A Minnesota Divorce

“A favor it is not,” Lena said to her husband, or to the man who was still technically her husband. They were standing in their kitchen at sundown on a winter afternoon. The cat was looking in from the window ledge, hoping or expecting that someone would let it in. It had no expression on its face.

“If it results in us all being happier,” said her husband, and then, because she tried to interrupt him, he said it again, in a louder, more articulate voice, though without finishing the sentence.

A boy and a girl came home. The cat ran into the kitchen ahead of them, shook the cold from itself, and stood for a moment on the center of the linoleum while the children were stamping their boots.