I was on tenterhooks for weeks following that night, worried that somehow she would figure out what went down, but so far, so good. I’d explained Nikki’s absence with a lie at first, claiming the other woman must’ve gone abroad, and that lie held until it was no longer viable.

Emma had sussed out the truth, or part of it, long ago because of the phone call. She didn’t come right out and ask if I’d done it, and I didn’t try to explain. Since there was no sign of ...