My husband and I vowed to be together till death, but I discovered a dreadful secret. Our daughter uncovered his double life, making me swear he would never hurt me again. I married Theo for seven years.
I was thirty-four, a home-based graphic artist, and thought our marriage was ideal until lately. On his promotion party night, everything went wrong. Theo and I were “that” pair friends used to compare themselves to over lunch.
People who seemed simple. He held my hand while I grabbed the sauce, like new lovers at the shop! We laughed at the same jokes, finished each other’s thoughts, and never ran out of things to say!
Even amid hard times, we found our groove again naturally! Only during the first two years of trying for a child did our marriage feel unstable. Every failing test was a silent wave that diminished my delight.
I wondered for months if I was preventing our family from developing. We got subtle letdowns after months of doctor appointments. Watching our friends post baby ultrasound photographs while I gazed at empty test strips shattered my heart.
When I got pregnant, it felt like a miracle because I assumed I would never give birth naturally. When Mira arrived, everything clicked! She was the thread that interconnected everything!
A perfect girl for a perfect life was finally mine. I had no idea what happened next. Our four-year-old daughter was smart, interested, and honest!
She preferred apple juice without chunks and regularly interrupted worship to pee! Life felt good! Besides having a child and welcoming my delight, things were excellent financially!
He was now a partner in his firm! After years of hard effort, the corporation held a beautiful party at a downtown event space to commemorate his huge achievement. It was rustic with bare brick and string lights.
Mira and I dressed for the event. I looked good in a blue dress and she in a fluffy pink dress with dragon clips. I brought my well-behaved daughter to the event without hesitation.
We saw how much the office loved Theo! Waiters carried wine glasses while the music band played softly. Every third person praised my hubby!
I couldn’t be happier! I held Mira’s hand near the treat table as her dad shook hands and enjoyed the attention! Mira tugged on my sleeve and spoke the most strange words while we were discussing preschools with a senior coworker’s wife.
“Look, Mommy! The Lady with Worms!”
Some folks including the coworker’s wife glanced our way because of her loud voice. I promptly bowed to Mira.
“Shh, baby, speak softly. What worms, honey? The woman I was talking to smiled and excused herself, giving us room because I was with my daughter.
“In her house,” Mira nodded and said without hesitation. The red ones. They were on her bed.”
Freezing dryened my throat.
“Whose house, honey?”
She gestured. I straightened as I followed her tiny arm and her finger across the room. Leaning against the bar, a tight black-dressed woman laughed too freely.
Red lipstick and lovely waves adorned her black hair. She seems to constantly know and want others to observe. I’d seen her at my husband’s company gatherings once or twice.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
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