Chapter 1
At a girls’ night, someone suggested a game.
We would message our husbands on Snapchat, say we’d found a $20,000 coat we wanted, and see whose husband sent the money first.
As expected, I won again.
My husband, Ethan Bennett, transferred twenty thousand dollars in seconds. No questions asked.
“Claire, you’re so lucky! Three years of marriage, and he’s still that generous.”
I smiled and raised my glass, then glanced at my best friend Sophie across the table.
She hadn’t touched her phone all evening. One hand rested protectively over her slightly rounded belly.
“I’ll sit this one out… He’s been busy lately. I don’t want to bother him.”
Everyone knew Sophie had gotten married after a whirlwind romance six months ago. Her husband was supposedly well-off, but none of us had ever met him.
The others kept teasing until Sophie finally handed me her phone, blushing.
“Claire, just send something for me…”
I typed:
“Honey, I found a maternity evening gown I love. It’s twenty-three thousand. Could you pay for it?”
A voice message came back instantly.
“Baby, didn’t I just pay for your wedding dress at Ivory & Lace? Don’t rush the evening gown. I’ll pick you up after work, and we’ll choose one together.”
The women around the table squealed. “Sophie, your husband is so sweet!”
I looked at her, suddenly unable to speak.
Because I’d been hearing that voice for three years.
It belonged to my husband, Ethan Bennett.
“Claire, why aren’t you smiling?”
Megan James nudged my arm from the seat beside me.
Sophie lowered her head and reached for her phone.
“Stop listening. It’s embarrassing.”
Someone laughed and blocked her hand.
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? Your husband is so sweet. Let us hear it again.”
Sophie’s hand froze in midair. Slowly, her eyes shifted to me.
I handed her phone back.
“He certainly sounds sweet.”
Megan leaned closer. “Claire, would your husband feel threatened if he heard that?”
“He’s too busy to feel threatened.”
I picked up my own phone.
After transferring the money, Ethan had sent another message.
“If you like it, buy it. Don’t worry about the price.”
Megan said, “Call Ethan. Let’s hear what he thinks of Sophie’s husband.”
I smiled.
“Sure.”
Sophie’s head snapped up.
“Claire, come on. Ethan’s busy with work.”
Only after she said it did she seem to realize how casually she’d used his name.
Megan looked at her.
“Sophie, are you close with Ethan too?”
Sophie gripped her phone.
“Claire mentions him so much. His name just slipped out.”
I called Ethan.
He answered almost immediately.
“Claire, is your party over? Want me to pick you up?”
Several women covered their mouths and giggled.
“He’s so thoughtful.”
I looked at Sophie and asked, “Where are you?”
“At the office.”
“I have another meeting. I might be late. Don’t drink too much. It’ll upset your stomach.”
“Why is it so quiet there?”
He chuckled.
“I’m the only one left in the conference room. Checking up on me?”
Megan called out, “Ethan, we’re playing a game to see whose husband sends money fastest. Your wife won again.”
“When have I ever made her wait for something she wanted?”
I asked, “Having fun at Ivory & Lace?”
There was a brief pause.
“What?”
“Someone just mentioned the shop. Said they have beautiful wedding dresses.”
“But you don’t like wedding dresses, remember? When we got married, you said wearing one for a single day was too much trouble. You insisted on that little satin dress.”
Megan slapped the table enviously.
“You even remember that? Unbelievable.”
I watched Sophie’s hand cover her belly.
“Yes. He’s always had an excellent memory.”
Ethan asked, “Claire, have you had too much to drink?”
“No.”
“Then send me your location. I’ll have the driver pick you up.”
“No need.”
“Come on. It’s chilly tonight. Your knees will get cold in that black dress.”
Megan gasped dramatically.
“Claire, did you save his life or something?”
I almost laughed.
Three years ago, I really had saved him.
Not his life. His pride.
During the hardest year of his startup, a client suddenly demanded that he cover a cash shortfall.
I sold a bracelet my mother had left me.
That day, he held me and said, “Claire, I’ll never give you a reason to envy another woman.”
Now I sat at a table full of women who envied me, while the source of their envy had split in two.
Sophie stood.
“I’m not feeling well. I’m going to the restroom.”
I stood too.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No need,” she said quickly.
I’d already picked up my purse.
“You’re pregnant. I’d rather not let you go alone.”
Sophie walked slowly, her hand pressed to her lower belly the whole way.
At the restroom entrance, she finally stopped.
“Claire, have you gotten the wrong idea?”
I looked at her reflection.
“I haven’t even asked anything.”
She bit her lip.
“Ethan’s just doing me a favor.”
“Paying for your wedding dress?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Then what is it?”
Her eyes reddened.
“My husband’s money is tied up right now. Ethan’s a good person. He offered to cover it for us. He sent that voice message on my husband’s behalf. My husband couldn’t do it himself.”
I looked at her.
“What’s your husband’s name?”
Sophie lowered her head.
“Don’t put me on the spot.”
I nodded.
“I won’t.”
My phone buzzed with a Snapchat message from Ethan.
“The driver’s outside. Don’t take a cab.”
I turned the screen toward Sophie.
Her gaze landed on the message. Her lips moved slightly.
I asked, “Do you get a driver too?”
She said nothing.
Someone called from the private dining room, telling us to come back for cake.
Sophie wiped the corners of her eyes.
“Claire, it’s Megan’s birthday. Please don’t make a scene.”
I slipped my phone into my purse.
“I’ve always been good at letting people save face.”
She relaxed.
Then I added,
“Especially people who have no shame.”
All the color drained from her face.
Back in the dining room, Megan pressed the cake knife into my hand.
“Claire, come on. You and Sophie should cut it together. The two happiest women here tonight.”
Sophie came to stand beside me.
Ethan called again.
I put him on speaker.
“Claire, the driver says he can’t find you.”
I stared at the two crooked candles on the cake.
“Ethan.”
He answered gently. “Yeah?”
“Are you done with work?”
“Not yet. I’m still going through the meeting documents.”
I smiled. “Take your time, then.”
From his end of the call came the chirp of a car locking.