” Daisy called out. “What did you guys forget this time?”
    The door closed and Daisy heard the lock click slowly and deliberately. Then silence.
    Daisy turned to see an unfamiliar woman standing by the door.
    “I’m sorry. I know I said to come in, but do you make a habit out of walking into strangers’ homes?”
    “You did say come in.”
    “Yes, but I thought you were somebody else.” Daisy studied the woman. She could’ve been her twin, if Daisy were older. “We’re not related, are we?”
    The stranger shook her head.
    “This is scary…how much we look alike. Never mind. I’m sorry, can I help you?”
    “I want to know why you were sleeping with my husband.”

3
    D aisy crossed her arms over her chest, trying to still her racing heart. Now that she was face-to-face with Jasper’s wife, her hurt increased, and her anger settled. In Camille’s presence, Daisy didn’t feel like the person Jasper had once convinced her she was. She felt duped, knowing that she hadn’t been as special to him as he had once made her believe. She realized she had no bearing or position compared to that of the woman standing before her. Daisy swallowed hard and bit her tongue. No way was she going to let Camille see her cry.
    “Are you going to tell me why you’re here, Camille?” Daisy asked, refusing to break the stare.
    “So, you do know who I am,” Camille said tearfully. “Well, I already asked what I want to know. Why were you sleeping with Jasper?”
    Daisy laughed softly. All at once, she hated Camille. She despised her presence, her name, her very being. Daisy detested her because Camille had