Chapters 12 - 28 Summary

Carter returns to their house in Beverly Hills. Maria asks if they are separated or not. He says they are but he is willing to give the relationship another go if she is. She says yes. Then she says no. She starts getting ready to get see their daughter Kate. When Carter asks her how many times she has been to visit Kate she lies, saying only a few times in the past few weeks. Carter knows she's been there too many times. Maria's unscheduled parental visits disturb Kate's development. Maria is about to cry and Carter tells her not to. She doesn't.

Maria and Carter are outside at BZ and Helene's house. Maria tries hard to ignore the banter of BZ and Helene's guests, who she finds irritating and full of themselves. Maria realizes that she hasn't menstruated in five...