Whos that with your husband in this photo? her friend gasped in disbelief. Are you absolutely certain thats my William?
Claire always found it hard when William was away for long stretches. Before they married, they had dreamed of staying together always, never having to part for any reason. But soon after their wedding, William was offered a lucrative contract job in Scotland, working shifts three weeks on, ten days off. He came home one evening, eyes wide as saucers, and told her: Claire, well finally be able to save for our dream house in the Cotswolds, and maybe start thinking about a family. Claire tried to talk him out of it, but he was resolute, and in the end, she relented.
Claire, love, imagine itjust two or three years of this and well have our own cottage with an apple tree out front, a proper garden for the children to play and a little gazebo for your tea in the mornings. Itll go by in a flash!
No matter how much she argued, William wouldnt budge. The result was a routine where he was away for twenty days, and they spent barely ten days a month togetheroften squeezed into weekends or evenings after her own work.
You could always leave your job, William suggested half-heartedly. Then wed have all those ten days together, just each other, not a moment apart. I miss you dreadfully, but thinking this is just for now, it helps me get by.
Oh, dont talk such nonsense, Claire had retorted. If I left work, Id go round the bend all alone in this flat. No, it would be better if you came back for good, sooner rather than later.
Finally, the day came when William returned from another trip and announced, Weve saved enough now. Just a couple more shifts, and Ill quit for good. Then, we can sell this place, add the savings, and begin house-hunting properly! Claire was elated; it was as if shed grown wings. She marked off days on the calendar until William would leave that wrenching job behind.
One gloomy autumn evening, Claire sat in her favourite armchair, scrolling through dreamy house photos online. She longed to spot the one and start imagining their life together in it. Shed read somewhere: if you want something badly, picture it clearly in your mind, and it just might happen if you start believing.
William and she had often daydreamed about it: two stories, wooden beams, a little balcony where you could breathe in fresh country airperhaps overlooking an orchard or a band of woodland. Suddenly, she stumbled upon the perfect photo in a Cheltenham community Facebook group shed joined.
Excitedly, Claire clicked through the profile of the account that posted it. She froze as she scrolled through a sun-drenched young blondes albums. Alongside the house shots were photos of Williamher William! There he was beside a backyard pool, cocktail in hand; waving merrily from a balcony; captions everywhere reading My darling. And thenClaires heart skippedthere was a photo of William and the blonde on a Caribbean beach, captioned Our honeymoon. Stars seemed to burst before her eyes.
She slammed her laptop closed, paced the living room, then sat again, nervously reaching for her phone. Only one person could help her nowSophie, her childhood friend, confidante since school days and now fellow colleague. If not for Sophie, the loneliness would have been unbearable. Sophie often dropped by with a homemade cake or lured Claire into a late-night movie, always ready with a listening ear. Now, Claire dialed.
Ill just get Gran settled and Ill be right over, Sophie promised. Each minute stretched like an age.
Staring at those photos, Claire desperately tried to convince herself she was mistaken. But was she?
So, spill it, Sophie breezed in, Is everyone alive? Good. Now, whats the crisis?
Soph, look at this photo! Claire said, showing her the screen.
Sophie raised an eyebrow. Whos that woman with your hubby? Some relative?
Are you sure its my William? Claire asked, biting her lip.
Well, unless he has an identical twin hes never mentioned, Id say so. Arent you sure yourself?
But hes supposed to be in Scotland. The photo went up two days ago.
Sophie sat down, laptop in her lap. Hang on, look here. Under the honeymoon photo, someone asks when they got married and the blonde replies, Thats not importantonce Will divorces his accidental wife, well make it official. For now, its our sweet honeymoon.
Sophie shut the laptop with a huff. Unbelievable! Best husband indeed. And at work everyones so jealous of you. I wonderhas he found himself a wealthy lady and dumped work to be with her, or did he buy her the house and think he needed a new wife too?
I dont know, Soph, Claire sobbed. Worst of all, I cant contact him. He always said theres no phone signal up north, but was that just an excuse to avoid me?
Stop those tears, Sophie hugged her tight. I dont buy it. If he really wanted to be with her, why bother coming home at all? Maybe hes been lying to both of you about work. Oh, men! Sometimes Im glad Im single! Less heartbreak.
But things were so good between us, Claire sniffled. How could he keep up the pretense?
I dont know, love, but lets not assume until you speak to him face-to-face. Hold your head up! Youll get the truth soon enough.
After Sophie left, Claire replayed every moment, searching for clues. William had always claimed there were no mobile masts, only old-fashioned letters sent by helicopter. But he never wrote her a letterjust brought supermarket flowers upon returning and insisted hed tell her everything in person. Shed asked for a branch of pine from the Highlands or a pot of wild berries shed read about in a novel, but he always laughed and said there werent any where he worked.
Restless, Claire decided to visit Williams mum the next day. She brought a Victoria sponge and rang the bell, feeling uneasy. Mrs. Edwards welcomed her inside, apologising that it was only soup tonight. Over tea, Claire gingerly asked about William, trying to avoid mentioning her suspicions.
Oh, I miss him too, Claire. Three weeks with no wordits awful. But he says hell give up that job soon. Im so looking forward to having grandchildren as well.
The conversation turned happier as Mrs. Edwards retrieved an old photo album. Among the snaps of a laughing family at Butlins and picnics in Regents Park, a tiny, faded photo tumbled out. Mrs. Edwards clutched it to her heart, tears shining.
What is it? Claire asked, concerned.
Oh, nothing. Just William as a boy. You see, I had twinsbut the other one was very poorly, didnt survive long. William was never told; it seemed kinder at the time. This is the only picture of them together.
A strange hope flickered in Claire. Was there a chance, however slim, that it was actually Williams brother in those photos? Perhaps she was just grasping for straws, desperate not to believe her marriage was crumbling.
Back home, Claire found Williams favourite jumpera navy affair with diamonds shed knitted for him. In one of the photos, he wore that very jumper. It was no mistakeWilliam had been lying all along.
Torn between anger and devastation, Claire drafted a message to the blonde: Ive seen your posts. Will is my husband, and Im willing to move things along. He neednt pretend hes away any longer.
Almost immediately, the reply came: Were grateful youre being reasonable. Please apply for the divorce yourself, it can all be handled online now. Pack up Wills belongingshell collect them when needed. We deserve happiness too.
Claire shut her laptop, collapsed onto the sofa, and let herself cry for the last time.
The next morning, she filed for divorce at the local registry office. On her day off, she packed away Williams things, each item tearing at her heartstrings. She had truly loved himand perhaps still did, even as everything she hoped for slipped away.
Snow began to fall over Bath, blanketing the city in white. It was snowing just like this the day shed first met William. After their walk, hed said, I hope this wont be our last meeting. Shed been so happy then. How could it all disappear so fast?
Passing a colleague in the hall at work, Claire forced a smile as, unwittingly, the colleague offered to show her a housejust the sort they had wanted. Claire could barely hold back tears and excused herself.
Her friend Sophie listened quietly as Claire described the sad details. Honestly, you ought to message her, Sophie advised. Whats the worst that can happen?
Later, over lunch, another colleague, Linda, raised the subject of Claires plans about buying a house. Claire falteredshe couldnt bear to explain everything. Then, Vera, a colleague long afflicted by her partners infidelities, approached quietly. So, caught him out, did you?
Claire nodded.
Caught in the act?
No, just found some photos online.
Vera scoffed. Honey, you cant even trust your own eyes these days. All sorts can be faked with technology. Dont be so hasty, Claire.
But the clothes were his. The photos look real.
Vera rolled her eyes. Oh please. Artificial intelligence and Photoshopjust think it over. Dont let a few pictures break up your marriage. At least wait until he gets home.
Bothered and bewildered, Claire went home, her mind spinning with suspicionscould someone really have gone to the trouble? At least she still had Sophie.
Dropping in on Sophie, she caught her friend hurriedly closing a window on her laptop with Claires own face on the screen.
What are you up to?
Sophie looked sheepish. Its just a surprisea new photo editing software.
Claires suspicions grew. Is it by any chance AI?
Sophie hesitated. Who told you that?
Never mind. I think Ive worked it out.
They argued, ending with Claire storming out, feeling more betrayed than ever before.
As the days crept by, waiting for Williams return, Claire grew more miserable. Just as she doubted her own judgement, she saw a new photo pop up on the blondes feedWilliam, arm around her, captioned: Taking my love to meet my parents! If Sophie was behind this, why would it continue? Or did William really move on?
The final straw came when Williams mother phoned, anxious and upset. Wills come home, Clairehes not himself. Please come. I dont know whats happened.
Rushing over, Claire found William uncommunicative, obviously distressed. She explained everything to his mother, who searched Williams phone. There, to her shock, was a message showing Claire in a compromising positionwith a name she recognised from work, generated by some unknown hand.
It was Sophie! Claire realised. Will you please explain everything to William? I need to settle this with her.
She confronted Sophie, her anger peaking. How could you?! After everythingI trusted you.
But Sophie protested her innocence, and as it turned out, new evidence came to light in the office. The true saboteur was Linda, the envious colleague. Shed been meddling out of old jealousyher failed secret affections for William had boiled over when she realised hed settled down happily with Claire. Linda had made the fake account, doctored the photos, and even set up the messages.
When Claire and William finally talked openly, the cloud of suspicion lifted. I never doubted you, not truly, but the doubt was planted so cleverly… Oh, Will, Im so sorry, Claire wept. William, too, apologised for ever making her feel unloved or distant.
As summer turned to autumn again, Claire and William bought their dream cottage just outside Chipping Norton. At the housewarming, Sophie surprised them with a paintingClaire and William, drinking tea in a sunny garden, dressed like an Edwardian lord and lady. That was the surprise I meant to give you before all the trouble, Sophie explained. Lets never let anything or anyone come between us again.
They all laughed, stronger for what theyd been through.
In the end, Claire learned that trust, once broken, is best rebuilt hand-in-hand, with honesty and open hearts. She realised as she watched the snow fall gently outside their new home: it isnt houses or pictures that make a family, but the courage to believe in each otherdespite any storm.
