A Simple Favor

Sean calls Stephanie with “terrible” news and says he is coming over. A decomposed body was found in the water near Emily’s family cabin. Although the police will DNA test to be sure, Emily’s sapphire ring is on the finger.

Stephanie tells her readers that a body believed to be Emily’s has been found. Stephanie and Sean decide he will tell Nicky on a day when, if he wants to, he can come play with Miles afterward. Afterward, Nicky’s therapist suggests that they give up some of Emily’s possessions, but Sean refuses. He and Stephanie both believe that Emily’s death was an accident.

Stephanie realizes that if Emily’s death was an accident, the insurance company owes Sean and Nicky money. They scatter Emily’s ashes in the woods, and Sean invites Stephanie and Miles, but she feels guilty for being in love with him. They are shocked by the autopsy, which reports long-term damage from alcohol and drug abuse. Stephanie protests that if Emily was abusing drugs, they would have known, but Sean isn’t sure. She begins to question everything she knows about Emily, including what kind of friend she is if she doesn’t know these things.