Chapter 3

I took Mochi to the emergency vet first.

The veterinarian found signs of acute distress, one broken claw on her right front paw, and abdominal tenderness consistent with being kicked. There was no evidence of internal bleeding. Because Mochi had injured a child, the clinic also notified animal control and explained the required ten-day quarantine.

"I'd like to keep her overnight for observation."

I agreed.

When a technician carried Mochi away, she hooked her claws into my sleeve. I carefully eased the fabric free.

"I'll come back for you."

She did not understand. Her huge blue eyes followed me until the door closed.

Ethan waited outside the clinic. He would not even come through the door.

"Done?" he asked through the glass.

"Yes."

"Then let's get to the hospital."

He looked down at his phone.

I knew who he was texting.

After I died the first time, my younger sister recovered deleted messages from Ethan's old phone. At this exact time, Lily had sent him more than a dozen frantic texts.

Her last message read, "She isn't going to tell them about us, is she?"

Ethan replied, "No."

"Are you sure?"

"You know her. Tell her a kid might go blind and she'll scare herself to death before anyone else has to. lol"

By the time my sister read those words, I really was dead.

The man who had shared my bed for five years understood me perfectly. He knew I hated burdening people. He knew I avoided conflict. He knew fear made me focus on fixing the immediate problem.

And he knew exactly how to use those qualities to send me to my grave.

Outside the clinic, Ethan put away his phone.

"Lily left. She's badly shaken."

I nodded. "She's certainly had terrible luck."

Guilt made him defensive.

"Don't start with the sarcasm."

"I'm not being sarcastic. If she was only passing by, what could she possibly be responsible for?"

His expression softened.

"As long as you understand."

During the drive, he coached me on what to say at the hospital.

"Tell them Mochi is usually gentle and something startled her. Don't mention Lily. Don't get into who brought the cat outside."

I kept my hands on the wheel.

"But I didn't bring her outside."

The car went quiet.

Ethan turned toward me. "What does that mean?"

I looked puzzled, as if the thought had only just occurred to me.

"Mochi was home when I left this morning. Maybe I didn't close the door all the way?"

He studied me for two seconds.

"You've been forgetful lately. She probably slipped out on her own."

"Oh," I said softly. "Then I must have left the door open."

His shoulders relaxed.

At the hospital, I signed an authorization covering up to $10,000 of the family's immediate out-of-pocket expenses. The boy's mother looked marginally less hostile when the patient advocate handed her a copy.

His father had arrived.

My fingers curled involuntarily when I saw him. I remembered that hand wrapped around the knife that killed me.

Now he wore a gray T-shirt, sweat shining across his forehead.

"That was your cat?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He lunged one step forward. Ethan retreated immediately.

I stayed where I was.

The man thrust a finger at my face.

"If anything happens to my son, I'll take every cent you have!"

"I understand."

Behind me, Ethan muttered, "Stop promising things."

The father heard him.

"Who are you?"

Ethan's face tightened. "Her husband."

The man gave a bitter laugh.

"Perfect. Then you can pay together."

"She owned the cat before we married," Ethan said quickly. "It has absolutely nothing to do with me. I'm severely allergic, and she knows it."

People in the hallway turned to stare.

Lily had arrived too. She stood at a distance, presenting herself as a concerned acquaintance.

The moment Ethan spotted her, tension crossed his face.

I spoke first.

"It's true. He avoids Mochi completely. I can verify that."

Ethan could not hide his smile.

"You're always looking out for me, honey," he said gently. "Let's focus on the child first."

I lowered my eyes. "All right."

Lily walked over.

"Emma, don't blame Ethan. I mean, Mr. Cole."

She had used his first name without thinking, then scrambled back into the formality of a business relationship. Too late.

I almost laughed.

"I don't blame him. Were you frightened?"

She blinked, surprised by my concern. Two seconds later, her eyes filled with tears.

"I just feel so awful for that little boy. When I came downstairs, the cat was already there. I tried to find someone to help, but then she suddenly attacked him."

The lie grew smoother as she spoke.

Ethan supported her at once.

"She was only trying to help. Don't drag an innocent person into this."

I nodded. "I understand."

A middle-aged neighbor stood several yards away, holding up her phone. Its camera pointed directly at us.

I noticed and deliberately said nothing.

Lily's voice became more aggrieved.

"At first, I even thought about picking the cat up, but I was scared. If Emma had controlled her better, none of this would have happened."

Ethan frowned.

"She spoils that animal. I've warned her a hundred times that pets need discipline, but she never listens."

I kept my head down.

They thought I was enduring their accusations.

In reality, I was waiting.

Waiting for them to fill every gap in the story I had not told, one lie at a time.