The Talk of the Town

There are presents at the door, Mom, tell me! From the bottom of the steps, Geneva called out to her mom.

"Go there right now!" Holly yelled back as she secured her pearl earrings and double-checked the color of her lipstick in crimson. She slipped into a floor-length satin gown and crammed her feet into painful patent leather shoes. Even though she wasn't Audrey Hepburn, she felt that she looked well enough for the yearly black-tie charity event that Colin's employer-sponsored. A night of small talk, phony smiles, champagne, and canapes in bite-sized portions.

The Amazon packages that Geneva had taken inside from the porch were waiting for Holly as she descended the stairs and entered the foyer. These days, Amazon delivered to their home a few times each week; ordering hand soap and shampoo with the touch of a phone was so much simpler for her as she managed three teenage children and a full-time job. Before she could turn to see how her husband was doing in the kitchen, she noticed a bright orange envelope on top of the packages. Snapshot Commerce is written on the label, which she picked up while bending over. When she turned her head to the side to try to identify what it might be, something clicked. When she was performing her spring cleaning last month, she discovered an old disposable camera in Colin's closet and sent it off to be developed to a company called Snapshot Commerce. She was curious to see what kind of antique images she would get from it because she was very certain it was a leftover camera from their wedding or honeymoon 15 years before.

Almost prepared, hon? From the kitchen, Colin shouted. To catch a glimpse of her spouse, Holly peered around a corner. In his tuxedo, he resembled a tall glass of water. In contrast to Holly, Colin had matured gracefully. Previously black, his hair was now salt and pepper. His slender and powerful build was a result of his morning exercise and a green smoothie for breakfast. Holly, on the other hand, was thinking about getting a facelift because the deep wrinkles in her face weren't being covered by Botox any longer. She had drooping thighs, arms, and stomachs. Holly was aging however the antithesis of effortlessness was. People once might have thought Holly, not Colin, was the attraction. Holly used to be the pretty one, while Colin was usually the intellectual one. However, it seems that was changing now. Or perhaps Holly had it all in her head.

Holly checked on her children, Geneva, Toby, and Rosa, before placing the envelope with the pictures in her diamond-encrusted handbag. Holly had never seen any of them watch a prank show before, but it appeared that they were all doing so.

Holly said to the backs of her children's heads, "Pizza will be coming at seven." Pizza will be arriving at 7! she yelled again after receiving no response the first time.

"Got it," Toby said as he continued to watch the TV and laughed at a man who was running his bike off a ramp and into a wall.

"Could you all attempt to get to bed by eleven?" Holly enquired, knowing that she might or might not be getting any response from her children.

As he approached her closely and wrapped his hands gently around her waist, Colin reassured her, "They'll be OK." They essentially qualify as adults. Let's start moving. Her entire body shuddered as he kissed her neck from behind her. She grinned and turned to face him, kissing his cheek.

Obtain a room! Without looking away from the TV, Rosa yelled.

I see you're replying to me now. Holly yelled above the performance as she made her way to the lobby to retrieve her umbrella. She didn't want to ruin her expensive updo because the forecast called for rain showers.

She walked out to her husband's Mercedes parked in the driveway and yelled, "I'll be in the car!" to Colin.

"Follow me there. Only need to visit the boys' room, Colin said.

Before getting in the car, Holly examined her makeup in the mirror and removed the clump of mascara from the outer corner of her eye. She took the images out of her clutch and looked at them before showing Colin the gems. They would enjoy a leisurely journey while thinking back on their youth.

She snuck out the pictures while feeling the brittle prints in her hands. She wasn't used to having this kind of physical access to memories. It brought back memories of a time before digital and mobile cameras were invented when everyone had to get their images developed manually. When she flipped to the first picture, she saw Colin holding a pina colada while lounging on an Adirondack chair at a beach. She had been accurate; the images had been taken during their honeymoon. The glittering new wedding ring Colin was sporting on his left hand made him appear to be around 15 years younger.

Holly looked at the picture of the sunset setting behind the ocean as she flipped to the next image. She grinned, remembering their Aruba honeymoon. The two of them had stayed up late making love, sleeping in every morning, and spending their days at the beach. What she wouldn't give to go there again right now. A picture of Colin and her posing in beach suits with their hands around each other's trim waists could be seen when she flipped to the next image. Holly rubbed her eyes and shook her head. Why don't you think that's me? She examined the woman in it by holding the image up close to her face. It wasn't Holly with brown hair, brown sunglasses, and a white bikini. She set the picture on her lap and just sat there, confused. Who was this guy with Colin when we were on our honeymoon? The woman was once more seated with Colin and enjoying dinner when she flipped to the following picture. Holly was aware of the identity of the woman this time. Cynthia, a former bridesmaid, and close friend answered. Although they sent each other Christmas cards every year, Cynthia and Holly had lost contact over the years. Colin and Cynthia were at the beach together, but why? And what was I doing?

Things became evident as Holly quickly paged through the pictures: one showed Cynthia and Colin eating breakfast in bed. a picture of Colin and Cynthia in the pool. Cynthia and Colin can be seen playing mini-golf in the picture. An image of Cynthia sipping what appeared to be an orange crush while wearing a small t-shirt that read, "Let's Crush This." The faster Holly was flipping, the more her head was whirling. She glanced up and saw Colin walking toward the automobile from their house before she could grasp what the pictures represented. She shoved the envelope with the images into her clutch in a hurry.

, "Ready babe?" Colin enquired as he entered the vehicle and put on his sunglasses while beaming broadly. This yearly charitable event was always Colin's favorite. He could socialize with all the important people at his company and indulge in as much drinking as he pleased. Holly turned to face Colin and felt the strong want to smack Colin's conceited smirk away from his entitled, dunderheaded face.

“Ready,” In an effort to decide what to do, Holly feigned a grin as she fastened her seatbelt. Should I speak up at this time? the pictures to him? Ask him if he and Cynthia ever visited the beach. Inquire from him how long it lasted. If there was anyone else except her, enquire.

Can you attempt to meet Alex's wife tonight? As he turned onto the highway, Colin questioned her, "I need that promotion and every little bit of brown-nosing help."

Holly turned to face Colin once more, bewildered at how he could carry himself so casually while having an affair with her buddy. She made an effort to recall the previous fifteen years. Had Colin mentioned taking a business trip? Indeed, he always did. Must I bring it up right now? But what does that imply? A breakup of our marriage? Are we losing our family? The plan is for us to all travel to Italy following Geneva's graduation in May. If we are divorcing, we can't do that.

Holly replied, keeping her gaze fixed on him, wondering whether she could decipher all of his lies by just looking at him. "Sure, I'll talk to her," she said. I'm unable to leave the house because that pricy interior designer just redecorated it. What could my friends think if they learned? The town would gossip about me.

As he turned on the radio and pushed the music up loud while bopping his head to the bass, Colin muttered, "Great, thanks darling," while keeping his eyes on the road.

Holly searched her memory for instances in which Cynthia and Colin had ever been in the same vicinity as one another while she glanced ahead at the road. A flirtation occurred between them. Had they ever spoken? She had no memory of it. Aside from saying hi whenever they were around Holly, she had no idea that they even knew each other so well.

Have you. Colin started Holly as he parked the Mercedes next to the valet.

“What?” While waiting for the valet to finish with the red Porsche in front of him, Colin questioned.

You did, you did, you. Holly aimed to extract it. How can I confront my spouse about his fifteen-year affair with my friend? Why even bother asking him when I already have the evidence? Holly has her family in mind. with regard to her children. the charitable event. I might be able to act like it never occurred. Throw these pictures in the bathroom tonight, please. They won't need to see me ever again.

Did I have what, you ask? As the valet got closer, Colin chuckled and put the car in park before unlocking the door.

"Did you...forget to give the pizza delivery guy a tip? The youngsters won't recall. Unsure of what to say, Holly blurted out.

He said, "Of course," getting out of the car and turning to assist Holly in removing herself from her seat. He grabbed her hand and escorted her to the venue, asking, "You ready, babe?"

She took his hand and led the way up the stairs, holding the clutch with a death grasp as she murmured, "Let's crush this." They would be the topic of conversation tonight.