Chapter 2 Monday again

Victoria thought she woke with the hotel key clenched in her fist. She dragged in a breath and sat bolt upright. Morning light spilled through the curtains. Her pulse thundered. For a moment she was still in the hotel corridor, watching Daniel turn towards her. Then the bedroom came into focus: the blue walls, the rumpled duvet, Daniel's side of the bed empty. She looked down. No key. Her fingers were bare, but the sting of its teeth still seemed to mark her palm. "Tomorrow, I'm leaving my wife." Daniel's words rang through her skull. Victoria threw the covers aside and ran to the bathroom. She splashed cold water over her face, then braced both hands against the sink. Her reflection looked pale and sleepless. She remembered every detail: Lena's hand in Daniel's hair, the kiss, the way he'd said it was over-as if their marriage were a coat he could shrug off. A floorboard creaked in the hall. Victoria spun around. Daniel appeared in the doorway, already dressed, holding two cups of coffee. "You're up early." She stared at him. This was the same Monday. She knew it with the certainty of a scar. In the first version, Daniel had stood at the bedroom door with coffee, kissed her forehead, and left for work. Now he was doing it again. He held out a cup. "I made yours the way you like it." Victoria didn't take it. "You're going to be late." He glanced at his watch. "I've got time." "No, you don't." She stepped past him, forcing her voice to stay level. "You said you had a breakfast meeting." Daniel lowered the cup. "I did." "With whom?" "Edwin." "Where?" "Victoria, what's wrong?" The gentleness in his voice made her want to throw the coffee at the wall. She reached for the cup anyway, just to stop him watching her hand shake. "Nothing." He kissed her forehead. She clenched her jaw and let him. "I'll see you tonight," he said. Victoria watched him walk downstairs. She counted the seconds until the front door opened, then heard his car pull away. Her breath burst out. She rushed to the window. Daniel's silver car turned at the end of the drive and vanished around the corner. The first time, she'd waved from the doorway. This time, she let the curtain fall. Her phone sat on the bedside table. She picked it up and checked the date. Monday. The day before the hotel scene. Her stomach clenched. She opened Lena's contact. Her thumb hovered over the call icon. What would she say? I saw you kiss my husband tomorrow. The truth sounded insane even inside her own head. Please don't meet him at the hotel. Lena would ask how she knew. Daniel would hear about it. Then what? Victoria dropped the phone onto the bed. She could stop the meeting without explaining. If Lena couldn't get there, the affair wouldn't happen. It was a crude solution, but it was the only one she had. Her phone buzzed. Lena: Are we still on for lunch? I need your advice about something. Victoria's throat tightened. In the first version, Lena had sent the same message at the same time. Victoria had replied with a cheerful yes and met her near the hotel. She'd even complimented Lena's dress. The memory made her hands curl into fists. She typed: I can't. I've got a migraine. She stared at the lie. Then she deleted it. Victoria needed to know what Lena was planning. She needed to see how far the betrayal had already gone. If she accused Lena too soon, she'd lose the chance to keep her from Daniel. Victoria: Lunch is on. Where do you want to meet? The reply came at once. Lena: Your place? I'll bring food. I've got something exciting to tell you. Victoria read it twice. Something exciting. In the first version, Lena had said nothing about exciting news. She'd complained about a difficult client and changed the subject whenever Victoria asked about Daniel. Victoria's skin prickled. Victoria: Fine. Noon. She set the phone down and paced the bedroom. Her gaze landed on the wardrobe. Lena had left a red scarf there last weekend. Victoria yanked the door open, grabbed the scarf, and flung it onto the bed. The bright fabric looked like a stain. "Get a grip," she muttered. She went downstairs and poured Daniel's coffee into the sink. The cup struck the basin too hard. It cracked, and coffee splashed across her blouse. Victoria swore and jerked back. The force of her anger startled her. In the first day, she hadn't known. She had kissed Daniel goodbye and smiled at Lena. Now every ordinary gesture felt like a performance staged for a woman who knew the ending. At noon, Lena arrived with a paper bag and a smile. She wore the same cream coat Victoria remembered from the first version of the day. Her dark hair was pinned neatly at the nape of her neck. "You look awful," Lena said, putting the food down. "Have you slept?" Victoria stared at her. "Not much." Lena reached for her arm. Victoria drew it back. A crease appeared between Lena's brows. "Are you ill?" "I'm fine." "Vicky, you're trembling." Victoria pressed her hands flat on the counter. "What's the exciting news?" Lena's smile faltered. She took out two containers and set them on the table. "It's not exactly good news." "Then tell me." "I've been seeing someone." Victoria felt the room tighten around her. "Someone I know?" Lena looked down. "Yes." "Daniel?" Lena stopped moving. The silence answered before she did. Victoria's palm struck the table. The containers jumped. Lena recoiled, one hand flying to her chest. "How long?" Victoria demanded. "Victoria-" "How long?" Lena's cheeks flushed. She pushed one container aside. "We didn't plan this." "That doesn't answer me." "We're trying to end it." Victoria's breath caught. Those were the words Daniel had spoken in the hotel room: It's over. Maybe they weren't ending anything. Maybe they were arranging the next step. "Where are you meeting him tonight?" Victoria asked. "I'm not." "Don't lie to me." Lena's eyes sharpened. "You're acting like you know something." Victoria nearly laughed. It came out as a rough, broken sound. She turned away and gripped the edge of the sink. "Did he tell you he's leaving me?" she asked. Lena didn't answer. Victoria spun back around. "He did, didn't he?" "I never said that." "You didn't have to." Lena gathered the paper bag with unsteady hands. "I'm sorry." "Don't." Victoria grabbed the bag and flung it onto the floor. It landed with a thud. "Don't come into my house, tell me you're seeing my husband, and then say you're sorry like that fixes anything." Lena's eyes filled. She blinked hard, but a tear slipped down her cheek. "I do love you." Victoria recoiled as if Lena had slapped her. "Leave." Lena stood still for a heartbeat, then picked up her coat. At the door she turned back. "You didn't used to look at me like that." Victoria couldn't answer. The door shut. She stood in the kitchen, shaking, while the untouched lunch sat on the floor. The truth was out now, but Daniel's plan remained. At midnight, she would see what happened next. Until then, she had to keep them apart. Her phone vibrated on the counter. A message from Lena appeared. He says it's over.