Emma heard the sound of a lock being opened, followed by a door being opened very slowly so as not to disturb the occupant inside.  The occupant being her.

Quietly Emma put down the book she had been reading.  She turned off the light and slid under the covers with her eyes peering out.  A moment later Robbie tiptoed into the bedroom, shoes in hand.  In the dark Emma observed him as he began to change out of his clothes.  He smiled to himself as he did so.  Emma wondered what he was thinking about.  Then she saw the answer.

On the side of his neck was a hickey.

Even though there was only a little light shining Emma could still make out the unmistakable mark on his skin.  She knew damn well she didn't put it there.

That was the moment Emma realized that Robbie was cheating on her.

Emma lay in the bed in total shock at the discovery.  She didn't say anything as Robbie slid under the covers beside her.  He stayed on his own side of the bed, keeping his back to her as he settled in.

Emma was wide awake.  How could she sleep after learning that her own man was unfaithful? Her Robbie, her fiance, having an affair.  She tried to think back for clues.  There were plenty.  The late nights at work.  Only he wasn't working, he was off playing with some slut.

Then Emma realized that call she made, when his temp Harold picked up.  Of course! Harold was no doubt covering for Robbie while he was cheating.  To think that she actually felt sorry for him.

No.  She tried to calm down.  This was her fiance.  He wouldn't do that to her.  He had always been faithful to her.  There had to be more to it.  She was jumping to conclusions.  He must have a plausible explanation for coming home with a hickey on his neck.

She needed to gather all the facts together before she confronted him.

*                            *.               *.               *

"Are you sure?" Tom asked her when Emma had told him all of her doubts.  They were sitting in the outdoor patio of a coffee shop.  Emma had to talk to someone about this.  She had decided on Tom.  He seemed more sympathetic and understanding to her situation.

"I don't know," Emma said as she nursed her latte.  "I don't want to believe it but it seems all the signs are there."

Tom nodded.  "I've seen them too.  Lately he's been very paranoid about his privacy.  He hates it now when someone comes unannounced to his office.  Plus whenever he gets a phone call he practically runs and hides to answer it.  I hate to be the one to say it but those are the obvious signs of a cheater."

Emma lowered her eyes.  "Oh boy.  I keep thinking about this incident when I came back from a trip, about a few weeks ago.  I wanted to surprise Robbie. I came into the bedroom and he was sleeping.  When I woke him up he looked at me in this shocked manner as if I were a stranger."

"Like he was expecting someone else."

"Exactly." Emma said in a grim tone as she realized how he was looking at her, not to mention that he kept looking behind her as if someone was there.  "I can't shake off the feeling that he had someone in the apartment.  He was in bed without any clothes.  He usually doesn't sleep in the nude."

"What about his cell?" Tom asked.  "Any proof would be on there, like texts or pictures."

"Of course," Emma said, shaking her head.  Why hadn't she thought of that?  "He would have the other woman's number in there."

"Does he hide it from you?"

Several thoughts flashed through Emma's memory.  "That night when we had his grandfather's birthday party, I took his phone from him. I told him to take the night off from it and focus on us. My God, the fuss he made, as if his entire life depended on it."

Tom pointed at her.  "Bingo.  Did you happen to check it?"

"No," Emma shook her head.  "Things were so busy, plus it didn't even occur to me to do that.  I wish I had.  He keeps it close to him all the time now.  Says it's for work."

"There you go," Tom said.  " That's Cheating 101.  They always keep their phone on them.  A faithful person has nothing to hide."

Emma felt a dull ache in her gut.  She hoped they were wrong, but that hickey. . ."So what should I do?"

Tom thought for a moment.  "Have him followed."

"What? I couldn't."

"You want to know what he's doing, right?" Tom insisted. "See what he does when he's away from you and not working? Have someone watch him, maybe take some pictures.  That will tell you all you need to know."

Emma hated the thought of invading her Robbie's privacy.  But then again, that hickey.  Where did it come from? "Okay but where do I start?"

Tom put a reassuring hand on top of hers.  "Leave it to me," he said.  "I got you."

"Thank you so much, Tom," Emma said, feeling a little better.  "You've been a good friend listening and helping me through this."

"I'm happy to do this for you, Emma." Tom said.  "I can hire a detective to follow him for you."

A detective, Emma thought.  She didn't want some stranger following Robbie around.  This whole situation was making her sick.  What if she was wrong?  This was the man she was going to marry.  "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that." she said.  "But I need to know what's going on."

Tom thought for a moment.  "I tell you what," he said.  "How about I follow him? I did track him down to that club that time."

"Yeah but that was Harry's club.  He's Robbie's new friend." Emma said.  "He's going out with my best friend.  You're probably going to see Robbie and Harry hanging out a lot."

Tom gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.  "Just leave it to me, Emma.  I'll get the answers for you."

"Thank you, Tom."  

Tom decided to start on the hunt right away.  For the rest of the work day he kept his eye on Robbie.  So far there was nothing unusual.  Robbie went about his day working on his computer or on the phone.  His cell was nowhere in sight.

At around a quarter to five Tom noticed Robbie receiving a call from his cell.  Immediately Robbie's reaction changed when he saw the screen.  From a sober businessman he quickly changed to a giddy fangirl.  With a huge grin Robbie answered and spoke for a few moments before hanging up, grabbing his jacket and rushing out of his office.  

Tom waited for a few moments before following him.  Robbie wasn't driving this time, so he must not be going far.  Tom tailed Robbie for a block before Robbie turned into a nearby park.  There were quite a few people there.  To not be seen Tom kept his distance by standing near the entrance.  He saw Robbie going to a bench several yards away and sitting next to a lady with long wavy brown hair.  He couldn't see much of her, only her hair and shoulders.  Her back was to him.  

Tom was riveted to the spot.  He knew it.  There was someone else.

He stared as Robbie smiled at the lady before leaning in for a kiss.  

Bingo! There it is.

Tom crept closer for a better look.  He couldn't see much.  Robbie's arm was around the woman's shoulders.  Only her long brown hair could be seen, while Robbie's smiling profile was very visible.  As Robbie talked to his companion he seemed very happy and excited.  Occasionally he would lean in to kiss her while running his fingers through her hair.

Tom took out his phone and managed to get a couple of shots of the illicit couple.  He wished he could get a better shot of the other woman but she wasn't visible.  He would have to keep following them until he got some answers.

The only problem was how to break the news to Emma.  She would be so devastated.  She deserved better than Robbie.  At least someone who will be faithful to her.