"Not really." "Neither did I." She lowered her eyes. I didn't mention the photo. I didn't tell her that I had found another folder. I wanted to know how much she was willing to lie about before I showed her what I had. "I have to leave early," I said.
"For work?" "Yes." She nodded. "Joshua." I stopped at the door. "I'm sorry." I looked back at her. "For what?" She didn't answer. That was enough for me.
I went to work and spent most of the morning thinking about the photo I had found. Christine had told me Ryan was a friend of one of her friends. That was technically possible, but the photo showed them sitting alone together 6 weeks before our wedding. I needed more than suspicion. So, during my lunch break, I called someone I trusted.
His name was Patrick, and he had known Christine longer than I had. He wasn't one of her closest friends, but But had been around our social circle for years. I asked him one question. Do you know Ryan Callaway? There was a pause.
Yeah. How? Why? Just answer me. Patrick sighed.
Ryan used to work with Christine. My stomach tightened. Used to? At the marketing agency before she moved companies. How long ago?
About a year before you two got married. I stared through the windshield. So they knew each other before the bachelorette party. Yes. Did they date?
Another pause. Joshua? I don't know. You do know something. Patrick was quiet for several seconds.
People used to talk about them. What kind of talk? That they were seeing each other. My grip tightened around the steering wheel. Before me?
I think so. Think? I never saw anything myself. I thanked him and ended the call. That afternoon, I went home earlier than usual.
Christine was sitting at the kitchen table with her laptop open. She looked up when I walked in. You said you'd be late. I changed my mind. She closed the laptop.
I put my keys on the counter. How long did you know Ryan? Her expression hardened. I already answered that. No, you didn't.
Joshua, I told you. He was there at my bachelorette party. Before that? She looked away. I pulled out my phone and placed the photo on the table.
Her face changed. Where did you get that? That's not an answer. She picked up the phone. Who gave you this?
I found it. She stared at the picture. Then she sat back down. Okay. Okay?
I knew him before we got married. How long? Almost a year. Did you sleep with him before the wedding? She closed her eyes.
No. I studied her face. Did you kiss him before the bachelorette party? She didn't answer. Christine.