Chapter 5 - Eleven Months
Ethan came to Rachel’s house that evening.
Claire spoke to him on the back patio while Rachel remained inside.
He looked exhausted.
Claire did not confuse exhaustion with innocence.
“Eleven months,” Ethan said.
Claire stared at him.
The baby had been conceived eight months earlier.
“So while we were trying to have a child.”
Ethan looked away.
“Yes.”
Monica and Ethan had begun sleeping together after a developer charity dinner.
Ethan claimed it lasted seven months.
He said he ended it after Claire became pregnant.
Monica had refused to accept that it was finished.
“Then why was she still living in our house?”
“She worked there.”
“You could have fired her.”
“She threatened to tell you.”
Claire absorbed the absurdity.
“You kept your former mistress in our house so she wouldn't tell me she was your former mistress?”
“I thought I could manage it.”
That sentence landed differently.
Manage Monica.
Manage Claire.
Manage Tuesday.
Ethan admitted he had told Monica he intended to leave Claire.
He had said it during the affair.
He had promised Monica she would never work as a housekeeper again.
But Ethan insisted he had never told Monica to hurt Claire.
“I swear to you. I never wanted anything to happen to you.”
Claire believed that part.
She had seen his face beneath the landing.
His fear had been real.
That did not make the rest harmless.
“What did you tell her about Tuesday?”
Ethan hesitated too long.
Claire stood.
“Leave.”
“Claire—”
May you like
“Whatever you aren't saying, I'm finding out without you.”
For the first time, Ethan understood that saving his wife from the fall had not saved his marriage from everything that came before it.
