The Other Woman
Elena knew that Michael wasn't in love with her. She had no doubt that he loved her, but he wasn't in love with her. He was kind, considerate, unfailingly polite, granted her every wish. But something was missing. Passion. Oh, Michael was an excellent lover, if what her girlfriends and magazines reported was true. He satisfied her beyond her wildest dreams. And he took gratification in her as well. But not satisfaction. She could not give him that. Because he did not love her.
After they had been married a year, she found Michael sitting on the back deck, deep in mourning. He would not cry, though she knew he wanted to. He told her a good friend from Marseilles had passed away. Elena knew he was lying. He started spending longer hours at work. She didn't understand, then, when she told him about the baby. She thought he would be happy. At least happier. He seemed afraid. Afraid for her. He became more doting. More vigilant.
When Adam was born, she confirmed what she already knew. Michael was not in love with her. He was in love with Adam. She felt Michael's love for Adam as deeply as the baby did, and took what comfort she could. The long hours away continued; even Adam couldn't change that, but when Michael came home, he was different. Irritated, yet…amused. She pointed this out to him and he agreed; he had a new client who both irritated and amused him.
Adam at two had a rich vocabulary, but Michael didn't notice. It was though a light had gone off inside him. He treated Elena no differently than he ever had, but something was missing. He had lost something he didn't even know he had. He encouraged Elena to look for her father. Elena tried to put him off again. She wasn't ready. Michael was insistent. He was scaring her. He backed down.
Michael had two weeks off for Adam's third birthday party. Something about him had changed. The light that had flickered briefly before now shown so brightly he couldn't hide it. The piece that was missing was found. Elena thought he must be having an affair. She couldn't think of any other explanation. Then Michael would take her to bed, and she would dismiss the idea as ridiculous. Until he hurt her. For the first time, he was so lost in his own pleasure he forgot about her. She couldn't see herself in his eyes. When he breathed at his release, it wasn't her name. She never told him.
He brought up the subject of finding her father again. Again, Elena refused to discuss the matter. In truth, she was afraid. She felt as though her father and Michael were connected somehow, and if she found one, she would lose the other. She knew her fears had no merit, and Adam would need someone else in his life if his father did ever leave. No. She would not think of it again.
One day the three of them were playing a video game. Elena was losing badly, and volunteered to answer the door. A tall, blonde woman looked surprised to see her. The woman apologized for her mistake, stating that she obviously had the wrong house. She smiled at Adam and turned to leave when Michael spoke. The woman turned back, mesmerized. She called Michael's name. It was a question, but Elena already knew the answer. This was the other woman. This was Nikita.
The End