Chapter 3 - My Wife Walked In Smiling
I put everything back exactly where I had found it.
The envelopes went beneath the wet towels.
The notebook returned behind the false panel.
Maya and I went downstairs.
Vanessa entered carrying shopping bags.
She froze.
“Adrian?”
Her surprise looked genuine.
Then calculation replaced it.
“You’re home.”
I smiled.
“Surprise.”
She put down the bags.
“You weren’t supposed to be home until Friday.”
“The acquisition closed early.”
Her eyes moved toward Maya.
Maya immediately looked at the floor.
That frightened me.
Vanessa walked over and kissed my cheek.
“You should have called.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
She smiled again.
Then she looked at Maya.
“What have you two been doing?”
I answered before Maya could.
“She showed me her drawings.”
Vanessa’s eyes stayed on our daughter.
“Did she?”
Maya nodded.
“What were you doing before Daddy came home?”
The question sounded harmless.
It wasn’t.
Maya froze.
I put my arm around her.
“She was upstairs.”
Vanessa glanced toward the staircase.
“For what?”
I deliberately laughed.
“Vanessa, are you interrogating us?”
Her smile returned.
“No.”
At dinner I watched everything.
Vanessa poured wine.
Asked about Singapore.
Discussed Maya’s school.
Nothing unusual.
Then she said casually:
“You look pale.”
“I’m jet-lagged.”
“Any chest discomfort?”
I put down my fork.
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Completely.”
Vanessa smiled.
“I worry.”
Maya stopped eating.
Vanessa noticed.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Nothing.”
“Finish your vegetables.”
Maya obeyed immediately.
Too immediately.
Later, after putting Maya to bed, Vanessa approached me in the kitchen.
“You shouldn’t encourage her.”
“Encourage what?”
“Drama.”
I leaned against the counter.
“She seemed fine.”
“She’s been difficult.”
“How?”
“Lying.”
There it was.
Vanessa continued.
“She makes stories up when she doesn’t want chores.”
“Chores?”
“Normal responsibilities.”
“For a seven-year-old?”
“She puts away clothes. Helps straighten rooms.”
I nodded.
Vanessa studied me.
“Why?”
“No reason.”
Her smile faded.
“Did she say something?”
I looked directly at my wife.
“No.”
Vanessa relaxed.
May you like
That told me almost as much as a confession.
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