Chapter 3 · The Seat He Gave Away

Chapter 3

"I just got home, and you're not here. You really went all out with the holiday shopping; we're gonna have our hands full tomorrow," Brian said.

"Yeah," I answered, surprised at how steady I sounded. "I'm just out dealing with something."

"What's going on? It's almost time for dinner," he said.

He paused, his voice softening even more. "Come home soon, okay? I brought you your favorite chestnut cake from the shop on East Street. It won't taste as good if it gets cold."

Back then, if he'd said something like that, I probably would've just let everything go.

But now, hearing his voice through the phone just made me feel sick; it sounded so fake, it was almost painful to hear.

"Okay," I said. "I'll be right back."

After hanging up, I took one last look at the river, then started the car.

When I pushed open the door, the warm glow of the lights and the smell of food hit me all at once.

Brian poked his head out of the kitchen, apron on, smiling. "You're back! Go wash your hands, the soup's almost ready."

He looked like always, maybe even more like the perfect husband, waiting for his wife to come home.

If it weren't for that fresh, unmistakable mark on his neck, just above his collar, it would be impossible to miss.

I looked away, set my bag down, and changed my shoes, keeping my voice steady. "You got so much food? Let me help you with it tomorrow."

"No need, just relax," he said.

He came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup, steam curling around his face. "Oh, did you take my car out? I took a cab home this afternoon. I thought the car was still in the garage."

"Yeah, I went out to pick up a few things," I replied.

I walked over to the dining table and sat down, my eyes sweeping across the living room.

The two glasses were gone, and his jacket had been put away.

The air was thick with lemon-scented freshener, trying to mask that sugary perfume, but the result was just a bizarre mash-up.

"Oh," I said.

He set a bowl of soup in front of me, trying to sound casual. "Did you notice anything weird in my car? My colleague Chloe had an emergency and borrowed it for a bit.

"She's kind of scatterbrained; hope she didn't mess up your seat."

Chloe, that was the first time he'd ever said her name like that.

My fingers curled tighter around the spoon.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a mess," I said.

I took a sip of the soup; it tasted just like he always made it, warm and familiar. "The passenger seat was moved."

He paused for a split second, then smiled and reached over to ruffle my hair. "That's all? I thought something serious happened. Just set it back; it's not a big deal. You know Chloe.

"She's short; her legs barely reach the pedals. I've told her a million times; she can't drive worth a damn but keeps borrowing my car."

I turned my head just before his hand could touch my hair.

His hand missed, and his smile faded a bit, but he kept his tone light. "What's wrong? Are you really upset about this? Emily, since when are you this sensitive?"

I set down my spoon, the ceramic clinking against the bowl with a sharp, clear sound.

I looked up at him, my eyes lingering on the hickey on his neck, then meeting his pretending-to-be-calm eyes. I spoke slowly, my voice steady but cold. "Just sat there?"

"What else do you think happened?" Brian shot back, raising an eyebrow like I was being ridiculous.

"Just helping out a coworker, that's all. You're just too into me; you freak out over the smallest thing," he said.

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice with a teasing smile. "You know you're the only one I care about, don't you? In three years, have I ever lied to you?"

Chapter 3

"I just got home, and you're not here. You really went all out with the holiday shopping; we're gonna have our hands full tomorrow," Brian said.

"Yeah," I answered, surprised at how steady I sounded. "I'm just out dealing with something."

"What's going on? It's almost time for dinner," he said.

He paused, his voice softening even more. "Come home soon, okay? I brought you your favorite chestnut cake from the shop on East Street. It won't taste as good if it gets cold."

Back then, if he'd said something like that, I probably would've just let everything go.

But now, hearing his voice through the phone just made me feel sick; it sounded so fake, it was almost painful to hear.

"Okay," I said. "I'll be right back."

After hanging up, I took one last look at the river, then started the car.

When I pushed open the door, the warm glow of the lights and the smell of food hit me all at once.

Brian poked his head out of the kitchen, apron on, smiling. "You're back! Go wash your hands, the soup's almost ready."

He looked like always, maybe even more like the perfect husband, waiting for his wife to come home.

If it weren't for that fresh, unmistakable mark on his neck, just above his collar, it would be impossible to miss.

I looked away, set my bag down, and changed my shoes, keeping my voice steady. "You got so much food? Let me help you with it tomorrow."

"No need, just relax," he said.

He came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup, steam curling around his face. "Oh, did you take my car out? I took a cab home this afternoon. I thought the car was still in the garage."

"Yeah, I went out to pick up a few things," I replied.

I walked over to the dining table and sat down, my eyes sweeping across the living room.

The two glasses were gone, and his jacket had been put away.

The air was thick with lemon-scented freshener, trying to mask that sugary perfume, but the result was just a bizarre mash-up.

"Oh," I said.

He set a bowl of soup in front of me, trying to sound casual. "Did you notice anything weird in my car? My colleague Chloe had an emergency and borrowed it for a bit.

"She's kind of scatterbrained; hope she didn't mess up your seat."

Chloe, that was the first time he'd ever said her name like that.

My fingers curled tighter around the spoon.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a mess," I said.

I took a sip of the soup; it tasted just like he always made it, warm and familiar. "The passenger seat was moved."

He paused for a split second, then smiled and reached over to ruffle my hair. "That's all? I thought something serious happened. Just set it back; it's not a big deal. You know Chloe.

"She's short; her legs barely reach the pedals. I've told her a million times; she can't drive worth a damn but keeps borrowing my car."

I turned my head just before his hand could touch my hair.

His hand missed, and his smile faded a bit, but he kept his tone light. "What's wrong? Are you really upset about this? Emily, since when are you this sensitive?"

I set down my spoon, the ceramic clinking against the bowl with a sharp, clear sound.

I looked up at him, my eyes lingering on the hickey on his neck, then meeting his pretending-to-be-calm eyes. I spoke slowly, my voice steady but cold. "Just sat there?"

"What else do you think happened?" Brian shot back, raising an eyebrow like I was being ridiculous.

"Just helping out a coworker, that's all. You're just too into me; you freak out over the smallest thing," he said.

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice with a teasing smile. "You know you're the only one I care about, don't you? In three years, have I ever lied to you?"