Chapter 2 - THE CANCELLED FLIGHT
Evelyn was scheduled to spend four days in Santa Fe inspecting the restoration of an old hotel.
On Thursday morning, Ethan drove her to the private terminal.
He kissed her cheek beside the car.
“Try to enjoy yourself,” he said.
“It’s a construction inspection.”
“You make everything sound exhausting.”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“Maybe we could have dinner when I return Sunday.”
Ethan hesitated.
“Sunday?”
“You said you’d be home.”
“Of course. I was just remembering a meeting.”
She looked at him.
“What meeting?”
“Nothing important.”
He kissed her again, more quickly this time.
“I’ll miss you.”
Evelyn watched him drive away.
The words should have comforted her.
Instead, they felt rehearsed.
Two hours later, the pilot announced that dangerous weather over New Mexico had forced the flight to be postponed until the following morning.
Evelyn could have stayed at a hotel near the airport, but the mansion was less than forty minutes away.
She decided not to call Ethan.
A small part of her wanted to surprise him.
Another part wanted to see his face before he had time to prepare it.
When her car reached the mansion gates, Rosa was standing outside the service entrance.
She was not wearing a coat, although the afternoon wind was cold. Her eyes widened when she saw Evelyn step from the vehicle.
“Mrs. Whitmore.”
“Rosa? What are you doing outside?”
Rosa glanced toward the mansion.
“You weren’t supposed to return.”
“The flight was canceled.”
Evelyn reached for her suitcase, but Rosa caught her wrist.
“Please don’t go through the front door.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“What happened?”
Rosa looked at the driver.
“Send the car away.”
“Rosa—”
“Please.”
The fear in her voice was unmistakable.
Evelyn told the driver she would not need him. She waited until the car disappeared beyond the gates.
Rosa led her into the laundry building behind the guesthouse and locked the door.
On a table lay a gray uniform, a white apron and a cleaning cap.
Evelyn looked from the clothes to Rosa.
“What is this?”
“I need you to trust me.”
“Why?”
“Because your husband has a woman inside the house.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Evelyn placed one hand against the table.
“No.”
“I saw her arrive twenty minutes ago.”
“You must be mistaken.”
“She has been here before.”
The words hurt more than the accusation itself.
“Before?”
Rosa nodded.
“I didn’t tell you because I had no proof. I thought perhaps she was a business associate. Then I heard Mr. Whitmore talking about documents.”
“What documents?”
“I don’t know. But yesterday he ordered all evening staff to leave by five. He told me to take the night off.”
Evelyn glanced at the uniform.
“Then why are you still here?”
“Because I pretended to leave and returned through the service gate.”
“Rosa, if Ethan is having an affair, I’ll confront him.”
“No.”
The sharpness of Rosa’s answer startled her.
Rosa took Evelyn’s hands.
“This is not only about another woman. They are discussing your house and your company. You need to hear them before they know you’re home.”
Evelyn pulled away.
“My husband would never steal from me.”
Rosa’s expression softened.
“I hope I am wrong.”
The answer contained no judgment, only sadness.
Evelyn looked toward the mansion through the small laundry window.
The house was glowing beneath the gray sky.
Her house.
Her grandmother’s house.
The place where Ethan had promised to honor her, protect her and build a future beside her.
Rosa held up the uniform.
“The security cameras in the service hallway are being repaired. The west corridor camera has been disconnected since this morning. You can enter through the kitchen stairs.”
Evelyn stared at the plain fabric.
“You planned this?”
“I prayed I wouldn’t need it.”
Evelyn’s phone felt heavy in her pocket.
Her instinct told her to walk through the front door and demand answers.
But her grandmother’s voice returned.
Do not confront a liar before you understand the lie.
Evelyn removed her coat.
May you like
“Help me change.”
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