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“No.”

Her eyes narrow. “You didn’t kill that man.”

“Doesn’t matter what happened ten years ago.”

“It matters quite a lot.”

“Not to your customers.”

“So you’re leaving me because some woman from Lansing canceled her family reunion?”

“I’m giving you your life back.”

Her face changes. “I didn’t ask for it back.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Stop saying that.”

I push away from the counter. “You want to lose the lodge over me?”

“I’m not losing the lodge.”

“You lost eleven reservations in one day.”

“And I’ll get eleven more.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Neither do you.”

“I know what happens when people think you’re dangerous.”

I’ve seen it before. Restaurants that suddenly have no tables. Parents steering kids away. Women crossing streets. Employers finding another reason not to hire me. I learned a long time ago not to care.

Lila hasn’t.

“I won’t let them do it to you.”

Her voice drops. “Do what?”

“Turn you into me.”

Lila walks toward me. “You think divorcing me fixes this?”

“Helps.”

“You think people stop talking?”

“Eventually.”

“And then what?”

“You go back to your life.”

“What life?”

“The one you had before me.”