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Ramona knew those feelings were irrational. Scott could date whomever he wanted. But it just felt—unfair. A month later, when they announced their last-minute marriage, that felt unfair, too.
    And right now, after spending the morning sprucing up his house and pretending to be his wife, he pushed her away again.
    Unfair.
    When she hadn’t budged, he repeated himself. “Seriously. I’m already asking way too much of you. You don’t have to stay right now.”
    Without making any noise, Debra walked back into the living room. Ramona wouldn’t have noticed her if she hadn’t stopped a few feet away. “Rob and Jeffrey are chasing each other in the back yard,” she explained. “And what are you two love birds doing?”
    Ramona looked at Scott, waiting for him to respond. When he didn’t, she said, “I have to go back to work.”
    And she certainly wasn’t lying. There were still a few hours left in the workday. If she went straight there, she’d be able to meet with the staff and set a few things into place for the rest of her leave of absence.
    Honestly, it was better this way.
    And Debra certainly didn’t look disappointed. She smiled that Debra-smile and said, “See you tomorrow!”
    Ramona turned to leave. She had fulfilled her wifely duties for the day. Now it was time to return to the real world.
    As she left, Scott said, “Love you!” But he was just playing the part.
    • • •
    Scott helped his mother get into bed. She said she didn’t need the help, but she did.
    Moonlight lit up the bedroom, making all of the sharp angles—dressers, cabinets, mirror edges—seem to glow a pale white. It was filled with stuff, comfortable stuff, but it also felt weirdly empty.
    Debra McInney was finally back in her own bed. The room should’ve been full of life. It should’ve finally felt like the room had a purpose.
    It didn’t.
    It was cold.
    Empty.
    And Debra seemed somehow lost in her blankets.
    “If you need anything,” Scott said, “I’ll just be down the hall.”
    “I know where your old bedroom is.”
    “I know you know.”
    God, why couldn’t she just go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning with all her problems gone? Why couldn’t she just feel better?
    Scott turned to leave.
    “Wait,” Debra called.
    Clouds must’ve passed over the moon, because the room darkened. He couldn’t make out his mother’s face anymore. The shadows were too heavy.
    “What is it, Mom?”
    “You don’t need to stay here.”
    “It’s okay. I—”
    “Seriously. You. Don’t. Need. To. Stay. Here.” She said it like a proclamation, like a royal decree.
    “What if—”
    “What if
nothing
. Go home to your wife. I’m sure she misses you.”
    “I don’t know,” he said.
    “You don’t know if she misses you?”
    “No. She does. Miss me. But I think—”
    “Scott Owen McInney.”
    For once, Scott was glad he couldn’t see his mother’s face. “Mom.”
    “Your wife loves you. Be with her.”
    What a laugh. His wife had actively fled from him. And his other wife—the fake one—was an innocent bystander roped into duping a sixty-four-year-old woman. Outside of this house, Scott didn’t have anywhere to go.
    “Mom,” he said. “I don’t know if you know this, but I’ve been having trouble sleeping. For a while now. Ever since your … well, since your accident. Even when I’m with R—Nessa, even when I’m with my wife, it’s hard for me to stop worrying. About you. The only time I can get a good night’s rest is when I’m here, close enough to help if something goes wrong. I hope you understand.”
    Moonlight once again broke through the clouds.
    What was she going to say? He couldn’t tell. He studied his mother, the way that the corners of her eyes crinkled, the way she half smiled. She had the same dimples as he did.
    “You’re a good son,” she said.
    And that was that.

Chapter Five
    The Arizona sun shone high over the Colorado River. Sometimes, Scott McInney forgot how