Chapter 3 - The Truth Behind the Extra Visits
Adrian barely slept.
At six the following morning, he sat alone at the kitchen table with his laptop open.
The landscaping invoices were displayed beside his calendar.
He compared appointment dates with his business travel records.
On three occasions, Isaiah had visited the house while Adrian was out of town.
Twice, the visits occurred on days when no regular landscaping work was scheduled.
Adrian felt an unpleasant tightness in his chest.
He knew these records didn't prove an affair.
There could be legitimate maintenance reasons for every visit.
But Naomi hadn't mentioned any of them.
And the longer he examined the dates, the more he realized how little he knew about what happened at home when he was away.
For years, he had trusted that the house was being managed.
He had stopped asking how.
At seven, Naomi entered the kitchen.
"You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep."
She poured herself coffee.
"Big day?"
Adrian closed his laptop.
"Naomi, how many times has Isaiah been here this month?"
She looked at him.
"Why?"
"Just answer."
"I don't count every appointment, Adrian."
"He's been here more than the regular schedule."
"He does additional work."
"What work?"
She set down her mug.
"Why are you interrogating me about the gardener?"
Adrian studied her expression.
"I'm trying to understand something."
"Then ask a normal question."
"Did Isaiah come inside the house yesterday for any reason other than using the bathroom?"
Naomi stared at him.
A long silence followed.
Then she gave a disbelieving laugh.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"After everything I do around here, you're going to accuse me of something because a man used our restroom?"
"I didn't accuse you of anything."
"You didn't have to."
She picked up her coffee and walked away.
Adrian sat alone with the laptop.
He wanted to follow her.
He wanted to apologize.
He wanted everything to become normal again.
Instead, he opened the landscaping invoices one more time.
That afternoon, he contacted the business number printed on them.
Isaiah answered.
"Hey, Mr. Williams."
"Isaiah, I have a question about the irrigation repair last Wednesday."
A pause.
"Okay."
"What exactly did you fix?"
Another pause.
"Mrs. Williams asked me to check the system."
"The invoice says repair."
"Sometimes I use the same description for different service calls."
Adrian looked at the bill.
"Then tell me which part you repaired."
Isaiah didn't answer immediately.
"Sir, I think that's something you should discuss with your wife."
Adrian felt his pulse quicken.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to cause problems in your marriage."
The silence that followed seemed to stretch across the entire room.
Adrian slowly leaned back in his chair.
"Isaiah."
"Yes, sir?"
"Is there something going on between you and Naomi?"
For several seconds, the line remained quiet.
Then Isaiah exhaled.
"Mr. Williams, I shouldn't have taken those extra appointments."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"That's not what I asked."
"I know."
"Then answer me."
Isaiah's voice dropped.
"Yes."
The word was almost unbearably small.
Adrian stared at the office wall.
"How long?"
"Since April."
April.
It was now September.
Five months.
Five months of morning kisses.
Five months of family dinners.
Five months of Naomi asking whether he would be home late.
Five months of another man entering his house when he was gone.
Adrian gripped the edge of his desk.
"Did you know we were still together?"
Isaiah sounded ashamed.
"Yes."
"Did you know we have a daughter?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then why?"
Isaiah had no answer that made the betrayal smaller.
"There's nothing I can say to make it right."
Adrian ended the call.
He remained seated for nearly twenty minutes.
Outside his office window, traffic moved through the city.
People crossed streets.
Cars stopped at intersections.
Ordinary life continued.
Adrian felt as though his own life had split into two separate versions.
The marriage he believed he had.
And the marriage that had actually existed.
He eventually called Naomi.
"Are you home?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I'm leaving work early. We need to talk."
"About what?"
Adrian hesitated.
Then he said, "Isaiah told me."
There was no response.
He heard her breathing.
"Naomi?"
Her voice became faint.
"Adrian, please don't do anything until I can explain."
He looked down at his wedding ring.
For years, he had believed their marriage was built on something stronger than convenience.
Now he understood that his wife had maintained two separate lives inside the same house.
But one question still troubled him.
How much of their family life had Naomi deliberately arranged around the affair?
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He was about to find out that the betrayal hadn't merely happened during his absences.
Those absences had become part of her plan.
