Chapter 8 - The Shadow Meeting
Thursday morning arrived.
Ethan wore his navy suit.
“Big day?”
“Quarterly review.”
“What time will you be home?”
“Probably late.”
“How late?”
“Eight? Nine?”
I kissed him goodbye.
“Good luck.”
He smiled.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
The words hurt more than I expected.
Not because I knew they were false.
Because I didn’t know whether they were.
At noon, I left work.
I had already moved my afternoon meetings.
At 1:15, I parked two blocks from Vanessa’s office.
At 1:47, she walked out.
Black trousers.
Camel coat.
Large sunglasses.
She got into her car.
I waited.
Then followed.
Not closely.
I didn’t need to play detective.
I simply entered her direction into navigation whenever I lost sight of her.
She drove south.
Forty minutes later, she crossed into Indiana.
At 2:39 p.m., Vanessa pulled into the parking lot of a low brick office complex outside Hammond.
I drove past.
Turned around.
Parked at a coffee shop across the street.
At 2:52, Ethan arrived.
My heartbeat didn’t accelerate.
That frightened me more than panic would have.
He parked beside Vanessa.
She got out.
He got out.
They hugged.
Not romantically.
Not obviously.
Then Vanessa handed him a folder.
They entered the building together.
I photographed the sign.
HARRISON & KLINE FAMILY LAW.
Family law.
For a few seconds, I couldn’t process the words.
Divorce?
My husband had been secretly meeting his female best friend at a family-law office.
My hands became cold.
I forced myself to breathe.
Then I looked up the firm.
Divorce.
Asset protection.
Estate disputes.
Prenuptial agreements.
Custody.
Mediation.
I sat in my car for forty-three minutes.
At 3:38, Vanessa emerged alone.
At 3:51, Ethan came out with an older man carrying a leather briefcase.
They shook hands.
Ethan drove away.
I didn’t follow.
I had what I needed.
Or thought I did.
I returned home before him.
At 7:54 p.m., Ethan texted.
Running late. Review was brutal.
I stared at the message.
Then typed:
Sorry. Want me to save dinner?
Please.
Love you.
I looked at those two words for a long time.
Then responded:
Love you too.
At 9:11, he came home.
He kissed my cheek.
Complained about spreadsheets.
Asked about my day.
I told him a client had rejected a lobby design.
We ate reheated pasta at the kitchen island like two people who had nothing to hide.
May you like
At 10:30, Ethan went upstairs.
I stayed in the kitchen.
