"Yeah." She laughs, bitter. "Found out last week. His son found out about us, too. Came here looking for me."
My stomach twists.
"He did this?"
She nods. "Kid's nineteen. Angry. Said I was wrecking his family."
"You didn't know."
"Doesn't matter to him." She sips her coffee.
“What happened?”
“He punched me, then crumpled to the floor, crying.”
I’m shocked. “Did you call the police?”
“Nah… kid’s got enough problems. He apologized right away.”
I shake my head. “You’re too nice, Colleen.”
“Philip won't leave his wife. Says he loves us both. What a joke."
I stare at the bruise.
That could've been me. If I'd stayed with Daniel. If I'd pushed him one more time.
"I'm done with him," Colleen says. "Obviously."
"Good."
She picks at a cookie. "Claudia would've kicked his ass for me."
My heart sinks.
"Any news?"
"Nothing." Her voice cracks. “Two months, Liza. Six months, and the cops still say she ran away with that boyfriend of hers. But I know my niece. She wouldn't just disappear."
"You think something happened to her."
"I know it did." Tears well in her eyes. "But I can't afford a private investigator. I've called everyone. No one cares about a troubled fifteen-year-old with a dealer boyfriend."
I reach across the table, squeeze her hand.
"I'm so sorry."
She squeezes back.
"Me too."
I take the stairs again. Slower this time.
My chest feels heavy. Colleen's bruise. Claudia's disappearance. The weight of it all presses down.
I push open the lobby door—
And I freeze.
