OUR LITTLE SECRET

Part 3

It was two o'clock on Sunday evening and you had already packed your bag for the night as well as the following day at school.

"Where are you off to?" your mother Sarah asked casually, not quite understanding why you were so nervous and excited.

"Emma invited me over for dinner tonight. I will be staying at her house, if that's alright," you lied effortlessly, keeping up the charade. Your mother looked uncertain for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Well, that sounds fun," she replied, her tone suggesting she was unsure whether to trust your story or not. She had become increasingly suspicious of your behavior recently, due to your secretive nature.

"It will be, I think," you told your mother while disliking the very fact that you had lied to her. Lying was not something you unusually did, especially not to your mother, and just as you thought about your actions some more, you heard the doorbell ring.

You tried to hide your apprehension and nervousness, pretending to be focused on answering the door. As you opened the door, however, your heart sank when you saw Cillian's wife Danielle who, until now, you had only encountered twice.

"Look at you, all dressed up. Are you going on a date?" she asked as she saw you, your hair tied back neatly, wearing a simple but elegant dress.

"Sort of, seeing a friend" you replied nonchalantly before calling for your mother, hoping that she wouldn't ask any more questions.

Danielle crossed her arms over her chest, clearly skeptical of your answer. "Just friend? Or boyfriend?" she pressed, glancing at the house, expecting to find Cillian hiding somewhere as, usually, his brother Frank's house was where he would go if he had trouble at home.

"Just a friend. A girl I am going to school with," you told Danielle, trying to sound casual but feeling a bit anxious.

You didn't want to get caught lying to her, but it was necessary to protect your secret affair with her husband. You didn't know what she might do if she discovered the truth, especially given her volatile temperament.

"Fair enough," she went on to say before, finally, your mother came walking down the stairs to greet her.

"Hi, Danielle! It's so good to see you," your mother welcomed her, her voice bright and friendly despite the undercurrent of uncertainty.

"Likewise. Thanks for having me over," Danielle responded, her tone still slightly cold but warming up somewhat.

"Come in, I will make us some coffee," your mother offered, and you wondered what this was all about.

Your mother Sarah did not usually get along with Danielle but, for some reason unknown to you, she had invited her to your house following yet another argument with Cillian.

"What are you two up to?" you thus asked nosily as your curiosity got the better of you. The two women exchanged awkward glances before Danielle cleared her throat and replied, "We were just catching up."

You nodded, but it was clear to everyone in the room that there was an underlying tension between you, your mother, and Danielle. This tension seemed to intensify whenever the three of you were in the same space, creating an uneasy atmosphere in your home.

As the conversation turned to trivial matters, such as the weather and local events, you felt a mix of relief and frustration. While it was nice to divert your attention from the growing animosity among the adults, you couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

Unable to escape the discomfort any longer, you decided to finally excuse yourself and head to the Four Seasons where you were meeting Cillian at four o'clock, hoping that Danielle would not have become to notice.