Chapter 6 - A Calculated Phone Call
Then I did something Ethan would never expect.
I called Vanessa.
She answered on the third ring.
“Claire?”
She sounded surprised.
“Hi.”
A pause.
“Is everything okay?”
“Absolutely.”
Another pause.
People become nervous when you refuse to behave according to the script they wrote for you.
“I wanted to apologize about last night.”
Silence.
Then warmth flooded her voice.
“Oh, Claire. You don’t need to.”
“I think I overreacted.”
“You were emotional.”
There it was.
Not hurt.
Not offended.
Emotional.
I smiled.
“I probably was.”
“I would never disrespect your marriage.”
“I know.”
The lie came easily.
She relaxed.
“I love Ethan, obviously, but like family.”
“Obviously.”
“And honestly, I’ve always wanted you and me to be closer.”
“I’d like that.”
She hesitated.
“Really?”
“Really.”
We talked for six minutes.
I let her reassure me.
I let her explain Ethan to me.
I let her tell me that men and women could have close friendships without insecure spouses turning everything sexual.
Then, just before hanging up, I said, “Oh, one thing.”
“Sure.”
“Ethan mentioned Thursday. Are you still doing that?”
Silence.
Not long.
But long enough.
“Yes,” she said carefully.
“Great.”
Another pause.
“Did he tell you about it?”
I smiled.
“Of course.”
She recovered quickly.
“Perfect.”
“Same place?”
“Yes.”
Then she caught herself.
“What did he tell you?”
Enough.
I didn’t say it.
Instead I laughed.
“You know Ethan. Half a sentence and he assumes everyone understands.”
Vanessa laughed too.
Too loudly.
“Definitely.”
We hung up.
Thursday was confirmed.
May you like
I still didn’t know what Thursday was.
But Vanessa had just told me it existed.
