Tom waited until we were away from the others before speaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn't have defended him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou stood beside him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI stood beside myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom looked at me as if he wasn't sure what that meant.<\/p>\n
I lowered my voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we accuse them now, they'll deny everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom glanced toward the backyard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey already are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
He folded his arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took those pictures last week.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Rachel lied to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told me she'd said she was meeting a friend. Instead, she'd gone to the estate with Michael.<\/p>\n
Tom had followed her.<\/p>\n
He'd watched them together from a distance.<\/p>\n
He hadn't heard enough to prove an affair, but he'd seen the familiarity between them.<\/p>\n
He'd seen the way Rachel touched Michael's arm.<\/p>\n
He'd seen Michael touch her back.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you said nothing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted certainty.\u201d<\/p>\n
I understood.<\/p>\n
Because I wanted the same thing.<\/p>\n
Tom showed me the photographs again.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook closely.\u201d<\/p>\n
I did.<\/p>\n
At first, I saw only Rachel and Michael.<\/p>\n
Then I noticed something else.<\/p>\n
The estate wasn't unfamiliar.<\/p>\n
I recognized the stone terrace.<\/p>\n
It belonged to a property my husband had mentioned months earlier.<\/p>\n
A property he said he had been considering as an investment.<\/p>\n
I looked at Tom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy were they there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's what I don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael had told me he was helping a friend evaluate a property.<\/p>\n
He had never mentioned Rachel.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you hear anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough to make me worry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were talking about leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart sank.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeaving where?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n
The word was suddenly enormous.<\/p>\n
Tom continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn't get close enough to hear everything. But they were talking about starting over.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought about Rachel's kiss.<\/p>\n
Her laughter.<\/p>\n
Michael's silence.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the entire party felt like a performance I had accidentally walked onto the stage of.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need proof,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
Tom nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRachel disappears every Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo does Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom's jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
Michael had always told me Friday nights were when he met his old friends.<\/p>\n
Sometimes he'd come home smelling faintly of smoke.<\/p>\n
Sometimes he wouldn't.<\/p>\n
I had never questioned it.<\/p>\n
Now I wondered why I hadn't.<\/p>\n
That evening, I watched Michael move around our hotel room.<\/p>\n
Our children were asleep.<\/p>\n
He removed his watch and placed it beside the bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou okay?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI'm tired.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou've had a long day.\u201d<\/p>\n
He kissed my forehead.<\/p>\n
For ten years, that gesture had meant comfort.<\/p>\n
That night, it felt rehearsed.<\/p>\n
He turned off the light.<\/p>\n
I stared into the darkness.<\/p>\n
I kept thinking about the photographs.<\/p>\n
The estate.<\/p>\n
Rachel.<\/p>\n
The Friday nights.<\/p>\n
And one sentence Tom had said.<\/p>\n
They were talking about leaving.<\/p>\n
The next morning, Michael behaved normally.<\/p>\n
That was almost worse.<\/p>\n
He made coffee.<\/p>\n
He packed the children's lunches.<\/p>\n
He complained about traffic.<\/p>\n
He kissed me before leaving.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee you tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
Then he left.<\/p>\n
I stood at the window until his car disappeared.<\/p>\n
At noon, I called Tom.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't let him see you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if Rachel is with him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom was silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we finally know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday evening arrived slowly.<\/p>\n
Michael left first.<\/p>\n
He told me he was meeting friends at a bar.<\/p>\n
I waited ten minutes.<\/p>\n
Then I left through the back entrance.<\/p>\n
Tom met me several streets away.<\/p>\n
We used separate cars.<\/p>\n
We didn't speak much.<\/p>\n
Michael drove past the restaurants where he usually met his friends.<\/p>\n
Then past the bars.<\/p>\n
Then farther out.<\/p>\n
I felt my stomach tighten.<\/p>\n
Rachel's car appeared behind him.<\/p>\n
Tom saw it too.<\/p>\n
Neither of us needed to say anything.<\/p>\n
They eventually reached a quiet riverside park.<\/p>\n
Michael parked beneath a row of trees.<\/p>\n
Rachel arrived a minute later.<\/p>\n
I watched them get out.<\/p>\n
They didn't behave like two people having an innocent conversation.<\/p>\n
Rachel went directly to him.<\/p>\n
Michael touched her waist.<\/p>\n
Then they kissed.<\/p>\n
I raised my phone.<\/p>\n
Tom did the same.<\/p>\n
We stayed hidden.<\/p>\n
Rachel said something.<\/p>\n
Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n
Then I heard his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can't keep doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel looked angry.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're the one who promised me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen do something.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked around.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Sadie to stop asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
My breath caught.<\/p>\n
Rachel laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe believes you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants to.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sentence hurt more than I expected.<\/p>\n
Rachel stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about the estate?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTom saw us there.\u201d<\/p>\n
She went silent.<\/p>\n
Then Michael said something that made my hands go cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kiss was stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel folded her arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was upset.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou nearly ruined everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to see if she suspected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe never does.\u201d<\/p>\n
I lowered my phone slightly.<\/p>\n
Tom looked at me.<\/p>\n
His face was pale.<\/p>\n
We had enough.<\/p>\n
But I kept recording.<\/p>\n
Because something still didn't make sense.<\/p>\n
Why had they risked everything in public?<\/p>\n
Why kiss in front of the family?<\/p>\n
Why give Tom a reason to investigate?<\/p>\n
Then Rachel said it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want us to leave soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the money is moved.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart stopped.<\/p>\n
Tom looked at me sharply.<\/p>\n
Money.<\/p>\n
This wasn't only about an affair.<\/p>\n
Michael continued speaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the account is settled, we can disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Sadie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe'll survive.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt something inside me go still.<\/p>\n
For ten years, I had shared a home with this man.<\/p>\n
I had trusted him with my children.<\/p>\n
I had defended him to my sister.<\/p>\n
And now I was hearing him discuss leaving me as though I were an inconvenient piece of furniture.<\/p>\n
Tom touched my arm.<\/p>\n
I shook my head.<\/p>\n
Not yet.<\/p>\n
We needed the whole picture.<\/p>\n
Rachel asked, \u201cDoes she know about the account?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if she finds out?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe won't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can you be sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she trusts me.\u201d<\/p>\n
My eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
I forced them back.<\/p>\n
Tom leaned closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
We started to retreat.<\/p>\n
Then a branch cracked beneath Tom's shoe.<\/p>\n
Rachel turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you hear that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael looked toward the trees.<\/p>\n
My heart slammed against my ribs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone's there,\u201d Rachel said.<\/p>\n
Michael started walking toward us.<\/p>\n
Tom grabbed my wrist.<\/p>\n
\u201cRun.\u201d<\/p>\n
We moved.<\/p>\n
Quietly at first.<\/p>\n
Then faster.<\/p>\n
Behind us, Michael shouted my name.<\/p>\n
I didn't turn around.<\/p>\n
We reached the cars.<\/p>\n
Tom pushed me toward mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI'll follow.\u201d<\/p>\n
I drove away.<\/p>\n
My hands were shaking so badly that I could barely keep the car straight.<\/p>\n
The recording was on my phone.<\/p>\n
The truth was on my phone.<\/p>\n
But the moment I reached the main road, another thought struck me.<\/p>\n
Money.<\/p>\n
What money?<\/p>\n
And why had Michael been so certain I would never find out?<\/p>\n
Tom waited until we were away from the others before speaking. \u201cYou shouldn't have defended him.\u201d \u201cI didn't.\u201d \u201cYou stood beside him.\u201d \u201cI stood beside myself.\u201d Tom looked at me … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5314,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sharestory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5316"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5328,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5316\/revisions\/5328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}