“I’m the husband. What did Gwen say?” „
“She said you’d already left town with another woman.”
My chest seized.
“That was a lie.”
Jackson pulled out a chair.
“Sit.”
“I need one more answer.” I faced the woman. “Did Clara leave willingly?”
“Yes, but she looked dizzy when she got into the car.”
***
After my breathing settled, Jackson drove me to Sarah’s home.
I placed Gwen’s photographs on her table.
“Clara saw these.”
Sarah’s face drained.
“She thought we were together?”
Sarah’s records proved every photograph showed a documented meeting.
Sarah looked at me.
“I told you to explain enough to Clara.”
“I couldn’t expose your case.”
“You could’ve protected me without shutting out your wife. You left an empty space, Andrew. Gwen filled it.”
On the drive home, I stared at the passing road.
***
I had mistaken faithfulness for innocence.
Clara asked for reassurance, and I’d handed her a wall Gwen used against us.
