Page 34 of My Husband's Wife
She sniffles. ‘I tried. I gave him everything.’
‘Everything but love.’ Is that why he left me and somehow faked his own death? Did he not know how to love because he’d never been loved by his family? ‘Now tell me, what should I leave alone? What am I getting so close to discovering, Cynthia?’
‘Please let this drop. I’m begging you.’
‘I can’t and I won’t.’
‘In that case, you’re going to have to live with the truth when you find it, but I will not have anything to do with it, or you. Let it drop for Caiden’s sake. Is this like that time you said he was dead, when he was clearly alive? Don’t call me again.’ She’s gaslighting me and I don’t know why. She knows he’s alive too but she’s hiding it.
He was dead, when he was clearly alive…
Those words she spoke were like a dagger to my heart.
Twenty-Seven
It’s Theo and Madison’s wedding day and I’ve never felt so alone.
Amongst other things, Nicole won’t answer my calls. Zach didn’t say much to me when I called him earlier. It’s as if he’s avoiding talking to me. If I could, I’d get into my car right now and drive to Worcester, but Caiden needs me and Mum would ask too many questions. The more Nicole and Zach stay away from me, the more I suspect them of having an affair. A sick feeling whirls inside me. I have to get ready for the wedding.
I glance out of the bedroom window at the sea and I wonder if I’m about to lose my dream home and half of everything I own, and I’ve never felt more stupid. I almost want to cry for Caiden. My boy adores Zach and if he’s been playing me all this time to get his hands on my money, it’s a sick game. I’d have to sell the house. Boats bob in the water and I wish that Caiden and I could leave on a boat and escape all this stress.
The conversation with Cynthia has been going through my mind. She knows Hugo is alive. What isn’t she telling me? Everything she said has only made me more determined to speak to Madison and stop this farce of a wedding. I try to call Cynthia. She doesn’t want to talk to me but I can’t let this drop. Maybe she has spent half the night replaying our conversation, just like I did.
Cynthia answers.
‘Hello,’ I say after checking that Mum isn’t listening close by.
‘Eva, I’m sorry about the way I spoke to you yesterday. I owe you this much. The truth is dangerous and you need to stop digging for the sake of yourself and Caiden…’
After she finishes explaining everything, I stand there, speechless. I can now see why Cynthia wanted nothing more to do with the boy they adopted after what he did to their daughter. I know why they sent Hugo away to school, why they didn’t want to come to the wedding and why they’ve kept their distance. It wasn’t them; it was Hugo all along. They were scared of him and they still are.
A knock at my bedroom door makes me jump.
‘Eva, I thought you might want a cuppa before work.’ Mum sits on my bed and places the drink on my bedside table. ‘You’re shaking.’
‘Too much coffee. It’s going to be a long day.’ As I turn away from the window, I flash my best smile at Mum.
‘Have you been crying?’
I shake my head. ‘No, the sun caught my eyes, that’s all. Are you sure you’ll be okay today? I bet you can’t wait to get home.’ My hairpiece has become dislodged. I feel around the back of my head and feed it back into place. I can’t let Mum see how bad my head is now. It took ages to stop the bleeding and wash my hair through. I’m not ruining the plan now, not before I’ve done the deed.
She looks at me sympathetically, knowing that I won’t respond well if she mentions my head. ‘I’ve loved being here and quite the opposite, I’m going to miss you both. I think I’ll take Caiden out for an afternoon tea somewhere. He seems keen to go out for cake.’
‘I’ll try not to be too late. Zach should be home this afternoon but I think he’ll be tired.’ I wonder if he’s even coming back but this pretence is all I have. The truth will be in whether he comes home to me or runs off with Nicole. I’m not going to keep calling him.
‘We should be back before then.’ She looks me up and down. ‘You look lovely today.’
I’m not wearing my usual pastel trouser suit and Mum has noticed. I’m wearing a blue dress and a jacket that’s far from showy. I don’t want to stand out when I’m sneaking around the Clifton House Hotel. Blending in is my aim.
‘I thought it might make a change to wear a dress.’ My stylish pumps are reassuring, just in case I need to make a fast getaway. Once I’ve said my piece, I’ll leave. Cynthia’s words keep whirling through my mind and I feel sick.
‘Right, I guess I’ll leave you to finish getting ready. Maybe we can have a chat later.’
By then I hope to have the evidence I need and plenty to tell her. ‘Bye, Mum, and thanks for the tea.’ There’s no way I can stomach it and my bladder already keeps telling me I need to pee when I don’t.
She looks at me for a bit too long, like she doesn’t believe anything I’m saying, so I open my wardrobe and begin rummaging so she’ll go. Several minutes later the front door slams. They’ve gone out.
It’s time for me to go. I head downstairs and take the hugest breath while I check my appearance in the mirror by the door. A flash of aquamarine catches my attention in the reflection. I turn around and see nothing but myself reflected in the mirror above the fireplace in the snug, then another reflected me in the reflection – never-ending exact replicas of me – none of them bearing any aquamarine. Running into the snug, I glance out of the window and I can’t see anyone on the drive or in the front garden. I’m shaking. Was there someone there or did I imagine it? I’m jumpy, that’s all it is.
