Chapter 8: The Secret She Buried
For a few seconds, I could hear nothing but Claire breathing on the other end of the phone.
Then I asked the only question I could think of.
“What do you mean you were the reason they met?””
Claire cried quietly.
“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“You introduced my husband to another woman?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I thought I was helping.””
I looked at Julian.
He was standing a few feet away, watching my face.
He couldn’t hear Claire anymore. I had turned the volume down.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“At home.””
“I’m coming.””
Claire immediately said, “Alone.””
I looked at Julian.
Then back at the phone.
“I’ll come alone.””
“Thank you.””
She hung up.
I stood there for several seconds.
Julian finally spoke.
“What did she say?””
I slipped my phone into my pocket.
“She wants to talk.””
“About what?””
“About why she introduced you to Rachel.””
His face changed.
“Emma—”
“I’m going.””
“I should come with you.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because she asked me to come alone.””
He frowned.
“You’re seriously going by yourself after everything that’s happened?””
I picked up my keys.
“Yes.””
“She might be lying again.””
“She might.””
“Then don’t go.””
I looked at him.
“You said you wanted the truth.””
“So do I.””
“Then let me find it.””
He stepped closer.
“Emma, I don't like this.””
I almost smiled.
“You didn't like being asked to wash two bottles either.””
He looked away.
The words hit him.
Good.
They should.
I walked toward the front door.
Behind me, he said my name.
I stopped.
“Please be careful.””
I turned around.
For one second, I saw the man I used to love.
Not the liar.
Not the husband who cheated.
Just Julian.
The man who used to wait outside doctor's appointments with flowers.
The man who cried when we heard two heartbeats.
The man I had spent years believing in.
“I’ll be fine,” I said.
Then I left.
Claire lived twelve minutes away.
I drove slowly.
Not because of traffic.
Because I needed time to think.
But there was no way to make sense of it.
Every answer created another question.
My sister knew about Julian and Rachel.
Rachel was pregnant.
The paternity results had been changed.
Claire appeared on security footage carrying the original report.
And now she claimed she was the reason the affair began.
I pulled into her driveway.
The porch light was on.
Claire opened the door before I knocked.
She looked smaller somehow.
Her eyes were swollen.
Her hair was pulled into a messy knot.
The moment she saw me, she started crying.
I walked past her without saying anything.
The house smelled like the cinnamon candles she always burned.
It was familiar.
Comforting.
Almost painfully so.
“How long have you known?”” I asked.
Claire closed the door.
“About Julian and Rachel?””
“Yes.””
“Since last year.””
I turned around.
“Last year?””
She nodded.
“Before the twins were born.””
“So all those times you came to my house…”
“I know.””
“All those nights you sat with me…”
“I know.””
“You knew my husband was cheating.””
“Yes.””
“Why did you say nothing?””
Claire sat down on the edge of the couch.
“Because I thought it would stop.””
I stared at her.
“That makes no sense.””
“I thought if Rachel got tired of waiting, she would leave.””
“And if she didn’t?””
“I thought Julian would eventually choose you.””
“Choose me?””
My voice rose.
“I wasn't asking to be chosen!””
Claire flinched.
“I was his wife.””
“I know.””
“I was carrying his children.””
“I know.””
“Then why were you treating me like I was one option in some competition?””
“I wasn't.””
“You were.””
She covered her face.
“I made a terrible mistake.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You keep calling it a mistake.””
“What should I call it?””
“Betrayal.””
She lowered her hands.
“Yes.””
The admission hung between us.
I sat in the chair opposite her.
“Tell me how you introduced them.””
Claire took a long breath.
“Julian came to me one night.””
“When?””
“After one of your doctor appointments.””
My stomach turned.
“Which one?””
“The appointment where you found out the babies were girls.””
I remembered it.
Julian had been ecstatic.
We had gone to dinner afterward.
He had ordered dessert.
He spent the whole night talking about names.
Claire looked at me.
“He told me he was terrified.””
“Of being a father?””
“Yes.””
“He told me he didn't think he was ready.””
I swallowed.
“He could have told me.””
“I told him that.””
“And?””
Claire shook her head.
“He said you were so excited that he couldn't bring himself to disappoint you.””
That sentence hurt because it sounded almost reasonable.
And that was what made it dangerous.
“What happened next?””
“I suggested therapy.””
“And?””
“He refused.””
Claire looked down at her hands.
“Then I told him he needed someone to talk to.””
My heartbeat quickened.
“You mean Rachel.””
“Yes.””
“Why Rachel?””
“She worked with him.””
“She was married?””
“No.””
“So you thought it was safe?””
Claire closed her eyes.
“I thought she would listen.””
I stood.
“You introduced my husband to another woman because you thought she would listen?””
“I didn't think they would sleep together.””
I stared at her.
“You gave a vulnerable married man the phone number of a single woman who had no idea what boundaries existed.””
Claire started crying.
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
I walked toward the window.
“That was the beginning.””
“Yes.””
“And then what?””
Claire wiped her cheeks.
“They started talking every day.””
“Did you know?””
“At first, no.””
“When did you know?””
“When Julian started hiding his phone.””
I turned around.
“Did you see them together?””
“Yes.””
“How many times?””
Claire didn't answer.
“How many?””
“Three.””
Three.
My chest tightened.
“Before I gave birth?””
“Yes.””
“And you still let me believe everything was fine.””
Claire nodded.
I shook my head.
“Why did you change the paternity test?””
Her face changed.
That was different.
The answer wasn't shame anymore.
It was fear.
“I didn't change it.””
I stared at her.
“The video shows you taking the original.””
“I took it.””
“You said you changed it.””
“No.””
She stood.
“I took it because I was terrified Rachel would use it to destroy you.””
“That doesn't answer my question.””
“I never changed the result.””
I felt confused.
“You were the one carrying the folder.””
“Yes.””
“Then who changed it?””
Claire looked at me.
“I don't know.””
“Claire.””
“I swear.””
“Then why take the original?””
“Because I wanted to know the truth.””
“What truth?””
“That Rachel was lying.””
I stared.
“About the baby?””
“Yes.””
Claire walked toward me.
“Rachel told me the baby was Julian's.””
“And?””
“I didn't believe her.””
“Why not?””
“Because I had been there when Julian told me he had ended things with her.””
I frowned.
“When was that?””
“Three months after the twins were born.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't explain anything.””
Claire took a breath.
“Rachel told me the pregnancy happened before they ended it.””
“So?””
“So I knew there was a chance.””
“A chance the baby was his.””
“Yes.””
“And you didn't want me to know?””
“I didn't want you to know before I could make sure.””
I stared at her.
“You stole the original test because you were trying to protect me from the truth.””
“I was trying to protect you from Rachel.””
“That isn't protection.””
“I know.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“You don't get to make decisions about my life because you're afraid I'll get hurt.””
Claire looked down.
“I know.””
The room fell silent.
Then I noticed something on the coffee table.
A second folder.
Thicker than the one in the clinic video.
I reached for it.
Claire moved quickly.
“Don't.””
I stopped.
“What is that?””
“Emma.””
“What is it?””
She held the folder against her chest.
“It's something I should have given you months ago.””
I stepped closer.
“Give it to me.””
She hesitated.
Then slowly handed it over.
Inside were printed emails.
Photographs.
Bank transfers.
Phone records.
My eyes scanned the pages.
Then I saw something that made my heart stop.
A photograph of Julian and Rachel.
But it wasn't from the office.
It wasn't from a restaurant.
It was from a hospital parking lot.
The date was printed at the bottom.
*Two days before my twins were born.*
Julian was standing beside Rachel.
And in Rachel's hand was an envelope.
I looked at Claire.
“What is this?””
“I don't know everything.””
“Then why do you have it?””
“Because Rachel sent it to me.””
“Why?””
“Because she wanted me to convince Julian to leave you.””
I looked at the next photograph.
Another date.
Another location.
Another envelope.
Then I found an email.
The sender was Rachel.
The recipient was Claire.
The subject line said:
*He promised me something.*
I opened it.
The message contained only one sentence.
*“He didn't tell you what he promised me before the twins were born.””*
I looked up.
“What did he promise her?””
Claire shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Then why do you look terrified?””
She stared at me.
“Because I think I know where you can find out.””
“Where?””
Claire's lips trembled.
“At the old storage unit.””
“What storage unit?””
“The one Julian opened before you gave birth.””
My blood went cold.
“You knew about that?””
“Yes.””
“What’s there?””
Claire swallowed.
“I don't know.””
She stepped backward.
“But Rachel once told me Julian kept everything there.””
“Everything?””
“Photos. Documents. Cash.””
I stared at her.
“Why would he keep cash there?””
“I don't know.””
I opened my mouth.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Julian.
*Emma, please come home. Someone has been inside the house.*
A second message appeared before I could respond.
*The nursery door was open.*
May you like
Then the third.
*And the envelope from the storage unit is gone.*
