The Selfie
Adelaide
When I woke up in the morning, I didn't know I'd have the worst day of my entire life, and that I'd be betrayed by two of the most important people in the world to me.
But that's just how life is.
It hits you right in the face when you least expect it, but in my case, it was a long time coming.
My best friend, Raquelle, calls me on my way to the airport. I'm flying to Paris in a couple of hours for Granny's 70th birthday bash.
"Hi, Addy-bear," she says in her usual sing-song voice. "Awww...you're already in the car!? I thought I'd catch you before you left!"
"Yeah, I decided to leave earlier. I just don't have much to do around the house. I might as well just wait for my flight at the airport."
"And Rick?"
I sigh. "He's not coming."
Usually, I tell Raquelle everything concerning my relationship with Rick. She's the only person I can talk to, because my family doesn't understand me at all and I'm tired of hearing the same thing from them over and over again.
In the Bettencourt family, nobody ever marries for love, and I wasn't supposed to be different.
The one thing I'm keeping from Raquelle is the semi-argument we had this morning when he told me he wasn't going to come.
Feeling upset, I asked him, "But...you said you were going to? I don't understand. What changed so quickly?"
"My schedule's always changing, Adelaide," Rick replied without even taking his eyes from his morning paper. "I think you're aware of that by now."
"Yes, Rick, but...everyone's expecting you. It would be a chance for the family to get together." When he didn't answer me, I paused and added hopefully, "Everyone will be disappointed if you don't come. Plus, you know how much Granny loves you and—"
"I don't give a damn about what people will say, Adelaide!" His eyes met mine sharply and I saw anger clearly written all over them. "But you know what I do give a damn about? The fact that we've been married for four years now and you're still not pregnant."
His voice was so icy and cold when he said that, and for a moment, I couldn't recognize him. "It's not my fault, Rick. You know that as well as I do. I mean...I'm trying here, aren't I? We both are."
I stared at him for a long time, my heart breaking. I felt terrible. Guilty. Like something was wrong with me.
"I'm sick of this, Adelaide. Sick of trying all the time. Sick of people coming up to me to ask me if I have any news, and I have to act like I don't know what they're talking about! What was the point of marrying you, then? Hm?"
I close my eyes for a moment as the memory of his words crashes into my mind. My heart feels heavy and it's throbbing like a bruise in my chest. I don't want to share this with Raquelle because at the end of the day, Rick is still my husband and I don't want her to have a bad opinion of him.
Maybe he was just stressed. Maybe he'll apologize when I get back.
He has never spoken to me that way before.
When I married my husband, Rick Upston, I knew he didn't love me. Ours was an arranged marriage. Our families were brought together due to business relations, so it was only natural for there to be a permanent union between us.
But the truth is that I've been in love with Rick since we were kids. Our families went to the same events and on top of that, Rick and my brother, Eric, were close at some point, before the drug overdose that left him disabled, so I always saw Rick around.
Our wedding was beautiful, and I was so happy. Rick wasn't cold to me; he treated me well, and we danced all night. I can still remember how I felt when our bodies were flush together while his hand went to my lower back. His eyes were locked on mine, and something passed between us then that I felt even when we made love for the first time that same night.
It was the single most erotic moment of my life. The way he touched me. Held me. Kissed me. It all felt so surreal. So good.
But things quickly changed after that first night, and now, he keeps me at arm's length, coming to me only a few nights a week in hopes of getting me pregnant, which is what the clause in his inheritance demands of him.
Raquelle speaks, interrupting my train of thought. "Oh, Addy. I bet you're so sad!"
"I'll be fine," I promise her. "I just wish he were coming."
"Me, too," she grumbles. "But I'm caught up with work, so I can only dream of going to Paris right now. You know I'd come with you in a heartbeat, right? My Addy-bear? My bestie?"
A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips. She always insists on calling me the nickname from our years in elementary school. I mention to her, "I guess that kind of makes you happy that you didn't marry him, right?"
It was between Raquelle and me, and according to Rick's family, I was the better match. Now, she's engaged to someone else—Robbie, who we've known our whole lives, too. If Rick had married Raquelle, I would've had to marry Robbie.
It's funny, how one decision can change lives.
"Yeah, you're damn right," she chuckles. "Then again, I never found him as cute as you did."
"Liar."
"Oh, well, maybe I am lying a little, but good looks fade, you know? I've always wanted that true love. And if Rick doesn't love you, the most beautiful woman in the world, would he love me with my big teeth and bug eyes?"
"You're gorgeous."
"Meh. I look like a horse. That's what everyone says anyway. Here, let me send you a pic to remind you."
Moments later, I receive a selfie of her. She made her eyes purposely bigger, and she's sticking her tongue out, emphasizing her teeth. I giggle. She's always been the clown of our little group. We don't hang out with Therese anymore, but since we were kids, everything has been the same.
"You're a clown."
"A clown who loves you. Bye, Addy-bear. Have a safe flight. Call me when you get there."
"I will. Love you."
We hang up, and I stare at the selfie one last time before switching my phone off.
But something catches my eye.
I bring the phone closer to my face, staring at the photo with my heart slamming against my chest. She's standing in front of her bed, and though I can only see her face and not the rest of her body, I can see the corner of the bed.
And there's something on it that catches my attention.
A tie.
Rick has the same one. I know because I bought it for him.
"Daniel," I say loudly to the driver, "I'm going to need you to turn this car around."
The drive to Raquelle's apartment is the most painful of my entire life. The whole time, I'm asking myself if maybe, I'm not making a mistake. Could it be that my husband, a man I love with all my heart even when he doesn't love me back, is having an affair with my best friend in the whole world?
The driver parks outside her apartment building and I head inside. I even ask the porter not to alert her I'm here because I want to make her a surprise. He's known me for years, is he lets me go up.
With a racing heart, I stop in front of her apartment door. My hands are trembling as I push the door open and walk inside.
Raquelle never locks it.
In the few seconds that it takes me to reach the living room, I tell myself that maybe it's all a huge misunderstanding.
Maybe I have it all wrong.
But I'll never know if I don't move forward with this.
The smell of eggs, frying bacon, and coffee fills my nose. I walk down the short corridor before stepping into the living room, and hear voices.
"You're going to love it! I made this especially for you. I know how much you love your eggs."
"Not as much as I love being with you."
My heart practically explodes in my chest as Rick's voice reaches my ears. For a moment, I can't breathe or think, but my feet are moving before I can stop myself and I find myself standing in her living room, staring at them as she wraps her arms around him while he's seated at her kitchen island with a plate of eggs in front of him.
"You're so sweet," she says huskily before pressing her lips to his temple. Her tongue darts out and she licks his skin, but then she must see me from the corner of her eye because she freezes and her eyes widen.
"Addy?"
