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My name is Michael Anderson, but for 17
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years, my world revolved around being
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Mike, husband to Rebecca, father to
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Curtis, a towering 15-year-old
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perpetually attached to his phone, and
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Sophie, my 10-year-old princess whose
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belief in me felt like a sacred trust.
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Our life was a comfortable, predictable
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rhythm, a steady beat that only faltered
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during Becca's business trips.
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This Wednesday, her absence felt
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She was in Boston for a 7-day consulting
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gig, longer than usual. The quiet in the
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house was a hollow echo of her vibrant
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presence. As I watched Sophie idly push
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Cheerios around her bowl, a spontaneous
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idea sparked within me. A bolt from the
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blue to shatter the monotony. "Hey," I
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proposed, setting down my coffee mug.
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"What if we went to see mom this
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weekend? We could surprise her."
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Sophie's eyes ignited.
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Really? We could surprise her?
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Yes, I affirmed, a thrill building in my
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chest. We could be there tomorrow
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evening. Imagine her face. Even Curtis,
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my perpetually unimpressed teenager,
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lifted his gaze from his phone.
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That would actually be pretty cool, he
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conceded, which from him was the highest
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form of praise. By midday, I'd pulled
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strings at work, secured permission for
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the kids to miss school, and booked
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three tickets to Boston. All the while,
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I conjured images of Rebecca's reaction.
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The shock, the unbridled joy, perhaps
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even tears. I tried calling her that
1:37
morning, but it went straight to
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Not entirely unusual during her intense
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consulting sessions, I dispatched a
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quick text. Miss you. Kids are asking
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when you're coming home. Love you. No
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reply. That evening, a small knot of
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unease began to twist in my stomach. A
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second call and a third, all met with
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silence. I dismissed it. Boston was a
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whirlwind. She was probably networking,
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forging connections, excelling at what
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she did best. The consulting world was a
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brutal arena, and Rebecca was a shark in
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Do you think mommy will cry when she
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sees us? Sophie asked that night as I
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Maybe, sweetheart, I murmured, kissing
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her forehead. It's going to be the best
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I had no inkling then how tragically
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wrong I was. No idea that the surprise
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awaiting us in Boston wasn't ours to
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give, but rather one that would rip our
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The flight to Boston felt like an
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Wedged between a headphonewearing Curtis
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and a chattering Sophie, I wrestled with
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a growing sense of foroding.
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I tried Rebecca's number three more
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times, then a final text before we
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boarded. Hope your meetings are going
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well. Miss you. The delivered
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notification appeared, but no reply.
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Dad, why are you checking your phone
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every 5 seconds? Curtis asked briefly
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removing his headphones.
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Just making sure our rental car is
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confirmed. I lied, forcing a smile. But
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the truth was, something felt profoundly
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wrong. We'd been married for nearly two
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decades. She had never, not once, gone
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this long without communication,
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especially with the kids. Upon landing
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at Logan Airport, I tried one last time.
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voicemail. The rental car process was a
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By the time we finally navigated the car
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onto the road toward downtown Boston, it
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was well past 8 in the evening. As we
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neared the Marriott where Rebecca was
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staying, the knot in my stomach
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tightened. I tried calling her one last
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time. It rang, but still no answer. The
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lobby, opulent with marble floors and
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soft lighting, impressed the kids.
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Why don't you guys wait here? I
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suggested, pointing to some plush
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couches. I'll check us in and find out
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which room mom's in. Can we surprise her
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right away? Sophie bounced on her toes.
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That's the plan, sweetheart.
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As I approached the front desk, I was
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utterly oblivious that I was walking
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toward the moment that would irrevocably
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alter everything. I'd like to get in
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touch with my wife, Rebecca Anderson, I
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said to the receptionist, a young woman
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with a practiced professional smile.
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Yes, Mrs. Anderson is staying with us.
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Would you like me to ring her room? I
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said yes, relief washing over me. At
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least she was here. But the receptionist
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I'm sorry, sir. There's no answer.
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Can you try again? The knot in my
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stomach cinched tighter. Still no
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answer. "Would you like to leave a
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message?" "No, that's okay," I said,
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handing over my credit card. "We'll just
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check in for now. My wife is expecting
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us." Sort of. It's a surprise. A flicker
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of hesitation crossed her face. "I see.
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Well, let me get you set up." She
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processed our reservation, then handed
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me two key cards. You're in room 732.
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Mrs. Anderson is in 718.
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Different floors? I asked confused. No,
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same floor just down the hall from each
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other. She paused, then added. It looks
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like Mrs. Anderson checked in with a
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plus one, though. The world stopped
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spinning for a dizzying moment.
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A plus one? I forced a hollow laugh.
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That's fine. Probably a colleague
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sharing the room to save on expenses.
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But I knew better. Rebecca's company
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always sprang for private rooms. I
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collected our bags and walked back to
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Curtis and Sophie. My mind a chaotic
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race of rationalizations and a chilling
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creeping dread. The elevator ride was
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silent, save for Sophie's incessant
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humming. Our room was nice, standard
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high-end hotel fair. I set the bags down
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and took a deep, fortifying breath. "Can
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we go see mom now?" Sophie pleaded. "In
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a minute," I said, slipping into the
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hallway. My heart hammered against my
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ribs as I walked to room 708. I raised
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my hand to knock, but paused. I could
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hear faint music from inside and then
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the sound of laughter. My blood ran
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cold. I pulled out my phone and typed a
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message. I'm outside your hotel room.
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Open up. The music stopped. The laughter
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ceased. Then a muffled male voice. I
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closed my eyes, suddenly sickeningly
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certain of what I would find. The door
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opened slowly. Rebecca stood there in a
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hotel bathrobe, her hair disheveled,
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face flushed, her expression cycled
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through shock, fear, and finally settled
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on something that looked strangely like
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"Mike, what are you doing here?" she
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hissed, pulling the door nearly closed.
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I stared at her momentarily speechless.
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"Surprise," I said flatly. "The kids and
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I thought we'd come see you. The kids
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are here." Her eyes widened in terror.
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"In our room, down the hall." My voice
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sounded distant, even to myself.
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"They've been excited all day to see
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you." "You should have called first,
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Mike," she said, glancing nervously back
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at her door. "This is I did," I snapped,
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crossing my arms. "Multiple times."
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"Who's in your room, Becca?" she
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flinched. "It's not what you think."
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Really? Because I think you have another
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man in there. Am I wrong? The door
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opened wider and a man appeared behind
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her, buttoning up his shirt. Becca, is
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everything okay out here? My vision
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tunnneled, focusing on the stranger who
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called my wife by my nickname.
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Who the hell are you? I demanded, my
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voice dangerously quiet.
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The man looked confused, glancing
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between Rebecca and me.
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I'm Trevor from the Chicago office.
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He extended his hand, then thought
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better of it and withdrew it.
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I didn't know Becca was married.
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The words hit me like a physical blow. I
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turned to Rebecca, who had the decency
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"You told him you were single?"
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My voice was barely a whisper now.
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"Can we please not do this in the
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hallway?" she pleaded.
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Trevor, I said, my anger finding its
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target. Maybe you should go. He looked
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at me, a flicker of genuine shock in his
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Look, man, I had no idea. She never
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mentioned a husband or kids. He grabbed
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his jacket. I'm out of here. I'm out. He
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hurried past us, leaving Rebecca and me
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alone in a silence so thick it felt
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17 years, Becca, I finally said. 17
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years and you're picking up guys on
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It's not like that," she snapped, her
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shame morphing into defensiveness. "Then
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explain it to me," I challenged.
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"Explain why our children flew across
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the country to surprise their mother,
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only to find her with another man." She
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looked away, unable to meet my eyes.
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"You should have called first." Those
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words, the sheer audacity of them, broke
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something inside me. "Are you serious
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right now? This isn't my fault because I
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didn't warn you before catching you
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cheating. Lower your voice, she hissed,
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glancing down the hallway.
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The kids are waiting, I said, stepping
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back. Sophie has been bouncing off the
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walls all day about seeing you. What do
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you want to tell her? For the first
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time, guilt seemed to register on her
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face. Give me 5 minutes to get dressed.
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I'll come to your room. I turned to walk
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How long has this been going on,
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Rebecca? She couldn't meet my eyes. This
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was just a one-time thing, a mistake.
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Trevor's words echoed in my head. I
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didn't know Becca was married. It wasn't
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a mistake. It was a choice. And as I
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walked back to our room, back to face
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our children, I knew nothing would ever
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The walk back felt like crossing a
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desert. How was I supposed to face my
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children? What could I possibly tell
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I paused outside our door, took a deep
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breath, and forced my face into
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something resembling normaly.
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Dad, did you find mom? Sophie jumped up
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from the bed. Curtis looked up from his
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phone, his eyes narrowing as he studied
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What's wrong? He asked. Mom's coming in
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a few minutes, I managed. She was
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surprised to see us. Sophie clapped her
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hands. Is she happy? Did she cry?
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She was definitely surprised, I said,
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avoiding Curtis's searching gaze.
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Hey, why don't we order some room
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service? You guys must be hungry after
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A knock at the door made Sophie leap up.
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Mom's here. Before I could stop her, she
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flung open the door and launched herself
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at Rebecca, who stood in the hallway,
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looking completely composed,
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hairbrushed, wearing a professional
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outfit. If I hadn't seen her 10 minutes
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ago in a bathrobe with a half-dressed
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man, I would never have guessed anything
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was a miss. "Mommy," Sophie squealled,
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wrapping her arms around Rebecca's
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waist. "Ah, sweetheart," Rebecca said,
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hugging her back. What a surprise to see
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you all. Her eyes met mine over Sophie's
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head, and I saw the silent plea. Play
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along for the kids. Curtis hadn't moved
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from his spot on the bed. "Hey, Mom," he
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said, his tone carefully neutral. "Hey,
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buddy. You've grown since I left," she
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said, crossing the room to kiss the top
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of his head. "It's been a week, Mom," he
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An awkward silence followed, broken by
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Sophie's enthusiastic recounting of our
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journey. Rebecca listened, her smile
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faltering slightly as Sophie concluded.
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Dad said we could all have dinner
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together. Room service is coming with
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"That sounds wonderful," Rebecca said.
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"But I actually have a work dinner
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tonight. Important clients." I barked
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out a laugh that I quickly disguised as
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a cough. Sophie's face fell.
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But we came all this way to see you, she
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I know, honey, and I'm so happy you did.
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I'll be all yours tomorrow. I promise.
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She turned to me. Can I talk to you in
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the hallway for a minute, Mike? Work
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dinner? I said once we were alone,
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making sure to leave the door a jar. Is
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that what you're calling it now?
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Rebecca's artificial composure cracked.
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Mike, please. I need time to figure this
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out. figure what out. How to lie to your
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family because you seem to have that
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down pat. She flinched. That's not fair.
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You know what's not fair, Rebecca? I
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kept my voice low. Our daughter made us
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check three different stores for her
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favorite travel pillow so she could
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bring it to you. Do you have any idea
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how excited they were? Her eyes welled
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with tears. Mike, I made a terrible
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mistake. I know that, but please don't
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tell the kids. Not yet.
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So, I'm supposed to pretend everything's
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fine, put on a show while you go back to
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It really is a client dinner, she
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Trevor won't be there. I need this
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account, Mike. It's worth millions.
14:07
I stared at her, realizing I didn't even
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recognize the woman standing before me.
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Your career? That's what you're worried
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about right now? No, of course not, she
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insisted, rubbing her temples. I'm
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trying to salvage whatever I can from
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this disaster. Please, Mike. One night,
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let me get through this dinner, and then
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tomorrow we can figure everything out.
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There's nothing to figure out, I said
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flatly. You cheated on me. You lied to
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our children. Go to your dinner. I'll
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take care of the kids.
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What will you tell them? She asked
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I haven't decided yet, I said, my hand
14:47
on the door knob. But unlike you, I
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don't lie to my children. Back inside,
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Sophie was bouncing on the bed. Is mom
14:55
coming to dinner with us? I swallowed
14:58
hard. Not tonight, sweetheart. Mom has
15:01
an important work thing she can't miss.
15:04
Sophie's face fell. The sight of her
15:06
disappointment made my chest ache.
15:09
But we came all this way to surprise
15:11
her. I know, honey, I said, pulling her
15:15
close. And she was definitely surprised.
15:18
She just has to finish her work first.
15:20
But guess what? She's all ours tomorrow.
15:23
The whole day. Curtis caught my eye over
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his phone and raised an eyebrow,
15:27
silently, calling me on my bluff. I gave
15:30
him a slight shake of my head, a promise
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He nodded almost imperceptibly.
15:37
At 15, he was already more man than boy.
15:40
And in that moment, I was grateful for
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"This is still the best surprise ever,
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Dad," Sophie said, grabbing a French
15:49
fry. "My beautiful, innocent,
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heartbreaking little girl."
15:54
That night, as we walked along the
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Boston Harbor, Sophie skipping ahead and
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pointing out every boat she saw, Curtis
16:00
fell into step beside me. "Mom's
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cheating, isn't she?" he asked quietly.
16:06
I nearly stumbled, caught off guard by
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his directness. "What makes you think
16:10
that?" "The way you're acting. The way
16:13
she looked at you," he shrugged, hands
16:16
deep in his pockets. "Plus, when you
16:19
left to find mom, you came back looking
16:21
like someone died. I don't want to lie
16:23
to you, Dad," he said firmly. "I'm not a
16:26
child anymore. I'd rather know the truth
16:28
than wonder what's happening to our
16:30
family." "Yes," I admitted, my voice
16:33
barely a whisper. I found your mother
16:38
Curtis's jaw tightened, but he didn't
16:42
I figured she's been different ever
16:45
since she started this consulting gig.
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What happens now? Are you guys getting
16:52
The word felt like a punch to the gut. I
16:55
don't know yet, buddy. This just
16:58
I put my arm around his shoulders. But
17:01
whatever happens between your mom and
17:03
me, nothing changes how much we both
17:04
love you and Sophie.
17:07
He was quiet for a moment. "For what
17:10
it's worth, Dad," he said, leaning
17:11
slightly against my side. "I think
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you're doing the right thing. We deserve
17:15
better." His words, so wise beyond his
17:18
years, were both heartbreaking and
17:19
strengthening. "In that moment, my
17:21
15-year-old son was trying to comfort
17:23
me, and it nearly broke me. But it also
17:25
gave me the strength to stand tall.
17:28
We will be okay. I promised him.