AFTER 31 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, MY HUSBAND STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF BED AT 2 A.M. — THEN I HEARD HIM WHISPER « DADDY LOVES Y0U TOO, » THOUGH OUR CHILDREN HAD MOVED OUT YEARS AGO.

PART 1

When I ran downstairs, I went pale at what I saw.

For thirty-one years, Greg and I had slept beside each other.

My name is Laura, and our marriage wasn’t perfect.

We’d survived layoffs, two teenagers, and the year Greg worked nights so we wouldn’t lose the house.

But even after our worst arguments, he never chose another room.

So when I woke at 2:17 a.m. and found his side of the bed empty, I wasn’t suspicious.

The next morning, Greg rubbed his lower back.