"What makes you think it was Ava?" I asked, unable to stop the hint of irritation creeping into my voice.
"Ian, I think we've met often enough for me to recognise her. I'm positive, okay? Mate, if you want frigging proof, I photographed and even got a brief video of them."
"Jesus, Cal, are you sure? This is my wife you're talking about."
"I'm sorry, mate. It's taken me a week to build up the courage to call you. In the end I told myself that if it was me, I'd want to know."
"Yeah, got it. All right, can you send me the photos and video?"
"Yes, no worries, mate. Look, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings. I just figured you should know."
"Yeah, thanks Cal. I'm grateful, even if I don't sound it."
About ten minutes later, my phone buzzed: new messages from Callum Rolls.
From the moment our call ended the fear had built gradually to the point my guts felt like they were tied in a bowline. What if he was right, what if it was Ava... Jesus, he had to be wrong, not Ava. Our life was as close to perfect as imaginable. She was everything to me, and our life seemed so rich and full. It couldn't possibly be true. Cal had to be mistaken.
With trembling fingers, I opened the message. Sure enough, there were three pictures of a man and woman standing at what looked to be a hotel reception desk. The first thing I noticed was they were holding hands. The woman, who had her back to the camera, leaned very close to the man.
The second photo was of them kissing, this time side on, still at the reception desk. The woman, who did bear a striking resemblance to Ava, stood balanced on one leg, the other bent at the knee as she stretched up to kiss the man. He looked to be a lot younger and tall. Dressed in a very expensive fashionable business suit, his dark hair cut professionally. For all intents and purposes, they looked like husband and wife. It was intimate and loving.
The woman did look much like Ava; they could be twins... It just couldn't be right... In which case, why the hell was my heart racing? And why was my head pounding so hard?
I was almost afraid to open the video.
It showed the same couple, now walking towards the elevators, still hand in hand, their travel suitcases towed lazily behind them. Waiting for the elevator, the couple leaned closely together, like any couple. He leaned down and kissed her, which she returned with passion.
The elevator doors slid open, and they stepped in.
That's when my world ended. The women stared straight ahead, staring directly at Cal. He zoomed in. It was Ava...
There was no doubt in my mind. As the elevator doors started to close, they again kissed, and this time it was passionate, loving... The look on her face, I knew it so well: eagerness.
For the briefest moment, my world stopped, like somebody hit pause on me. Breathing was difficult. I'm certain had I not been sitting down, I would have fallen. I watched it again, feeling a perverse anger bubbling away. It felt like I was intruding into her world, spying on her...
I leaned back in my office chair and tried to focus on breathing... I don't know how long I sat there in shock, but slowly my brain re-engaged and I started to consider unthinkable options.
First thing was to copy the photos and video to my computer. I recognised the Hiatt in Wellington. Ava and I had stayed there several times over the years. I knew that's where Ava had stayed on her recent visit because she gave me her room number in case of emergency. She had called me from the room phone to give me the extension number for the same reason.
What the hell do you do in a situation like this? It would be twenty three years in March. Twenty three bloody years. We had two children, for god's sake. Okay, they were both off at University; it wasn't like they were young kids. Even so, it would break their hearts as well if we split. We were a tight family; they both loved Ava; Jesus, everybody loved Ava. I think my Mother loved her more than she did me. We were close, the kids still came home for holidays, and long weekends. We spoke every week at least once. Especially our daughter Rhian; she needed to talk to Ava, who was more like her best friend than just her mother. They talked about everything.
Callum's evidence was damning, but I wanted more, I needed to see it for myself... I started to go over in my head what I wanted.
As I left the office, my phone buzzed. It was Ava. "Hello, sweetheart. Just letting you know, dinner will be about seven. I got caught up in a blasted meeting just as I was leaving. I hope that's not too late for you?"
"No, it will give me a chance to get home and go for a run."
"Wonderful, be careful. I love you, my sweet man."
"I love you too, Honey," I said hesitantly. The words somehow no longer fitted. "See you at seven."
The run was good; the afternoon was a little humid and sticky, a typical Auckland day, a little overcast, but warm. I strode out, the kilometres drifting by easily. I loved to run; it was my favourite pastime for relaxation. I enjoyed tennis, but running, alone with no interference, that was my thing. The countryside around Kumeu was awesome: not to much traffic, but still a good road surface. Our house was on a five-acre plot, excised from the main farm. My parents gifted it to us as a wedding present. They were selling up the family farm, but not as a going concern. Dad injured his back in a farming accident, and he and Mum decided to sell the farm.
They were both keen on real estate, so decided to sell off the livestock, implements and divide the farm into lifestyle blocks. They actually did pretty well from it. Originally, our home had been a small cottage on our five acres. It wasn't until we were well into our thirties before we could afford to go bigger.
As an architect, I drew up the plans myself, and we built our little castle. It wasn't a huge house, not a mansion, but it was nice.
It was a long way from the hustle and bustle of the city. I loved it. Ava, never said she didn't like living out away from the city. I just had this nagging doubt. She never quibbled though. All her friends now lived the apartment lifestyle in Auckland, close to their work and the night life. Deep in her heart, I think Ava would have preferred that as well. But, as I say, she never argued, never complained, never even asked if we could move into the city.
When I got home from my run, the house smelled of delicious roast lamb. Hhhmm, the garlic, the mint and mushrooms. Damn, it smelt good. Ava was one hell of a cook. Not so much over the last six years or so, her business demanded long hours, but when she set her mind to it, she was a fabulous cook.
The moment I got in, she walked up and drew me into a passionate warm embrace and a scintillating kiss that took away what breath I had.
"Hello, my love," she said, letting go and standing back as if admiring me. "Golly, you look so trim these days. The running is working for you."
"Thanks," I spluttered, my mind a whirling fuzzy mess. She was so wonderfully herself: warm and cuddly, loving, just like every other day of our lives together. This whole thing had to be a stupid misunderstanding. It couldn't be her, it just couldn't.
She giggled jokingly. "You are pongy though. I think you need a shower. Hurry, though, dinner is ready."
The food was sensational and the wine she chose was the perfect compliment. We talked about work, she told me about a new client she had picked up from her recent trip to Wellington, and another she was hoping to pick up in Christchurch.
She asked about my projects, which was nice. She always took an amazing amount of interest in my work. Always supported my decisions, and helped me when I needed a dinner party or late meetings with clients. She was in every way the perfect wife.
That night in bed, our lovemaking was as wonderful as it always was. We still made love regularly. At my age a lot of my friends complained how they barely got any sex from their wives. They griped about how they had to basically beg for it.
I never bragged, but it made me grateful that our marriage was still filled with love, and the sex was better than it had ever been. For some reason, the last two years had been better than ever. It was like a switch had been flicked and Ava, was even more sexually alive than ever.
Laying together in the beautiful afterglow of sex, my mind firmed. Cal and the pictures had to be wrong, that woman wasn't Ava, it couldn't be... Could it?
Over the next few days, I watched that damn video over and over. She looked like Ava, she was the splitting image, but no, it had to be just somebody who closely resembled her.
Rhian, called during dinner the next night, and watching Ava and her chatting was amazing. Their relationship was so close. Sitting at the table, Ava switched her phone to speaker so I could join the conversation. She amazed me; so much like her mother. Full of energy and drive, so bubbly and full of life.
I don't know if it was the horrible doubt that gnawed away at my stomach, but for some reason sex was better than ever. Ava seemed more expressive, impassioned, more physically into it: not demanding, but urgent, hungry.
We went into Auckland for lunch Saturday and met with some friends, which was nice. On the drive home, Ava said casually, "Sweetheart, I have to fly to Christchurch on Monday. That new client I mentioned wants to meet."
"Oh, right," I answered falteringly. "Are you travelling Sunday night, or Monday?"
She patted my hand softly. "I think Monday morning. It will be an early flight, though. Any chance you could drive me to the airport?"
"Yes, of course. I would love to. At least we get Sunday night together," I said with a hint of hopefulness.
"Absolutely. Lately, I can't get enough of my sweet man." She reached further, her beautifully manicured nails tracing teasing lines down my cheek. As I stared into her eyes, she said, "I adore you, my love, and you make me feel so special. Our lovemaking has been so amazing lately..."
"Yeah, it sure has." I replied casually, my mind playing tricks on me.
My response, or lack thereof, triggered her. "Ian, you do still enjoy our lovemaking, don't you?" she asked with a querulous pout.
"Yeah, the last few years, it's been off the chart. You have been wearing me out. Why do you ask? Are you not enjoying it, do you need more?"
I think my response stunned her. She seemed taken aback. "Oh heavens, don't be ridiculous. I love it. You just seem a bit distant these last few days."
"Yeah, sorry. I have a lot on at work presently."
"Yes, you certainly seem to have picked up a lot of extra clients lately. Why don't you expand? Environmentally designed homes are so much more in demand these days. Take on a graduate or a partner. Share the load; it would take the pressure off you."
