Last Tuesday, I planned a sweet surprise for my husband, Ben. While the kids were at school, I spent the morning cooking his favorite lasagna and drove to his office, excited to brighten his day with a thoughtful gesture.
But when I arrived, the receptionist looked confused. “You’re here for Ben?” she asked, eyeing the dish in my hands. When I explained, she hesitated before saying, “Ben’s been on vacation for two weeks.”
My heart sank. Vacation? He had told me he was working late every night. I left the office with a swirl of confusion and questions I couldn’t shake. Where had he been going all week?
Needing clarity, I asked my mom to watch the kids the next day and decided to quietly follow him. Ben left the house and drove across town. To my surprise, he parked outside my sister Kate’s house. My breath caught as I watched him greeted warmly by her at the door.
My imagination raced with possibilities, and none of them made sense. What could they be doing together every day, in secret?
I decided to call Carla, my attorney and close friend. “I don’t know what’s going on,” I told her. “But I feel like something’s off.” She gently advised me to stay calm and gather facts before jumping to conclusions.
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