A Scientist Makes An Unexpected Discovery [FICTOID]

He came home and found a strange car in their driveway.

The evening’s research had been cancelled due to inclement weather so he didn’t need to stay all night.

He parallel parked across the street, hands gripping the wheel, thumbs tapping out an irritated tattoo.

As a data analyst, he knew inaccurate information could disrupt even the most carefully thought out experiment.

After all, there might be an innocent explanation.

Right.

Taking out his cell phone, he called his wife.  “Hi.  How are things?”

“Oh…uh…fine, just fine.”  She sounded a little breathless.  “Uh…where are you calling from?”

“Still at the observatory. Might be here a couple of hours longer than I expected.”

“Oh.  Well, okay.  See you in the morning.”

“Love you,” he said, then grimaced:  He never said “love you” unless prodded.

His wife didn’t seem to notice.  “Okay.  Bye.”

She hung up.

He turned his phone off and sat silently.  If there had been an innocent explanation for the strange car, she would have told him.  It seemed unlikely any friends came over at this hour to visit.

A wave of anxiety filled him.  He forced himself to breathe deeply, making his chest expand and contract in order to calm down.

All right, calm, he thought.  This doesn’t mean she’s looking for a replacement for you.

Yeah, an informal survey on a news site claims cheating is popular but that doesn’t mean she is.

Still…he had to know.

He stepped out of his car and silently crept up to their bedroom window.  A crude but effective test, he thought.

He listened, hearing first the distant barking of dogs then the muted sound of a neighbor’s TV set.

Then he heard their voices, rising in unison in a way he never did with his wife.

He returned to his car, gripping the wheel silently this time.  Above him the splendor of the heavens danced, but his mind lay in the gutter.

© Buzz Dixon