Chapter 9 - THE ONE NIGHT
Ryan returned forty-eight hours after the wedding.
Not to the house.
To Grace’s office.
Claire agreed to meet him there.
He looked exhausted.
Claire did not hug him.
“Did you sleep with Vanessa while we were together?”
Ryan said:
“Yes.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“When?”
“About six months after we started dating.”
“Why?”
“No good reason.”
“Try.”
He said he and Vanessa met to settle the remaining money.
They argued.
Drank.
Ended up at her apartment.
One night.
Vanessa’s one-night disclosure came with another uncomfortable fact.
She had not known Ryan was exclusive with Claire.
Ryan told her:
“It’s serious, but not locked down yet.”
Claire had believed they were exclusive for four months.
Messages confirmed Ryan had been vague with Vanessa and clear with Claire.
Vanessa asked:
“So I was cheating too?”
Claire answered:
“No.”
That surprised both of them.
Claire continued:
“He cheated on me. You were lied to differently.”
Vanessa looked ashamed anyway.
“I should have asked.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t.”
“Yes.”
Responsibility could be shared without becoming equal.
That distinction slowly reduced the hatred between the women.
Then stopped contact for months.
Claire asked:
“Did you love her?”
“I don’t know what I felt then.”
“Did you tell me?”
“No.”
“Did you plan to?”
“No.”
That answer hurt more.
Not someday.
Never.
Claire asked:
“Why marry me with all this unresolved?”
Ryan looked at the table.
“Because I thought the document was invalid.”
“That is not the relationship question.”
He nodded.
“I thought if I solved the money quietly, I could keep the past from hurting us.”
Claire laughed through tears.
“You brought the past into our wedding.”
May you like
He looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
