Page 31 of Checkmate
“Almost like you stumbled on a stranger’s conversation?”
“Yes! Yes, exactly like that. How did you know?”
“That’s how I felt reading your letter.” Erica glanced over at the pages still littered on the kitchen counter. “My heart sank at first. I could feel my face flaming. And then I felt almost embarrassed. Because I couldn’t believe I was reading about Alex. My Alex.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.”
A painful lapse in the conversation had Erica shifting in her chair, wracking her brain for something to say. She should have prepared more for this.
“Erica—”
“Marcus—”
“Go on,” he said, cutting her off before she could offer the same courtesy. “I was only going to repeat myself.”
“Okay.” She took a slow, calming breath. “I just wanted to thank you, Marcus. I know it can’t have been easy thinking about someone else when your entire world was crumbling. And I just… I really appreciate you telling me everything.”
“You’re welcome. I’m surprised at your reaction, but you’re welcome.”
“Surprised why?”
“You haven’t questioned me once. You haven’t demanded proof. Why not?”
Erica took a moment to gather her thoughts. She had no reason to trust Marcus, but he had no reason to lie. There were already concerns about Sophie that had never quite gone away, and the truth was, she realised she didn’t trust Alex.
He’d been too cagey. Too quick to shit all over Sophie.
A small part of her still held onto the hope that someone had made a mistake - that it wasn’t her Alex who had exchanged those texts with Sophie.
Perhaps it was another Alex. Or a fake profile posing as her husband. She’d rationalised it a million different ways before she even picked up the phone. But none of those possibilities mattered now.
For Marcus, there was no denying his wife had broken their vows. Even if her little shred of hope blossomed into reality, it felt like rubbing salt into the wound.
A gotcha moment. Haha, my marriage isn’t over after all.
She couldn’t be that person. Not when she could hear how utterly broken Marcus was.
“I believe you,” she said simply. “Do I hope that there’s been a mistake? Of course. But given how dejected you sound, I doubt a decent person would make another feel the same way.”
A last moment of silence.
“Thank you for that, Erica. I’m grateful you see it like that.”
“This might seem a bit unorthodox,” Erica replied, her heart racing. “But would you like to get coffee?”
“You invited him for coffee? Honey, are you okay?” Erica couldn’t hold back her laughter. Bless her sister and her overactive imagination.
“Okay, I know you’re not okay, I just meant—”
“I know what you meant, Charlotte,” Erica said, taking the letter from her and neatly folding it back into the envelope. “Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my marbles.”
“No? What would you call meeting a perfect stranger?”
“A Tinder date?” Erica laughed again, leaving the room and heading to her bedroom. “You watch too many crime shows, sis.”
“And apparently you don’t watch enough,” Lottie said, rushing after her. “Honestly, Eri, just think about this. How do you know he’s telling the truth? You can’t just go and meet him!”
