Tears stung my eyes as everything clicked into place. “No, he didn’t.”
I quickly masked my emotions. “We’re going on an adventure,” I told the kids. They cheered.
Upstairs, I grabbed the emergency cash, Michael’s watches, and our passports from the safe. We bundled up, and I drove us straight to the office building. Inside, I saw Michael laughing with a woman in a red dress—someone I didn’t recognize.
I marched up to the DJ, grabbed the microphone, and the room fell silent.
“Merry Christmas, everyone! I’m Lena, Michael’s wife. We were expecting a family Christmas at home, but he decided to spend it here instead.”
Michael’s face drained of color, and the woman quickly stepped away. “She’s confused,” Michael stammered. “It’s been a stressful time.”
I didn’t wait for him to finish. I grabbed my kids’ hands and walked out.
At the pawn shop, I exchanged Michael’s watches and cufflinks for enough cash to buy us tickets to Miami.
“Are we going to see Santa?” Daisy asked as we drove to the airport.
“No, sweetie. We’re going somewhere better,” I said, smiling.
A week later, Michael waited for us at the airport. “Lena, I’m sorry. I was an idiot. It won’t happen again.”
I looked at him, calm and unbothered. “We’ll see, Michael. I need to think about what’s best for me and the kids.”
As we walked to the parking lot, Daisy skipped ahead, and Max held his new pirate hat. For the first time in years, I could finally breathe.