What on earth? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
Eleanor could hardly contain herself. She felt it in her bonesher husband was unfaithful. The uncertainty gnawed at her. Once, she even mustered the courage to confront him outright.
She asked him plainlywas it true or not? But he only replied,
What on earth? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
By all appearances, Edward spoke honestly, earnestly. She detected no flaw in his smile, his words, or his eyesyet something still unsettled her.
Eleanor wasnt one to leave things to fate, so she resolved to uncover the truthbut how?
After scouring advice online, she decided to check his phone first, but found nothing unusual. Just idle chatter with a couple of old schoolmateshardly cause for alarm. So what?
Edward had never even set a passcode. He had nothing to hide, he claimed. No secret messages, no deleted conversations. A veritable saint in the flesh.
At times, Eleanor wondered if she was imagining it allyet every time he stayed late at work, that same unease crept in.
Her best friend always told her,
Its all in your head! Edward adores youhed never even glance at another woman! Youre only ruining things with your suspicions!
But Eleanor wouldnt listen. Her gut told her otherwise, and the thought of sharing her husband with another woman was simply unthinkable.
Once, she even followed him, rushing to his office to see if he was really working or gallivanting elsewhere. When he spotted her, he was lividsaid she was humiliating him in front of his colleagues. She spent ages apologising, but Edward, ever quick to forgive, soon let it go.
By all accounts, their life was perfect. A fine home, two growing children. They should have been contentyet Eleanor insisted on stirring up trouble.
As the saying goes, *seek and ye shall find*though so far, shed had no luck.
Truth be told, Eleanor was terrifiedas women in their thirties often areof being left alone with two children.
Outwardly, she seemed composed, but inside, she was a storm.
Nothing about Edward betrayed him. No lipstick on his shirt, no trace of another womans perfume, not even a sudden change in habitsyet she *knew* something was amiss.
Had it not been for chance, Eleanor might never have learned the truth. Imagined or real? That remained to be seen.
When their youngest started primary school, Eleanor decided to learn to drive. She took evening lessons after work and, three months later, passed her test.
Edward was so proud he bought her a carsmall, but serviceable.
Petite herself, Eleanor found it comfortable, easy to park.
Edward would never admit it, but hed bought it partly to keep her from asking to borrow his Audi. She wasnt ready for that yet, he insistedshe needed more experience. Or so he claimed.
Then, one weekend, Eleanor woke early and decided to surprise the family with a chicken and aubergine piea favourite. But there was no flour.
A bitter frost had settled outside, snow piled high, but shed grown accustomed to winter driving. Shed just nip to the shop.
The car wouldnt start. She crept back insidethe household still asleepnot wanting to wake anyone.
Walking in the cold was unthinkable, so she took a risk and decided to drive Edwards car without asking. Just a quick tripa mile or two at most. Hed never know.
She took his keys and stepped outside again. While the car warmed up, she wiped the windows, reaching into the glovebox for a clothand knocked something to the floor.
She picked it upa phone. But whose?
Shed never seen this one before. Edwards phone she knew well, but this was clearly not his. At first, she thought hed accidentally taken someone elsesas he often didbut her finger hovered over the button, and she switched it on.
The first thing she saw was a message from a woman named Rose.
*»My love, I miss you so! Come to me quicklyI cant wait!»*
Eleanor blinked in disbelief. No passcodeso she scrolled through the messages. The car idled as she read.
The exchange was endless, spanning what felt like years.
It turned out Edward finished work daily at fivebut never came home before seven. Eleanor had never thought to check.
Almost every evening, he visited his beloved Rose for an hour before returning as if nothing had happened. The words he wrote her were ones Eleanor had never heard in all their years together.
The photos showed an older womanforty, at least. What on earth did she have that Eleanor didnt?
Fury seized her.
She was about to storm back inside when she spotted Edward stepping out of the house.
Shed left a note saying shed gone to the shophe must have seized the moment to send Rose another message.
Only now did Eleanor recall how often hed slip out to the car at nightforgotten wallet, this or thatalways returning swiftly, so she never suspected.
Edward spotted her behind the wheel and marched over.
Who said you could take it? We never agreed to this!
Eleanors rage flared anew.
She buckled up, threw the car into reverse, and slammed the accelerator. The Audi screeched into the fence behind her. A small satisfaction.
She stepped out, glaring at her stunned husband.
Go to her, then! Lets see how much she wants you with no house and no car! Go! I never want to see you again!
To seal her words, she hurled his keys into a snowdrift and stormed inside.
The boys were awake now, bewildered. Moments later, Edward tried to followbut Eleanor locked the door.
Go to her! Forget this house! she shouted.
With no choice, Edward trudged offin slippers, a dressing gown, and a coatto his beloved Rose. Surely shed take him in, comfort him.
But no.
Rose opened the doorand a mans voice called from inside.
Darling, are you coming? Ive been waiting!
Edward only visited Rose on weekdaysnever weekends. Turns out, she had two suitors. Why waste a Saturday alone?
She gave him a sheepish look and shut the door.
Defeated, Edward dragged himself to his mothers house two streets over.
Margaret took one look at him and understood. She fed him, warmed him, listened to his tale of the wicked wife whod thrown him out over nothing, and said consolingly,
Dont fret, son! Who knew Eleanor would turn out like this? Your luck will changeyoure only thirty-five! Youll find love again, mark my words.
So Edward stayed with his mother, resolved to start anew. He even felt a flicker of relieffreedom, at lastuntil Eleanor filed for child support. Only then did he realise how hard rebuilding would be. At least his mother hadnt abandoned himwithout her, hed have been truly lost.
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