The woman looking back did not look like the quiet housewife Graham had ignored for a decade.

She looked like the owner of Vanguard Realty.

A knock sounded at the door.

I opened it to find Nora, my trusted nanny, standing in the hallway.

I had called her early this morning to watch the girls.

“Good morning, Jocelyn,” she said, stepping inside.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Nora,” I said.

“Of course. Are the girls awake?”

“They are finishing breakfast,” I said, pointing toward the dining table.

Ruby looked up, her mouth smeared with strawberry jam.

“Are you going to work, Mommy?” she asked.

“Yes, sweetie,” I said, walking over to kiss her forehead. “I have a very important meeting.”

“Will you be back for lunch?” Hazel asked.

“I will be back as soon as I can,” I said. “Nora is going to take you to the toy store today.”

Their faces lit up, the shadows of the previous night at Gloria’s house fading away.

I grabbed my leather briefcase and my keys.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.