Chapter 4
By ten the next morning, Claire had called three of Richard's oldest friends.
The first claimed he had never met Vanessa Cole.
The second said he was sorry for Claire's loss, then ended the call before she could ask about the photograph.
The third did not answer at all.
Claire sat at Richard's desk with the torn photograph beside her phone. Sunlight fell across the empty bottom drawer.
She had believed the photograph would make people talk.
Instead, it had made them afraid.
The background showed part of a wooden cabin, a picnic table, and a strip of blue water. Claire recognized the place. Richard had spent one weekend every summer at Lake Mercer with a group of old friends.
He had always called it his fishing weekend.
Wives were not invited.
At least, that was what he had told her.
Claire called Martin Hale next. He and Richard had known each other since college. Martin had given a speech at the funeral about friendship and honesty.
He answered on the fourth ring.
"Claire. How are you holding up?"
She ignored the gentle voice. "I found an old photograph of Richard at Lake Mercer."
Silence.
Claire looked at the name written on the back.
Lucas. Ten.
"I'm sending it to you now."
"Claire, this may not be the best time to go through Richard's things."
"Why not?"
"You're grieving."
Everyone kept using her grief as if it made her blind.
Claire sent the picture.
A few seconds passed.
Martin breathed out slowly. "Where did you get this?"
"Richard's desk."
"I haven't seen that in years."
Her fingers tightened around the phone. "Then you have seen it."
Another pause.
"Yes."
"Who was with him?"
"I can't remember everyone who came that year."
"There are only two other people in the photograph."
"Half the picture is missing."
"But it wasn't missing when you saw it."
Martin did not answer.
Claire's heart beat harder. Every silence had begun to feel like another person choosing Richard over her.
"Was the boy Lucas Cole?"
Martin lowered his voice. "You should speak to Ethan."
"I'm speaking to you."
"Richard's gone. Dragging all of this out now won't change anything."
"It will change what I believe about my marriage."
Martin sighed. "Vanessa came to the lake a few times. That's all I know."
The room seemed to tilt, but Claire pressed her feet against the floor.
"A few times?"
"Maybe more. I didn't keep track."
"And Lucas?"
"He came with her."
"How long did Richard know them?"
"I don't know."
"You just said you saw this photograph years ago."
"Claire—"
"Did Richard introduce Vanessa as a friend?"
Martin hesitated too long.
Claire closed her eyes.
"What did you call her?"
"It was just a joke."
"What did you call her, Martin?"
His answer came out quietly.
"Mrs. Bennett."
Claire opened her eyes.
For a moment, she could not feel her hands.
"I am Mrs. Bennett."
"I know."
"Did Richard correct you?"
Martin said nothing.
The silence answered for him.
At Lake Mercer, surrounded by people Claire had welcomed into her home, Richard had allowed another woman to use his wife's name.
"How many of you knew?"
"No one knew the whole situation."
"But you knew there was another woman."
"We knew what Richard showed us."
"And none of you told me."
Martin's voice hardened. "I'm not going to be blamed for another man's marriage."
The call ended.
Claire remained in Richard's chair, staring at the dark screen of her phone.
Martin had stood in the same chapel as her less than twenty-four hours earlier. He had hugged her and called Richard an honest man.
Now Claire understood the truth.
Richard had not hidden Vanessa from everyone.
He had hidden Claire from the part of his life where Vanessa existed.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Martin appeared.
I'm sorry.
A video followed.
Claire stared at the small image on the screen. It showed the same picnic table as the torn photograph. Richard stood near it, younger and smiling, while a boy wearing a paper crown leaned over a birthday cake.
Lucas.
Claire pressed play.
People laughed behind the camera. Someone told Lucas to make a wish. He closed his eyes as ten candles burned in front of him.
Then a woman spoke.
"Richard, don't stand over there."
Claire's breath caught.
She recognized the voice from the funeral.
Vanessa.
In the video, Richard walked behind Lucas and placed both hands on the boy's shoulders.
Vanessa laughed softly.
"That's better," she said. "Now stand with your family."