They kept guessing which tie he’d be wearing that day, since he had gone straight to the office after getting back from his trip that morning. Normally we wouldn’t have seen him until later that evening if we hadn’t decided on the surprise visit.
Our oldest, Chloe, insisted it would be the navy tie with the tiny dots. Our youngest, Ella, clutched her drawing so tightly I worried she might wrinkle it. The kids chattered nonstop about how much they had missed him and how excited they were to see his reaction when he opened the lunchbox they’d packed.
When we stepped into the lobby of his building, the receptionist smiled warmly and waved us through without hesitation. And Tom’s reaction when he spotted us? Pure happiness! He immediately dropped what he was doing, lifted Ella into his arms, and hugged the rest of the kids like he hadn’t seen them in months.
He kissed my cheek and laughed while the kids proudly handed him their drawings. I watched as he introduced them to a couple of nearby coworkers and greeted others who passed by.
For a brief moment, I felt like the luckiest woman alive.
I thought, This is what happiness looks like.
After we shared a quick lunch in the break room, I gathered the kids and left my husband smiling with a napkin full of cookies. I felt light, almost giddy. It felt wonderful to surprise him. It felt like what marriage was supposed to be.
That’s when I ran into her.
Sarah.
We’d been friends for years, crossing paths every few months and always happy to see each other. She worked at the same company, though in another department. We hugged and stood chatting in the lobby while the kids spun around the chairs.
“I didn’t know I’d bumped into you,” I said.
“I’m still stuck in payroll,” she laughed. “Trying to make the numbers behave.”
We caught up quickly, sharing stories about the kids and complaining about how expensive groceries had become. Then I casually mentioned, almost without thinking, “It’s been rough and exhausting, especially with Tom traveling so much. The kids really miss him when he’s away.”
Sarah tilted her head. “Traveling? What do you mean? For work?”
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s been going out of town at least once a month. He’s practically living out of a suitcase. I think he’s got another trip coming up soon.”
Her expression shifted to confusion. “Emma, there haven’t been any work trips here lately. They froze and then cut the travel budget months ago. No one’s been sent anywhere.”
Her words landed like a blow.
I tried to laugh it off. I really tried. “Oh, maybe he’s going to conferences or client meetings or something.”
She gently shook her head. “Not unless they’re virtual. Nobody’s left the state, at least not through the company.”
That was the moment everything beneath me cracked.
My smile stayed in place, but inside I knew I had to uncover the truth.
continue to the next page.”
