When Sadie, Lori, and their husbands planned a weekend getaway for a birthday, a hint from Lori’s husband, Ben, left Sadie questioning whether to keep his secret or tell her friend.
Sadie and I had been inseparable since high school; my family considered her like another daughter. We grew up together, even married best friends—Keith for me and Ben for Sadie.
We did everything together, from holidays to birthdays. So, for Keith’s birthday, we rented a cozy cabin for a relaxing weekend away.
“Sadie, you book the place; Ben and I will handle the food,” Lori had said. It sounded perfect.
When we arrived, we unpacked and started celebrating. Later that evening, Ben, a little tipsy, pulled me aside on the balcony.
“I’ve been planning a surprise for Lori,” he said, swaying slightly. “But don’t tell her—it’s been hard hiding the bottles.”
“Bottles?” I repeated, confused.
He mumbled a bit more, then drifted off to sleep. Knowing Lori’s sensitivity around alcohol because of her father’s issues, his mention of “bottles” left me worried. I struggled with whether to tell her.
That night, I brought it up to Keith. “Do you think Ben was serious?”
Continue reading on next page…