Chapter 4
Alexander
The first thing Alexander noticed as he entered the lake house was the laugh of Vivian Hart.
It was brilliant.
Known.
Too well known.
He paused just inside the doorway, looking at the woman seated with his mother near the fireplace.
Vivian looked the same as ever.
Flawless hair.
Perfect outfit. Great smile.
The moment she spotted him, she stood up.
“Alexander.
He nodded at her politely. “Vivian.”
His mother beamed like she had just planned the reunion of the century.
Surprise, surprise.
Alexander gazed at her.
“You invited her?” “Yeah.”
“Of course.” His mother waved a hand dismissively. "Vivian was in town. “I thought it would be lovely.
Great.
One word for it.
Alexander looked around the room.
Clara sat at the window with Noah, helping him build a ludicrous tower out of wooden blocks.
She was a lovely woman.
Not a fabrication.
She was not trying to impress anyone.
Just Clara.
Her hair was scraped back into a loose knot, and she was wearing one of those plush sweaters she loved so.
She lifted her eyes.
Their eyes locked.
Half a second’s warm exchange went between them.
Vivian came closer.
“You don’t look like you got any sleep,” she said.
Alexander scowled.
“You still see everything.
“Always did.
Something in her voice.
Something he didn't sit well with.
His mother laughed.
“You two practically raised each other. “Vivian knows you better than anyone.
Alexander’s jaw clenched.
"Clara knows me."
His mother stopped speaking.
Vivian grinned.
Of course she does.”
But the words sounded all wrong.
Alexander paid it no mind.
He went over to the kitchen.
Vivian trailed after.
“Still take your coffee black?” she asked.
"Yeah.
“Two sugars when you're under stress.
And he stopped.
“Vivian.”
Both her hands went up.
Just saying. Some things don't change.”
He stared at her.
“You're right. Some things don't.”
Her smile faded slightly.
“Do you ever wonder what would have happened if things had been different?”
Alexander knew exactly what she meant.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Vivian's eyes narrowed.
“You don't?”
“No.”
“You never wonder what our lives might have looked like?”
Alexander stepped closer, his voice low.
My life is my life.
“And your marriage?”
“My marriage is none of your concern.”
Vivian blinked.
For the first time, the confident expression slipped.
Alexander walked away.
He should have left it there.
Instead, his mother called from the sitting room.
“Alexander, come look at these photographs.”
He returned reluctantly.
Vivian was holding an old picture.
Alexander at eighteen.
Vivian beside him.
Both are laughing.
He barely remembered the photograph.
His mother smiled.
“You two were inseparable.”
Clara had entered the room.
She stood silently near the doorway.
Alexander saw her looking at the photograph.
Something inside him tightened.
He immediately put the picture down.
“That's ancient history.”
Vivian laughed.
“Some history is worth remembering.”
Clara smiled.
But Alexander knew that smile.
It wasn't real.
“Clara.”
“I'm fine.”
He took a step toward her.
She stepped back.
“I said I'm fine.”
Before he could answer, Noah called from the other room.
“Mom! Come see!”
Clara turned instantly.
“Coming.”
Alexander watched her leave.
He wanted to follow.
He actually took one step.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His chief financial officer.
Urgent.
Of course it was urgent.
Everything was always urgent.
He answered.
“What happened?”
His attention shifted immediately to the problem being discussed.
Numbers.
Contracts.
A potential acquisition.
By the time the call ended twenty minutes later, Clara was gone from the room.
Alexander looked around.
His chest tightened.
“Where's Clara?”
His mother looked at him.
“She took Noah outside.”
He nodded.
He should have gone after them.
Instead, Vivian touched his arm.
“You really haven't changed.”
Alexander looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
“What does that mean?”
“You always choose work.”
Her voice was soft.
“You always have.”
Alexander pulled his arm away.
“That's not your decision to make.”
Vivian sighed.
“I'm not judging you.”
“It sounds like you are.”
She smiled sadly.
“I just remember who you were before Clara.”
Alexander's expression hardened.
“Don't.”
She stared at him.
“You don't even know how much I”
“Stop.”
The room went quiet.
Alexander turned toward the window.
Outside, Clara was helping Noah skip stones across the lake.
She laughed at something he said.
The sound barely reached Alexander through the glass.
But he sensed it.
He realised, suddenly, that he couldn't remember the last time he'd made his wife laugh like that.
The knowledge impacted harder than it should have.
He had spent years assuming that giving Clara everything was enough.
A house.
Security.
A pleasant life.
Their son.
But viewing her now, he wondered whether she had ever actually felt like she had a husband.
He moved toward the door.
Then his phone buzzed again.
Another message…
Another difficulty.
Another incentive to go out.
Alexander gazed up at the television.
Then at Clara.
He tightened his grip on the phone.
“Alexander?”
Vivian’s voice floated to him from behind.
He turned round.
She was watching him closely.
"What?"
“Nothing.
But there was a curious smirk on her lips.
Alexander didn’t get it at all.
Not yet.
He went out.
Clara was not anywhere near the entrance.
He glanced around the yard.
Nothing
Then he heard voices behind.
His mother and Vivian.
He hesitated.
He wasn't trying to hear.
But Vivian's comments came through the open window.
He never loved Clara.
Alexander stopped.
Then his mother's voice.
"Don't say that, Vivian.
Why not?
A pause.
Then Vivian spoke again.
“It is a well-known fact.”
Alexander turned round slowly.
And over in the garden Clara was perfectly still.
She had heard it all before.
Their eyes locked.
Her face went pale.
Alexander's heart stopped beating.
“Clara…
No answer from her.
And she just turned and walked away.
For the first time in six years, Alexander feared that his wife might actually leave him.