Friday, August 10, 2018

T

he girls had been fed, bathed, tucked in, and read to. Their bathing suits had been washed and the dishes were done. Nora was in bed, reading. Well, not really. Really, she was staring at page thirty-something, picturing Dave in various sexual positions with the Other Woman, who she’d again imagined might possibly exist. She wondered how late he’d be and whether she’d work up the nerve to ask him about it. She imagined that conversation, what he would say. He’d be surprised, of course. Would he deny it? Or would he laugh at the absurdity of the idea and reassure her? More likely, Dave would be baffled by her suspicion but flattered by her jealousy. He’d take her in his arms and hold her, promising that he was hers and hers alone, that she could trust him.

But what if he didn’t? What if his eyes grew somber and his shoulders slumped, silently admitting it? Would he beg for forgiveness again? Or pack a bag and leave? Lord. Nora closed her eyes, told herself to stop being ridiculous and dramatic. She had no reason to imagine such a dire and unlikely scene. Dave was neither having an affair nor leaving. Their marriage was solid. Nora clutched her book, and stared at the words, the letters shimmying on the page.

The girls were still awake, whispering and giggling in Sophie’s room across the hall. Nora hoped they’d continue to be close, no matter who got custody. Good Lord. Where had that come from? She was out of her mind. Had she really imagined a divorce? She needed to stop. There was no other woman. End of story.

Bullshit. If he really loved Nora, he’d have come home for dinner not just tonight, but all the nights he’d stayed out late. She’d forced herself to be cheerful, meal after meal, while his seat at the dinner table remained vacant. She’d pretended, for the girls’ sake, that it was normal for daddies to stay at work into the night, that everything was fine. But the girls weren’t stupid. They sensed something was off—after all, Ellie was biting her nails and Sophie was always asking questions, picking up on Nora’s moods even when Nora tried to hide them.

Across the hall, Sophie shrieked.

“Sophie,” Nora called. “Quiet down.”

“But Ellie said another spider might be here.”

“Don’t worry. There’s no spider in there.”

“There might be.” Ellie sounded certain.

“Mommy!” Sophie shouted. “What if one climbs in my bed?”

Nora took a breath and set her book on Dave’s side of the bed. She got up and crossed the hall. Her daughters made her turn on the light. They got out of bed and huddled behind her while she examined their sheets, the floor under both beds and dressers, the closet, shelves, curtains and windowsills. Finally, as she tucked them in again, she heard the front door close.

It was barely eight-thirty. Very early for a passionate date. Unless his girlfriend had to get home. Maybe she was married, too. Maybe she had kids. Who the hell was she?

She wasn’t anybody, damn it. She didn’t exist.

“Hello?” Dave’s baritone barreled up the stairs. “Where are my girls?”

“Daddy! Daddy!” Ellie and Sophie jumped out of bed, screaming, ran to him and leapt into his arms.

Nora stepped back, watching, caught off guard by the open affection of her family. Obviously, she was wrong about the affair. Dave really was working extra hours. Without thinking, she offered her cheek for him to peck as he passed. The girls trailed as he tossed his suit jacket, briefcase, and phone onto their bed. Sophie and Ellie chattered about their day at camp, about Sophie doing big arms in the pool and Ellie learning the frog kick. They pulled his hands, dragging him to their room. Dave glanced at Nora long enough to shrug and roll his eyes in feigned helplessness, a captive of his manic, adoring daughters.

Nora smiled, not so much at Dave as at the delight the girls took in capturing their father. Who could blame them for being so excited? It was a rare night when daddy was home before they were asleep. For a moment, she listened as they each offered to read to him, vying for his attention. Then she went back to bed, climbed into her side, and picked up her book.

And noticed his phone lying beside her on the crimson floral comforter.