2. The ride to Indiana

Sara’s POV

I stayed awake most of the night, staring mostly into the air. The document from Dave’s office still sat on the nightstand and I was afraid to read it and find out the truth that would hurt me.

But by morning, Horace arrived. It was the first time I was bringing anyone home. Dave had strict rules I have always lived by. I never brought any friends to the house. Not even Liz.

“H-hi. Good morning,” I said, wrapping myself. “How was your ride here?”

I gestured for him to sit. “Good,” he answered. “How long until you get dressed?”

I stared at my nightrobe. “Uhm…fifteen. I’ll be down in fifteen.”

He nodded and relaxed against the couch. “Take your time. I can wait.”

I hurried upstairs, my heart racing. This was it. I was going to find out the truth today. But if Dave was really cheating, what next?

Was I going to divorce him?

Back then, I thought Dave would only have eyes for me.

I was mistaken.

Even as I grabbed the documents from the nightstand, I hoped I wasn’t. I hoped it was a mistake. Maybe Liz was cheating. But not with Dave. Not after everything she’d taken away from me..

The ride to Indiana was quiet. Most of the time, my head was against the window and I was staring at the street soullessly. Horace’s driver took us to the Maple Grove Inn. It was a B&B.

“Dave rented out the entire space,” Horace said. I turned to face him. There was a deep frown on his face. “But don’t worry, I have everything sorted.”

Now, I was certain that Horace was talking about a different man. Dave has been on a tight budget since the expansion project. There was no way he could rent an entire B&B. I listened as Horace spoke to the man by the gate. A few minutes later, the car was parked by a tree shed.

I heard Horace exhale deeply.

“Come,” he said.

I bit my lips and stepped out.

“This way.”

Another worker led us through the yard.

Then I saw her.

Liz.

She wore red lingerie loosely over her body. Her hair was ruffled in the way that told you she just had wild sex. Beside me, I could feel Horace go tense. Suddenly, Liz turned towards the back entrance of the room, smiling.

“It’s always beautiful here.”

The next voice that followed was unmistakably Dave's. “Not as beautiful as the other places I want to take you.”

I froze.

Coming here, I had imagined my reaction when I found Dave cheating. I had imagined causing a scene and giving Liz enough scars that she wouldn’t be able to set foot in public. But right now, seeing them wrapped in each other’s arms, all I could do was stare.

I watched as Dave’s hand claimed her body and she smiled against his face.

“Something tells me you want some more.”

“You know I can never be satisfied with you, babe.”

My heart stopped.

My knees trembled and I desperately wanted to sit.

“You should call Sara before we go in again,” Liz said. “You know if we start…” she kissed his ear. “I’m going to be having you for nothing less than an hour.”

Dave grunted. “Fine. I totally forgot about her. I can’t breathe when we’re together. You…are my breath of fresh air.”

Horace held me. He must have noticed that I was shaking so badly.

“We should go,” he said. “You’ve seen enough.”

I shook my head. “No. I want to stay for a minute.”

I watched as Dave pulled out his phone and called. My phone vibrated in my bag and I reached out for it.

“Hey, babe.”

I saw Liz roll her eyes and move away.

I forced the word out. “Hi.”

“You sound dull. Are you still asleep?”

I bit my lips to stop the tears. “Y-yeah.”

“Okay. Great. I’m just calling to tell you that I’ll be very busy today with the project.”

The tears poured down and blurred my vision. “Okay.”

“I…I love you.”

I swallowed. “Uhmmm.”

“Sara? Are you there?”

I sniffed. “Yes… a little under the weather.”

“I’ve barely gone for a day and you’re already sick from missing me.”

I sniffed again and wiped my face. “Yeah.”

“Listen, I’ve got to go, okay? You know how important this project is to us.”

He didn’t wait for a response before he ended the call. Horace squeezed my hand tighter.

I heard Liz snickering. “Is she really sick because you are away?”

Dave walked up to her. “It doesn't matter, does it?” He held her waist. “We should stop thinking about her. I didn’t pay for the entire space here just to let Sara’s mood ruin our good time.”

I pulled away from Horace and began marching towards them. I was ready to let all hell loose. And Liz? I was going to make sure she regrets kissing my husband.

But Horace pulled me back.

“You can’t do that,” he said with a calmness that annoyed me.

“I can’t?” I snapped. I pointed. “H-hhow are you calm watching this?”

“I’ve known about this for a long time.”

I scoffed. “And you’re okay with your wife screwing another man?”

He didn’t speak.

“You know what…?” I exhaled sharply. “I don’t want to be here anymore. Let’s go.”

“Fine.”

I stormed towards the waiting car, biting my lips so hard that it bled. I wasn’t going to give him my tears anymore. Horace sat quietly beside me and the driver started. Just as the car stepped out of the building, I reached for my bag and pulled out the document.

“There’s one more thing I need to find out,” I said.

Horace stared at the paper.

“I saw this in Dave’s office. I need to know what this truly is.”