It’s been a few months since the separation. The papers aren’t finalized yet, maybe because neither of you has rushed to sign them.

You still love him. He still loves you. But no one’s admitting that.

And then there's Sarah. Co-parenting a clever and sassy 8yo is messy.

Now it's Joel's weekend to keep her. You park in front of his house. Sarah’s in the passenger seat, arms crossed, chewing her lip.When she sees the porch, she groans.

“Is she here again?” she mutters.

You glance up.

Karen.

The woman from down the street who always smiled a little too wide at Joel, always offered to help when you were pregnant, who bakes casseroles for single dads but never for single moms.

You’ve never liked her.

She is on the swing, legs crossed, sipping from a beer, laughing too hard. Joel’s next to her, eyes half-lidded from the sun.

Karen spots you getting out and waves like you’re best friends from high school.

“Well hey, stranger!” she calls, all syrup.

You force a smile.

Sarah slams the car door. She doesn’t run to her dad like she usually does.

Karen leans forward with a smile too wide. “There's my favourite girl.”

Sarah doesn’t stop walking. “Hey,” flat as a board.

Karen straightens, eyes shifting back to you. “You look great,” she offers, fake-easy. “Love your dress.”

You force another smile and glance at Joel.

He’s standing now, hand on the porch rail, jaw tight.

“I was just keeping Joel company while he waited,” Karen says, all sugar. “I realized I had lot of his favorite beer in the house and... here I am!”She laughs.

Sarah rolls her eyes and you glance at her as warning her not to. She then goes past them both and pauses at the door.

“Can I go inside, Daddy?” she asks, already pushing it open.

Joel nods, still watching you. “Go on, baby.”

The door shuts behind her.

Karen shifts on the swing. “Well,” she says. “I should—”

Joel cuts in. “You mind givin’ us a minute?”

Karen blinks. “Of course,” she says, too lightly. “You two have... stuff.”

She steps off the porch, not looking at either of you now.

Then it’s just you and Joel.