Ethan's Desire.

Nineteen

Venus Cavannaugh

  I could hear children running around the park, noises, laughs, screaming. All these noises were just light buzzes in my ear. Background noises going on as I kept thinking back to those messages I found on Liam's phone a week ago.

I have been unable to bring myself to confront him about it or even to reach out and call that mysterious contact 'K'. This issue has been bothering me so much that I get sleepless nights.
    I have been thinking about how to repair my marriage ever since Ethan left only to be brought with the news of his deceit after almost two years of being away from each other.

"Vee, are you okay? I feel like I've been talking to myself for ten minutes now". Zara questioned feeling annoyed after shaking me back to the present for some time.

"I'm sorry I guess I've not been sleeping well that's why". I shrugged nonchalantly.

She scoffed, "Really you forget that we've been friends for a long time now and I know when something is wrong with you". She challenged.

  I debated in my mind whether I should tell her or not but I thought against it not wanting to bother her about my private issues.

"Its nothing Zara just that I haven't been sleeping well that all". I concluded the subject matter not wanting to answer anymore.

It was as if she could sense my hesitation in withholding the truth from her but she decided not to bother me.

"I wouldn't say anything about this until you're ready to tell me yourself". She said reassuringly. Then she continued, "There's something I noticed, when Liam left, I'd say that you were miserable. When you met Ethan somehow I was glad to see you much happy, even more than I've seen you with Liam. But ever since he got back, it feels like you are even more miserable than before". She said truthfully without hiding anything from me.

   I wasn't able to say anything to her, as much as I wanted to share my discovery I wanted to be sure about Liam's infidelity first before saying anything.

   I looked back to the familiar child playing carelessly with her friends, happy without a care in the world. Marie was jumping up and down, running about merrily.

What am I going to do?

How am I going to come to terms with his infidelity if it is true?

What is going to happen to Marie and I?

Liam what have you done?

   Absentmindedly, I couldn't think about anything proper but one thing I knew was that I was going to get to the bottom of all this.

  After hours of playing around in the park, we decided to leave. I was driving steadily home my mind still on the pressing matter. I parked the car and unlocked the silent house only to realize that Liam wasn't home.

   Marie ran up to her room on will while I entered the kitchen to prepare some snacks. I didn't even have the strength to do anything. I took out my phone and stared at the contact once again.

I knew I needed help but I didn't know where to start from. I placed my phone back into my pocket and started to prepare the snacks.

Few minutes later Marie entered and sat on a stool. I gave her snacks to eat and she ate happily before she asked a question that caught me off guard.

"Mom?". She asked.

"Yes." I answered.

"When is uncle Ethan gonna come see us?". She asked innocently.

   I froze as soon as she asked that unable to answer her question I turned to face her and gave her the brightest smile that I could.

"Baby uncle Ethan is just so busy, that's why he can't come right now". I lied.

"But he promised that he wouldn't go... umm.... oh M.I.A". she said surprisingly.

I chuckled, "He taught you that word?". I asked smiling.

"Yes he told me it's when someone disappear". She answered. "Has he disappeared mom?". She asked sadly.

"No baby as I told you he's busy that's why he can't come".

"Okay". She pouted sadly. "But can we call him, just for a second, pretty please". She pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

    I couldn't say no to her so I said yes and hand her my phone as she tapped away on the screen. In time she had it in her ear as it rung for him to answer.  Apprehensively I waited to hear his voice even though I didn't initiated the call.

Moments later he answered the call and Marie started talking to him. I could make out his voice but could see Marie complaining about his 'no show' , then she felt better after a few minutes with him.

"Mom". She called out.

"Yes sweetie". I answered facing her as she held out the phone to me.

"He wants to talk to you".

  Hesitantly I took the phone from her hands and gently placed it to my ear.

"Hello". I said.

He sighed through the phone, "Hey Venus, how are you doing?". He asked in relief.

"I'm fine and you, how are you doing, are you alright?". I asked concernedly.

He chuckled through the phone,
"I'm fine, I really miss you it's taking every to fiber of my being not to come see to you". He declared sincerely.

"Me too". I answered. "Ethan I have to go, I only called because of Marie".

"Okay if there's anything you need I'm her for you". He said carefully.

"Thanks bye". I said then cut the line.

   I kept the phone back in my pocket and continued with what I was doing. Hours later, Liam came home, wiggled Marie's hair then he pecked my cheeks before walking upstairs to the room.

  I entered back into the kitchen to prepare dinner and in some minutes I was already done. I laid out the food on the table and led Marie to her side of the table and told her to wait as I go to call Liam.

    I walked up the stairs, walking through the corridor and stood in front of the room. The door was slightly open, as I was about to open it even further I heard Liam speaking on the phone.

"Yes Katherine,.... I know.... it's been so much work and you know it..... you can't just expect me to leave things laying here.... You know I love you Katherine..... Of course it'll be very soon....... Okay bye...... I love you too Katherine". He said on his phone before hanging up.

   Who is Katherine?

Silently I walked back out of there gently without letting him know that I was ever there. I had the proof I needed to go about my plan and now it was time to finish it.