Chapter Three Ronan's lookalike

For the rest of the evening, I couldn't stop thinking about Vivian's question.

“Did Ronan tell you what happened that night?”

Why had she looked so frightened when she asked?

Ronan had refused to explain. That bothered me more than the question itself.

But I decided not to push him. At least not yet. If there was something going on with Vivian, eventually I'd find out. At least, that's what I told myself.

The following afternoon, I was sitting at a café with my best friend, Amelia.

When she suddenly said something that made my stomach drop. “I saw Ronan yesterday.”

I looked up from my coffee. “What…What do you mean?”

She stirred her drink. “Ronan. Your husband.” She continued, “I saw him yesterday.”

“My Ronan? Where did you see him?” I asked, my eyes darting frantically.

She laughed. “I know. I'm just saying I saw him.” She shrugged, “Downtown.”

I stared at her. “Downtown? You mean…?”

“Yeah,” she paused. “That type of downtown.”

My fingers tightened around the cup. “When?”

She thought for a moment. “Yesterday afternoon, I think.”

Yesterday, I tried to remember. That was the same day Vivian had come to our house.

Ronan had spent most of the afternoon at home. Or at least, that's what I remembered.

“Are you sure it was him?” I leaned closer to her.

Amelia looked offended. “Lydia, I've known you for years. I know what your husband looks like.”

“Or you saw someone who looked like him?”

“No. I know Ronan. He was the one I saw.”

Her answer came too quickly.

I leaned back, “Where exactly? He was at home. That was what he told me.”

“Outside a hotel. Maybe he did not tell you the truth.” She raised her cup, to take a sip.

I clenched my fist, “A hotel? Amelia, Do you know what you are saying?” I swallowed hard, “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “He was getting into a car.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“No. I did not, he was not close. I did not talk to him.”

“Then how are you so sure?” I raised my voice a bit.

She looked at me. “Because he looked directly at me. And like I said earlier, I know him.”

I said nothing, then she continued.

“He seemed surprised to see me.”

I remembered Ronan telling me he had been in his study. “Maybe he went out.” I retorted.

Amelia shrugged. “ Alright! Let's just assume that he went out, Mrs. Brown.”

“But why didn't he tell me?” I muttered to myself.

She looked at me for a second. “I don't know. I think you should ask him?”

I stared at the bubbles forming on my drink. Perhaps, this was nothing. Ronan had a business meeting.

He could leave the house without giving me a detailed itinerary. There was nothing suspicious about that.

Except Amelia had just told me she'd seen him at a hotel. And something about the timing bothered me.

“Was he alone?” I asked again, eyes fixed in her.

She hesitated. “No, he was not alone.”

I looked at her. “ Then who was with him?”

“A woman… He was with a woman.” She slightly avoided my eyes.

My stomach dropped. “Are you sure? What did she look like?”

Amelia frowned. “ Yes, I am sure. Though I didn't get a good look.”

“Then how do you know she was a woman?”

“ What type of question is that?” She paused, “Well I know a woman if I see one!.”

I pushed my hair behind my ear. “What were they doing?”

“Nothing.” She turned to me.“They were just standing beside the car. Talking.”

That shouldn't have bothered me. It shouldn't have. But after the livestream, after Vivian's strange message, after the question about “that night”...

It was becoming difficult to believe everything was a coincidence.

“Lydia?” She called out. “Are you okay?”

I looked at her. “I'm fine… Just thinking a bit.” I forced a smile. “I'm just surprised.”

“Why?”

I didn't answer. Because I didn't know what to say. If I told Amelia about the livestream, Vivian's message, and Ronan's explanation, I'd sound paranoid.

And if there really was nothing wrong, I didn't want my suspicions spreading outside our marriage. So I said nothing. Amelia watched me carefully.

Then she reached across the table and touched my hand. “I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it.”

I shook my head. “It's okay.”

She smiled faintly. “Maybe he had a business meeting.” She nodded. “That's probably what it was.”

---

That evening, Ronan came home later than usual. I was sitting in the living room when he walked in.

He loosened his tie. “My Darling.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“You're quiet. Is anything wrong?” He frowned slightly.

“I'm just tired. There is nothing wrong.” I smiled, as I replied.

He studied me, then he smiled. “Where's Evelyn?”

“Upstairs. She is having a tea party.” I pointed towards the stairs.

“I'll go see her.” He walked away. I watched him disappear up the stairs.

My friend's words came back. “I saw Ronan yesterday, outside a hotel. With a woman.”

I pulled out my phone. My thumb hovered over Amelia's name, I wanted to call her and ask her again.

Make sure she hadn't been mistaken. Then another thought occurred to me.

If she had really seen Ronan yesterday...

Why hadn't she told me until today?

I called her. She answered almost immediately. “Hey.”

“Amelia, You said you saw Ronan yesterday.”

“Yes. Are you still thinking about it?” She asked in a low voice.

“Yes, I am still thinking about it. Why didn't you tell me yesterday?”

She hesitated before replying but I noticed. “I didn't think it was important.”

“You didn't think seeing my husband with another woman was important?”

“I didn't say they were together.” She retorted. “I meant they were near each other.”

I sat up straighter. “Amelia, what exactly did you see?”

Another pause, then she sighed.

“Lydia, I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.”

“Why?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.

“Because you already seem worried about him.”

My chest tightened. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing. Lydia, please!” She sounded uncomfortable. “I just thought you should know.”

The call ended a few seconds later. I stared at my phone, something wasn't right.

“What is Amelia hiding from me?”

---

Ronan came downstairs about twenty minutes later. He found me still sitting in the same place. “You're really quiet tonight.”

I looked at him. “Were you in town yesterday afternoon?”

He paused for a few seconds before replying. “Actually, yes. I stepped out for a few minutes.”

I stared at him. “You told me you were home.”

“I was. I only stepped out for a few minutes to hand a file to a client.” He paused, “It took less than thirty minutes.”

I stared intently at him. “At a hotel?”

He replied, “Well, she stays there. So I had to go and give it to her.”

I looked away, “Okay, I understand.” I stood up, but before I could walk away Ronan stopped me.

“Lydia, what have you been thinking?” He paused. “Who told you all this?”

I turned towards him. He continued, “Besides Lydia, if I was hiding something from you. Why would I tell you I went downtown?”

“Well…” I said, my voice barely audible. “I thought…”