An Exclusive Excerpt from Ian McEwan's Book, The Children Act — vogue.com

When her husband turns her world upside down, Fiona Maye, an eminent London judge, is forced to make the decision of her life. London, Trinity Term one week old. Implacable June weather. Fiona Maye, a High Court judge, at home on Sunday evening, supine on a chaise longue, staring past her stockinged feet toward the end of the room, toward a tiny Renoir lithograph of a bather, bought by her 30 years ago for £50. Probably a fake. Below it, centered on a round walnut table, a blue vase. No memory of when she last put flowers in it. A Bokhara rug spread on wide polished floorboards. Looming at the edge of vision, a baby grand piano bearing silver-framed family photos on its deep black shine. On the floor by the chaise longue, within her reach, the draft of a judgment. And Fiona was on her back, wishing all this stuff at the bottom of the sea.

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