Part 2: I discovered my husband was having an affair with my best friend while we were all on the same airplane—and neither of them knew I was there. Instead of confronting them, I sent a small, beautifully wrapped gift to their seats.

"What?"

"He said he wanted us to have a family. A real family."

I felt sick.

"So you took Elliot away from Dawson?"

Megan cried harder.

"I thought if Ryan and I raised him together, everything would eventually work out."

I stared at the window.

"And when it didn't?"

She didn't answer.

I continued.

"You kept lying."

A pause.

"Yes."

I thought about our friendship.

Birthday lunches.

Shopping trips.

The afternoon Megan held my hand when Mom first became ill.

She'd sat beside me, promising Ryan would take care of everything.

All while sharing a secret home with him.

I swallowed.

"Did you ever feel guilty when you looked at me?"

Her voice broke.

"Every day."

"Then why didn't you stop?"

Silence.

Finally, she whispered, "Because by then I'd lose everything."

I looked toward Mom's hospital bed.

"Well, Megan, you may have lost it anyway."

I ended the call.

On Friday, Dawson met his son.