Friday morning was routine. I woke up at five, just like I have since the day we bought this place. I made the coffee. I toasted the bread. When Gordon came downstairs, he looked at me like he always does. He said the coffee was good and he had some errands to run. I just nodded. I didn’t ask about the fishing trip. I didn’t ask about the suitcase.

I dropped his shirts at the cleaners on the way into town. I watched the woman behind the counter tag them. I told her to make sure the starch was light, just like he likes it. She smiled and promised it would be done by Saturday. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to tell her he wouldn’t be needing them for work next week. But I stayed silent.

I drove straight to the bank after that. It was ten o’clock when I walked through those heavy glass doors. I knew exactly what I needed to do. We’ve always had a joint account, and we’ve always been careful. But the house is in my name, and the farm equipment is in my name, too. My father made sure of that forty years ago. He told me to always hold the land.

I talked to the manager, a woman I’ve known for fifteen years. She asked how Gordon was doing. I told her he was busy with his plans.

I moved the majority of our savings into a private account that he doesn’t have access to. I checked the mortgage documents. I checked the insurance policies. I made sure every single asset was locked down tight.

It was almost noon when I finished. I walked back out into the parking lot. The sun was bright, and the air smelled like damp earth and clover. It was a beautiful day for a betrayal. I stood there for a minute, looking at my car. I wondered if I should go home or if I should just keep driving until the gas ran out.

I went home. I made lunch. I set the table for two. When he walked in, he looked tired. He asked me what I had been up to. I told him I’d been running errands and taking care of the laundry. He didn’t ask any more questions. He just sat down and ate his soup. He talked about the weather and the price of grain.

He looked at me over his coffee cup. He said, “I think I might head out to the lake this weekend for a little peace and quiet.” I didn’t look up. I just kept my eyes on my plate. I said, “That sounds like a good idea, Gordon.” He didn’t even notice the way my voice sounded.