Page 9 of My Husband's Wife
‘I didn’t know you knew Nicole until twenty minutes ago.’
‘I told you that I have a mum friend called Nicole.’
‘Yes, but I had no idea it was the same person.’
‘And you never mentioned that someone else did our garden. I thought you did it.’
He shrugs. ‘I didn’t think it mattered. She’s a gardener. I paid her to tidy the frontage up and that was it. I didn’t think I had to go through every detail with you.’
I exhale slowly. ‘We FaceTimed nearly every night. We talked about everything.’
‘Are you accusing me of hiding something from you?’
Zach bites the insides of his mouth, and I can tell he’s upset with me for quizzing him. ‘Look, forget it. She did the gardening and you forgot to mention her.’ I don’t like arguing. Hugo and I used to have some huge rows and I don’t want that for us. I go to leave the room.
‘Wait.’
I turn and wait for him to speak.
‘I have something to tell you.’
I swallow. Is he about to confess to something that’s really going to hurt me? I think back to Mum’s warnings: Eva, you haven’t known him long. You’re putting nearly all your money into this house. How much is he putting in? Next to nothing. Once you’re married and you buy this house together, what’s yours is his. Remember how you got this money. I wanted to shout, I know, I know, I know. I only have this house because Hugo died. Have I made the biggest mistake of my life?
Zach throws his pen onto the desk. ‘Firstly, I’m sorry I sounded so defensive but you know I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that, don’t you?’ He comes over to me, his hands on my shoulders as he looks into my eyes. ‘It was in early January. I left Nicole here working to go and get some fittings from the DIY place in Ilfracombe. When I got back, her car was still on the drive but I couldn’t see her. The front door was open so I walked in, thinking she’d be making herself a drink but I caught her rummaging through my desk drawers in the lounge. She instantly stepped away from the open drawer full of paperwork. When I asked her why she was going through my personal things, she said she was looking for some scissors. The strange thing was, the scissors were already out on the worktop, right next to the kettle she’d been using all day. All my bank login details were in that drawer. As soon as she left, I changed my passwords. She emailed me her invoice. I paid it and I never saw her again until today.’
I can’t believe I thought badly of Zach. ‘Could she have forgot about the scissors on the worktop? Is there any part of you that could believe what she told you? I’ve just been speaking to her and I really like her.’ In my heart, I don’t believe she was planning to defraud him.
He shrugs. ‘Maybe. It had been a long day.’
‘Shall we give her the benefit of the doubt? I don’t want to lose her as a friend, and Caiden has grown close to Aaron. I really like her.’
‘I don’t know. I mean, she’s a stranger. How do we know she isn’t dangerous? I’m just looking out for you and Caiden, so it might be best to stay away from her.’
Looking out for us? More like telling me who I can be friends with. As for dangerous, my husband is seriously off the mark here. ‘Let’s leave this, Zach. I can look after myself.’ I didn’t move all this way to have him telling me what I can and can’t do.
Seven
The sun shines down on the Sea Horse Hotel today. I close my office door and do a happy dance, then I quickly compose myself before a guest passes my window. Ben and Alice only went and booked the gold package. It turned out that romance isn’t dead. They wanted those special touches like rose petals trailing up the aisle, and the butler assigned to the honeymoon suite because who doesn’t want champagne on tap? I head to the canteen to grab some lunch with Hallie.
‘My next happy couple will be here soon,’ I say as I eat as fast as I can.
‘Go nail it again, Eva.’
Hallie reaches across to grab a napkin. As she does, she knocks a ramekin of mayo off my plate and it lands upside down in my lap.
‘Damn.’
‘I am so sorry.’
We stare at the mayo that has landed right on my thigh, dirtying my mint-green trousers. ‘It’s okay. It was an accident. Can you let the two o’clock couple into my office while I clean myself up?’
‘Anything. Again, I’m really sorry.’
I hurry into the loos and begin dabbing the large oily stain. Nothing is working so I untuck my silk blouse and it falls over the mess. I button my jacket up and check my hair. I’m not looking my best but as my mum always says, it is what it is. I swallow because I still haven’t called her back.
As I walk into my office, I see the back of a head of flowing red curls draping halfway down the woman’s back. She turns to face me; her nose is covered in light freckles and her green eyes are striking. ‘Hi, I’m Madison. The bride-to-be.’ She pulls her lemon sundress over her knees.
‘Hello, Madison. It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Eva, your wedding planner. Are you alone today?’
