Chapter 2:

Charlie went and got changed into her gym clothes and made her way to the gym for her morning workout. When she had finished, she entered the Surf Club and walked up to Alf who was attending the bar.

"Morning love, what can I get you?" he asked greeting her with his usual warm smile.

"Just a bottle of water thanks Alf".

He handed her a bottle from the fridge. Charlie gave Alf his money and took out her phone, checking for new texts from Angelo. Alf noticed her behaviour.

"If you're looking for your husband, then he was here about half an hour ago. He was sitting with a young lady chatting and having a juice".

Charlie frowned slightly "oh right, thanks Alf" she said giving him a tight smile and walking out of the club wondering who this mystery woman was.

Martha noticed that Charlie was troubled and asked what was wrong. Charlie sighed deeply and told Martha what Alf had told her.

"What does that mean? Do you think he is cheating?" she asked desperately.

"Charlie! Calm down!" instructed Martha, "Angelo adores you; he would never cheat on you. When he gets home today just ask him who it was, there is probably just a really simple explanation, it was probably just a friend".

Charlie exhaled deeply and nodded in agreement with Martha. She put it to the back of her mind and they sat and chatted while sipping their tea. Charlie looked at her watch and her eyes widened when she saw the time. It was four o'clock and Angelo was going to be home soon, she wanted to confront him as soon as he got home. She thanked Martha with a huge hug and drove home. As she was about to unlock the front door, she heard her ringtone coming from her handbag. Taking out her phone and not bothering to check caller ID, she opened it and heard Angelo's voice on the other end.

"Hey babe, I'm gonna be late, I've got to get through a giant pile of paperwork" he said.

Charlie sighed tried to hide her disappointment. She was hoping to talk to Angelo about what was troubling her as soon as possible; it was eating her up inside, not knowing what was going on. "Yeah that's ok, come home quick though ok, I miss you."

"Of course, I'll be as quick as I can, I miss you too, love you" and with that he hung up.

That night Charlie quickly made herself something small to eat. She wasn't very hungry and she went straight to bed. She was hoping a good night sleep would get rid of her paranoia. Charlie woke up and looked at her alarm clock, it was only 3. She turned around and saw Angelo sleeping next to her. He was still in his uniform but had taken his shoes off. Charlie smiled and stood up and took the spare blanket from the linen cupboard and placed it over him. She looked at him once again and thought to herself: "Angelo would never cheat on me, it was probably just a friend, could have even been one of our friends, Alf just didn't know who she was". That put her mind at ease and went back to sleep and slept soundly until her alarm rang at half past six.

Angelo woke up with a shock when he heard Charlie's alarm go off.

"Shut that damn thing up" he grumbled into his pillow. Charlie heard him and giggled, she sighed and turned off the alarm, putting on her dressing gown and walking out of the bedroom.

Angelo muttered something, rolled over and closed his eyes again.