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She always felt numb afterwards. The natural physiological response was to feel elated and exhilarated — almost as if her body was preparing her for the inevitable crash and burn — but it had since adapted into skipping that whole charade and going straight to sheer guilt and exhaustion. All she wanted in that moment was to open up and tell Mark, but she couldn’t. She needed to protect him, protect the boys. The time would come when she’d have to open up and admit it, but she wasn’t ready yet.
Back in her work clothes, she stepped into the house and walked straight through to the utility room, putting her casual clothes in the washing machine and setting the cycle. Mark knew Caroline wasn’t exactly a gym bunny, but even that wouldn’t explain her coming home with the clothes worn, but
