The evening was set to be perfect. Candlelight flickered across the table, a smooth bottle of red wine rested between us, and anticipation buzzed in the air. This was my third date with Susan, and I had a feeling it could be the night that took things to the next level.
We had met on Tinder. Her profile struck the perfect balance between charm and mystery—playful jokes, stunning pictures, and just enough intrigue to make me swipe right. Our first two dates had gone flawlessly, and tonight, I had chosen a small, cozy Italian restaurant, tucked away from the usual busy streets, for an intimate dinner.
Susan walked in wearing a navy dress that hugged her figure just right. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and when she smiled at me, I felt a small thrill rush through my chest. Maybe, just maybe, this was something real.
The waiter had just set down a basket of warm breadsticks when the restaurant door swung open with a loud creak. I barely glanced up—until I heard a familiar voice.
“Oh, hey, Rob! Fancy seeing you here!”
My hand froze mid-reach for a breadstick. I knew that voice. I turned, my stomach dropping.
Linda. From accounting.
She stood at the entrance in a bright floral dress that clashed horribly with the restaurant’s soft ambiance. But that wasn’t the real problem. No, the real problem was the three kids clinging to her, their hands sticky, their eyes darting around the place like they were about to unleash chaos.
“Linda?” I managed, blinking in shock.
She beamed as if this was the most normal thing in the world and strolled toward us. “You didn’t tell me you were coming here tonight!” she said, her voice far too chipper.
Susan, who had been sipping her wine, lowered her glass and gave me a questioning look. “Friend of yours?” Her tone was cautious, maybe even a little suspicious.
“Colleague,” I corrected quickly, forcing a tight smile as Linda plopped herself into the booth beside me.
“It’s packed tonight,” Linda said, helping herself to a breadstick. “I figured we’d just join you. You don’t mind, do you?”
I minded. I minded a lot.
Linda was a force of nature. A single mother of three—ages two, eight, and twelve—from two failed relationships, she had a way of commanding attention wherever she went. At work, people admired her sharp intellect, her ability to juggle deadlines and meetings like a magician. But I had always kept my distance. A woman like Linda? Completely out of my league.
But tonight, she wasn’t commanding attention. She was derailing my date.
“Linda, what are you doing here?” I hissed under my breath, glancing at Susan, who was now staring at me like I had two heads.
Linda sighed dramatically and placed a hand on mine. I flinched and pulled back.
“You promised to watch the kids tonight, and yet, here you are,” she said, nodding toward Susan as if she was the one intruding.
Susan’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”
I shot Linda a bewildered look. “What are you talking about? I never—”
Linda cut me off, her voice dripping with theatrical sadness. “Really, Rob? You’re going to pretend in front of her?”
Susan stood abruptly, pushing her chair back with a loud scrape. “Pretend what, exactly?” she demanded, her face contorted with a mix of fury and disbelief.
Linda gave her a sympathetic smile. “I didn’t mean to ruin your date, Susan, but you should know the kind of man you’re seeing. He’s been leading me—and the kids—on for months.”
My stomach plummeted. “What?!” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.
The restaurant went silent. Other diners were now fully invested in the drama unfolding at our table.
Susan snatched her purse. “You two clearly have… unfinished business,” she spat before storming out.
I shot up to follow her, but before I could move, Linda’s toddler latched onto my leg with sticky hands.
Linda leaned back in her seat, completely unfazed. “You should thank me.”
I gawked at her. “For what? Destroying my date? Publicly humiliating me?”
She casually pulled out her phone, scrolling with exaggerated slowness. Then she held it up to my face. “Recognize this?”
I squinted at the screen. A grainy photo of a woman stared back at me.
My breath caught in my throat. “That’s… Susan? Why are you showing me this?”
Linda zoomed in, her voice deadly serious. “This is a mugshot.”
The words took a moment to register. “A… mugshot?”
She nodded. “My brother’s a cop. Last night, I dropped by the station to see him, and I saw this on the bulletin board. She’s wanted for fraud.”
“Fraud?”
“Yeah. She cons men. Builds trust, then steals their money. I didn’t connect the dots until I saw the picture you posted before your date tonight. So, I called my brother, and well… here we are. She’s probably being arrested as we speak.”
The world tilted.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.” Linda’s voice softened. “I know this was a lot, but I couldn’t let you get scammed. You’re a good guy, Rob. You didn’t deserve that.”
I ran a hand down my face, the weight of her words settling. “Why didn’t you just tell me? Why the whole spectacle?”
Linda exhaled, glancing at her kids. “I tried calling you. You didn’t answer. And once I saw you here, I panicked. I didn’t want her slipping away. I did what I thought was best.”
I sat back, rubbing my temples. “So… Susan is—”
“Gone,” Linda finished firmly. “And you’re welcome.”
I stared at her, my emotions swirling—gratitude, embarrassment, something else I couldn’t quite name.
Then, Linda’s eldest kicked his legs under the table. “Are we getting pizza or what?”
I couldn’t help it—I laughed. A real, deep laugh that seemed to cut through the tension.
Linda smirked. “You know, Rob, you should be thanking me right about now.”
I shook my head, half-amused, half-exasperated. “You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet, here you are. Not scammed out of your life savings.”
I looked at her—tired but radiant, her kids clinging to her every word. And something inside me shifted.
“Linda,” I said, steadier than I expected, “can I buy you and the kids dinner?”
She blinked. “After all this?”
“Yeah. You earned it. And honestly? I could use the company.”
Her oldest grinned. “I vote pizza!”
Linda studied me for a moment, then smiled—a real, genuine smile. “Alright, Rob. But you’re buying dessert, too.”
“Deal.”
Two years later, Linda and I are still together. I’ve adopted her kids, and every day, they remind me what it means to love and be loved.
As for Linda? She still insists I should thank her for that night.
And every single day, I do.
My Son Never Invited Me to Their Home for Year