Page 58 of Circle of Strangers
The last several times I’ve seen the Morenos together, they seemed fine. It could be an act. But there’ve not been any signs of distress oneither of their faces. No sounds of breaking glass. No one crying on the front steps.
I follow her gaze to the front of the Morenos’ house, the perfect stucco exterior hiding whatever rot may or may not lie beneath. “Miserable how?”
Sozi shrugs. “Well, they’ve obviously been having marital issues, and I think it’s easy to assume other couples are happier than we are, especially when we’re in that kind of place. I told her that, too. I said she shouldn’t assume you and Will are any happier than anyone else.”
I arch a brow. “You told her that?”
She gives me a sly grin. “Not in so many words, but yeah. I told her to let it go. It’s not a good look, and fixating on other people’s marriages is not doing her any favors, especially if she wants to fix her own. And I think she does. Though Will’s been a bit of a distraction for her. A fantasy, I think. Ever heard of limerence? She’s got it bad—for your husband, I’m afraid.”
I’ve read about limerence. It can be powerful, all-consuming, making people act in ways they wouldn’t normally. It’s a crush on steroids. But I can’t shake the feeling that it’s Sozi doing the projecting—what if she’s the one pining over Will, not Mara?
“How’s Ezra doing? You realize we still haven’t gotten the kids together.” I let the statement hang in the air. I get that people are busy, kids especially, but as much time as I’ve spent with this woman and as much as she’s talked about him—combined with the lack of evidence of his existence—I’m having serious doubt the child exists.
Sozi doesn’t miss a beat. “He’s great. Austin took him to his grandparents for the weekend to stay with them for a few days. They’ve got a condo in Sedona. He loves it up there—the windy drive, the mountains. It’s his favorite place.”
I nod slowly, trying to fit the pieces together in my mind. “Send me a picture of him sometime. I’d love to get Jack and Georgie excited about meeting him when he gets back. There aren’t a lot of kids on our street.”
“Of course,” Sozi says with a bright smile, but once again the look doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She glances down at her phone, but I hadn’t heard it buzz. And once again, her interruptions have convenient timing. “Ah. I’m so sorry. Austin’s calling. I should take this.”
She gives me a quick wave, her voice already shifting into polite professionalism as she answers the call. “Hey, is everything okay? Hang on. Give me one sec.”
I watch her disappear into her house, her dark ponytail swaying behind her. I linger in the sun, rooted in place, my mind spinning. Something isn’t adding up.
I finally think I have an idea why.
Later that night, after the kids are asleep and Will is busy in the other room, I curl up on the couch with my laptop and type “Sozi Hahn” into the search bar on a popular social media site.
A couple of profiles pop up. None with photos of Ezra. None with mentions of Austin. No family posts. Nothing about a husband or a child. No hint of Hahn being a married or maiden name.
I search deeper, clicking through tagged photos and old posts. It’s tedious, slow work, but then—finally—I find it.
A Facebook group photo from a family reunion in 2019, posted by someone I can only assume is a relative of hers. The caption reads:Hahn Family Reunion—Boston! So glad to see so many familiar faces!I zoom in on the photo, which is three rows of people deep, until I pick out Sozi smiling stiffly beside an older woman who looks vaguely like her.
The comments tell a different story.
Brenda Schoonover:How’s Sozi doing these days? Haven’t heard from her in forever.
Rob Hahn:Last I heard, she moved out west—Arizona or New Mexico, I think. Hope she’s doing okay.
Another comment catches my eye, and it sends a chill down my spine.
Stasi Hahn:Honestly, I hope she stays there. I think she’s burned every bridge there is on the east coast.
Brenda Schoonover:Come on, be nice, @Stasi. That’s your sister.
Stasi Hahn:Not by choice @Brenda.
Kara Schoonover:Sozi seemed to be doing better at the reunion ... I’d hoped she was on a better path.
Stasi Hahn:She must’ve had you fooled, @Kara. She’s pretty good at that. Last I heard she was on “husband” number six and has somewhere between zero and four children, depending on who you ask.
I sit back, staring at the screen, my pulse racing.
There are no other photos of Sozi.
Just a laundry list of estranged relatives and unanswered questions.
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