Is Richard Cheating?

"He said that to him?"

"Yes, he did. I was shocked and you have to know that Richard isn't like that. He never talked to his children like that," Caitlyn said and looked at her coworker.

"We would talk more during lunch break, but I have this deep hunch that your husband is cheating,"

"Cheating? That can't be possible!"

"Oh yes, it's possible. What other explanation would you give to the recent late-night outings?"

"Richard isn't like that, I know my husband," Caitlyn said and drew in a shaky breath.

"Everybody thinks they know their spouses till they discover dirty secrets. I thought I knew my old John till I found out he had a mistress on a god-forsaken farm! Men will soil your white linen!"

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, that was probably the hundredth time that she had heard the story from her co-worker and friend, Khloe. She always told anyone available about her ex-husband's atrocities and how she sucked his huge fortune with divorce.

"I'm a surgeon, I'm educated enough to know my rights and how to put people like John in their place. Oh poor old John, I was about to have some pity for him when I looked at his fragile body. But I had to teach him a lesson, that should serve as a warning to all cheaters out there. If you can't keep your marriage vows, then don't get married at all!" Khloe would continue to say to anyone ready to listen to her tales.

"I have to scrub in for surgery, don't forget that we would talk during lunch break," Khloe said and hurriedly walked away. Caitlyn walked into her office and sat on her chair, she wasn't scheduled to have any surgery or assigned to any case till after lunch break. She was a pediatric ophthalmologist. She used her time to google search for cheating spouses which initially sounded like an absurd idea but she was soon submerged in stories and write-ups she found online.

"Cate, are you okay?"

She heard someone's voice and hurriedly looked up to see one of her male junior colleagues, she hurriedly closed the web page and ran her hands through her hair. Her face was flustered and the young man narrowed his eyes.

"Did I just interrupt something…hmm…important? I don't judge, I mean you are not exactly that old not to be watching ...." The young man began to talk and Caitlyn realized his assumption.

"No, Carter. That's not what I was doing, have a seat," Caitlyn said and cleared her throat. Carter sat and smiled awkwardly.

"Gosh, it's so stupid of me to assume that, you know. I called you twice before you answered me on the third call," He explained and she nodded.

Carter was a young doctor, he was training to become a pediatric cardiac surgeon. The hospital they both worked in was a pediatric hospital. Since his joining the hospital six months ago, he had been good friends with Caitlyn. And sometimes, Caitlyn thought that the young man took her as his best friend. He sought her advice and sometimes shared his lunch with her.

"Anything giving you trouble, Carter? Do you want some of these?" Caitlyn asked and brought out some biscuits.

"Of course I want them. Thank you, Cate. About having trouble, yes I have," He said and opened the biscuit pack to take some. He always called Caitlyn, 'Cate'.

"If I had not known better, I would have thought you both were having an affair," Khloe would often tease Caitlyn.

"What's the matter?" Caitlyn asked him.

"I'm still having issues with Doctor Ochoa. I have never seen anyone as adamant and selfish as him," Carter said and crunched the biscuits with force.

"Tread carefully Carter. You are just freshly out of Medical school, you don't want to mess with your superiors,"

"Damn the superiors! He is so blinded with his self-righteousness that he thinks what he is doing is right," Carter continued with his complaints. An alarm went off and Caitlyn stood.

"I must have spent long hours at the computer, it's lunchtime. I have to eat lunch with Khloe, can we discuss this later?" Caitlyn asked and began walking towards the door with her lunch box. Cater followed her and held her hands.

"Cate, please listen to me. Maybe there's something you can do to help out. Maybe," He talked but Caitlyn interrupted sharply.

"Come to my house at 6 pm prompt and we will discuss this. But Carter, this isn't even about you. Why do you want to create problems for yourself?" Caitlyn asked and looked at him.

"Doctor Ochoa needs to be stopped, everyone has the right to equal training. You also have young doctors under your training, can you do that to any of them?" Cater asked.

"But_but, I don't have someone like that, someone in that condition,"

"Cate, I know you. You are kind and smart! Even if you don't have someone like that under your training, I just know you wouldn't act like Ochoa if you had one," Carter said, still holding her hands.

"How are you so sure?" Caitlyn asked and blinked.

"Because I trust you," Carter said firmly and gripped her hands. Caitlyn looked away and sighed.

"I will do whatever I can do to help. But I need more details. You know my house right?"

"Thank you so much. Yes, I know your house. I don't know if that's a good idea considering your whole family will be around," Carter said and frowned.The day Caitlyn quickly stopped by to pick up an important document while Carter was in the car was when he knew her house. He had woken up late and had surgery that morning, he panicked and called her. That was the first time he got to her house and he's never been there since then.

"Are you scared to meet my kids and husband? You've got nothing to worry about. Don't forget, it's 6 pm," She said and walked away.

"Thank you so much, Cate. 6 pm it is," He called after her and she nodded.

Caitlyn walked into the dining hall, most of her colleagues always bought food at the cafeteria but she preferred her home-cooked meals.

"Still with that lunch box of yours? Loosen up and eat a good meal," Khloe said and rolled her eyes. They walked to an empty table after Khloe was done ordering her food. They sat and they both started to eat.

"We've got thirty minutes to discuss how to catch your cheating husband," Khloe began and dug into her pork.

"No apologies for eating meat in front of you, I've got to do what I've got to do to survive in this hectic working place. How do you survive without eating meat?" Khloe asked and chuckled.

"Your question is like asking a monk how he survives without having sex, we all have the principles that guide us. I suggest you follow your principles and leave mine to me," Caitlyn said, she's a vegetarian. Khloe raised her hands in mock surrender.

"As you please my lordress. I also suggest we get to the matter. Why would Richard Hinesburg cheat on his wife?" Khloe asked and made her face appear like she was in deep thought.

"Khloe, cut this acting. What is a lordress for goodness sake? We can't just conclude without solid proof that Richard is cheating. Moreover, I've read a couple of things online, I don't think Richard is cheating," Caitlyn said and Khloe burst out laughing.

"Oh, my dear Caitlyn. I love you so much but my love doesn't stop me from calling out your foolishness. Do you wish to find out what your husband is up to?" Khloe asked and Caitlyn spotted the familiar mischievous look in her eyes.

"No, Khloe I'm not that desperate to do something stupid,"

"Stupid? Of course, it's not. Do you know what would be stupid? Refusing to take this business card would be stupid," Khloe said and smiled.

Khloe had had the card all along, she placed it on the table and slowly moved it across the table towards Caitlyn.

"What's this?" Caitlyn asked.

"The solution to your current dilemma. You deserve to know the truth. You have sacrificed a lot of your time to be with your children while Richard roams the street at night," Khloe said and bent her face to stare hard at Caitlyn.

"Don't be stupid. That card helped me when I was having issues with John. You can either take it or throw it in that damn dustbin where it can rot with other garbage these doctors throw in it," Khloe said and stood.

"If you decide to throw it away after checking what's in there, I would like you to stop telling me about your husband's misbehavior cause heaven knows I've tried to help you as a friend. I'm heading to my office. Give me a call when you decide," Khloe said and walked away.

Caitlyn's heart raced as she picked the card to look at the content.

Detective Glene Feller

A private detective...

Caitlyn couldn't continue to read the details of the card, tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the card. She bolted out of the dining hall and ran to her office. She locked the door and hurriedly picked up her phone. She dialed the number on the card and fell to her knees.

"Hello, you've reached Detective Glene Feller. How may I help you? Leave a message…."

Caitlyn didn't hear the remainder of the programmed message, she cut the call. She burst into tears and firmly shut her eyes.

"I'm sorry Richard, I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I should have trusted you. It's probably just work…oh…my,"