Marissa quietly enters the house and slowly heads upstairs to the bedroom. She is exhausted – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Though she feels somewhat better after talking to Ryan, she still doesn't know what to do about Luke. Just as she is about to step into the bedroom, she stops. Sitting on the edge of the bed is Luke.
"What are you doing home?"
"Surprised," he says dryly.
Marissa can tell that something is wrong. "Yeah. I thought you'd be at work. But I'm glad you're home," she says then hesitantly walks over and pecks him on the cheek.
"So," Luke lets the word out slowly. "Where have you been?"
"Been? Shopping."
"I don't see any bags," he says exaggeratedly looking around.
Marissa's blood runs cold. Why is he asking me all these questions, she wonders. More importantly, why do I feel I need to lie? "The stuff was for my dad. I dropped it off at his place on my way home."
"That's not what Manny says."
"Who?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you about Manny. It must have slipped my mind. Manny is the private detective I hired to follow you."
"What?!" Marissa feels suddenly nauseous and faint. I must have misunderstood him, she thinks frantically, that's the only logical explanation. "Would you repeat that?"
"I hired Manny to follow you."
"Why?"
"Because you've been a little distant lately. So, where were you this afternoon?"
Marissa walks across the room and slumps into a plush black chair. "Apparently, you already know."
"I want to hear it from you."
"Luke, please."
"Marissa, where were you this afternoon?"
"I stopped by the Public Defender's Office to see Ryan Atwood. Okay! Are you satisfied?"
"Why are you visiting Chino? What purpose could that serve? Are you sleeping with him?"
"Luke, don't be ridiculous."
"Excuse me for wondering why my wife went to see her ex-boyfriend."
"It's not like that. I ran into Seth Cohen a few months ago when I was in San Francisco and we got to talking about high school …," Marissa trails off.
"Cohen, that fag. What were you doing talking to him?"
"Luke grow up."
"Grow up! Grow up! I'm grown up enough to pay the mortgage on this house. I'm grown up enough to pay your car notes."
"Luke."
"I'm grown up enough to finance your dad's consulting firm."
"Enough!"
"Let's get a few things straight. You are never to see Atwood again. If you do, I'll divorce you, leave you with nothing, and petition the courts for sole custody of Lily."
"No!" Marissa says rising.
"Try me," Luke says then storms out of the bedroom. A few minutes later, Marissa hears the front door slam.
Damn, damn, damn, she thinks as she slumps back into the chair. She doesn't want Luke's money. But what would she do without her daughter? And Jimmy, how would her father's business survive without Luke's financing? Oh god, oh god, Marissa thinks as she slides to the floor. What am I going to do?