I believed Ethan when he said that a family trip wasn\u2019t possible, until a $3,000 charge for a fancy spa showed up on our bill. I followed the trail because I was determined to find the truth. What I found broke my trust and made everything different.<\/p>\n
I always thought that trust was like taking care of a yard. You give it your love, pull the weeds, and water it often, which helps it grow strong and healthy. I did that for my marriage to Ethan for 12 years. I had faith in him. I had faith in us.<\/p>\n
I thought our life was good. They have two kids, a house with a porch swing that squeaks, and they always make pizza on Friday nights. Everywhere Ethan went, people respected him. He works hard and is a good father.<\/p>\n
Then there was Rachel, who he called his \u201cwork wife.\u201d I liked her, and we had met many times. She was nice and funny, and she always had nice things to say about her husband. We weren\u2019t friends, but I was glad Ethan worked with someone like her.<\/p>\n
During dinner, I used to make fun of her by saying how nice it was that someone kept him sane during those late-night shifts.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d smile and say something vague about how much she loved numbers to brush it off.<\/p>\n
For years, I admired how they worked together. I told myself that she was the yin to his career yang. But recently, cracks began to show.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t just the long hours or talking all the time. He smiled at his phone in that way, which I hadn\u2019t seen him smile at me in months. It didn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n
After that, he told me that we couldn\u2019t take the Christmas holiday I had been looking forward to all year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d This is what I asked as we put the dishes in the dishwasher. \u201cI believed everything was set.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ethan turned his head away and shrugged. \u201cIt was, but we had all those unplanned costs in October and November, so we can\u2019t afford to take a vacation after Christmas now.\u201d \u201cSorry, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s okay\u2026\u201d \u201cNext year will come around again.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was upset, but I had faith in Ethan. Our money has been tight for a while now, and I had no reason to believe he was lying.<\/p>\n
Then I found the receipt, which made everything different.<\/p>\n
I saw a $3,000 charge to \u201cTranquility Luxe Spa\u201d last week when I was going through my records to make a budget.<\/p>\n
At first, I thought there had to be a mistake. There\u2019s a mistake on our credit card bill. But the date\u2014this coming Saturday\u2014gave me the chills. There was something wrong.<\/p>\n
I looked at it and wondered why Ethan had spent so much on a spa day when we couldn\u2019t afford a vacation. Given that it wasn\u2019t a surprise, he would have planned the trip himself, it had to have something to do with work.<\/p>\n
Before I sat down next to Ethan that night to ask him about it, I felt a strong fear. I knew what he was thinking as I watched him smile at his phone like I didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you have planned for Saturday?\u201d I asked, giving him a teasing push.<\/p>\n
\u201cSaturday?\u201d I have to go to work\u2026 I need to take care of a few last-minute details for that big job I told you about. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
I kept my voice light and said, \u201cOh, no reason.\u201d \u201cI guess I thought we could go to the park together with the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe next weekend,\u201d he said as he wrote a text message on his phone.<\/p>\n
As fear turned to anger, my stomach churned. My husband lied when he said he would propose with a mystery hunt. I was going to show them.<\/p>\n
I waved goodbye to Ethan on Saturday morning like everything was fine. I texted the babysitter to come over as soon as he was out of sight. She was going to take the kids to the park, which I had already planned.<\/p>\n
I gave her the bag with the kids\u2019 snacks and games in it. After that, I set out to catch Ethan in the act. As I pulled into the spa\u2019s parking lot, my heart was beating fast. I told myself I would look, make sure what I thought was true, and then leave.<\/p>\n
The air inside smelled like peppermint and wealth. I took my time and looked around the lobby. Then I saw them.<\/p>\n
Rachel and Ethan were lying next to each other in soft white robes, as if they were on a vacation. I didn\u2019t get it\u2026 They had only ever worked together. Then she laughed at something he said and leaned in close. I thought I might have missed something.<\/p>\n
Ethan kissed her and cupped the side of her face with his hand.<\/p>\n
It was like jelly on my legs. I was holding on to the doorframe like I was going to fall apart. I felt a lump in my throat but sucked it back down. Not here. Not yet. After getting more proof of what I thought, I knew I couldn\u2019t just leave without doing something.<\/p>\n
Someone at the spa front desk smiled at me. She was a redhead and looked like she had just graduated from college. \u201cMay I assist you?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled back, but my lips were shaking. \u201cYes, in fact. I have a treat planned for this couple. Are they Ethan and Rachel? Could I add a free massage to their reservation?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, how sweet!\u201d she gushed as she quickly typed. \u201cWe\u2019ll let them know right away.\u201d<\/p>\n
I spoke clearly and said, \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cI want to keep this a secret.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to give you a surprise massage!\u201d She winked at me and said.<\/p>\n
It was fine for Ethan and Rachel to play dirty. I could get more dirty.<\/p>\n
It took me a while to leave the lounge after seeing Ethan and Rachel get taken away for their massage. I quietly followed them and wrote down which room they went into.<\/p>\n
It was now time for me to carry out my plan.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t do anything else until they were well into their treatment. I went to the staff area, got a big bucket of ice-cold water, and walked straight to their massage room.<\/p>\n
As soon as the masseuse left the room, I walked in. They were lying face down on hot tables, and the sound of their happy sighs filled the room. It made my blood boil to see them lying there, calm and unaware.<\/p>\n
I walked in quietly and held my breath. After that, I threw the bucket of cold water on them.<\/p>\n
Rachel screamed, which made her stand up and throw towels everywhere. Ethan jumped up quickly, and his face turned pale with shock.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the heck?\u201d he cried out.<\/p>\n
I stood tall and dropped the bucket. \u201cThrilled? \u201cYou should not be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ask yourself, \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d Ethan stuttered and looked back and forth between me and the wet sheets.<\/p>\n
When I spoke, my voice was as cold as ice. \u201cMe?\u201d What do you have to do here? We couldn\u2019t afford a trip with our kids last time I checked. But three grand for your work wife\u2019s spa day didn\u2019t seem to be a problem.<\/p>\n
Rachel put on a blanket and covered her face, which was red and splotchy. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t look like it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
I yelled, \u201cOh, be quiet!\u201d and cut her off. \u201cDon\u2019t be sorry for your husband.\u201d You can expect a call from me soon.<\/p>\n
I put up my hand when Ethan tried to talk. \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d Ethan, you lied to me. You put me down. Even worse, you picked her over your family.<\/p>\n
My hands were shaking as I took a deep breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to find a new place to live because you are no longer welcome in our home.\u201d Because you just threw everything away for this mess, I hope you both enjoy it.<\/p>\n
The screams of Rachel must have woken up the staff, who rushed into the room. I walked by all of them and then left.<\/p>\n
At home, I didn\u2019t waste any time. The clothes that Ethan was wearing were put in trash bags.<\/p>\n
I had been afraid to call the lawyer, but now he was my best friend. And Rachel\u2019s husband? He heard the first ring, I see.<\/p>\n
It was a beautiful fallout. People at work smeared both of their names when word got out that Ethan had lost his family. The last thing I heard was that Rachel asked to be moved to a new office.<\/p>\n
It looks like even working moms have limits when it comes to how mean office whispers can get.<\/p>\n
After all, my kids and I did go on that trip. We stayed at a house on the beach for a whole week, where we picked up shells and laughed until our sides hurt. As the waves hit the beach at night, I felt something I hadn\u2019t felt in a long time. Freedom.<\/p>\n
I learned that trust is like a plant. It\u2019s sometimes necessary to burn something down in order to grow something new. I was ready to plant seeds for myself for the first time in 12 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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