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“Not yet. Just a little longer, please?”
Then a woman’s voice—laughing.
“Begging won’t change my mind.”
My heart slammed against my chest.
I ran upstairs.
The voices grew clearer with every step.
For illustrative purposes only
By the time I reached the top, I knew exactly where they were coming from.
I pushed the bedroom door open.
The lamp was on.
A woman stood near my dresser.
Barefoot.
Her hair still damp.
She was wearing my robe.
Jack sat on the edge of the bed.
All three of us froze.
Then Jack stood up abruptly.
“Michelle. Oh, my God. What are you doing here?”
“Who is she?”
He glanced at the woman and let out a short, nervous laugh.
“Oh… yeah. I guess this looks weird. But it’s not what you think. This is Nina. My cousin. I’ve mentioned her.”
“No, you haven’t.”
He waved dismissively. “She’s my second cousin on my mom’s side. She’s just passing through, and I said she could stay here tonight. It’s not a big deal.”
Nina gave a small, awkward wave. “Uh… hi.”
“It’s almost midnight,” I said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Her flight got in late. I picked her up,” he shrugged. “I didn’t think it mattered since you’d be gone all night.”
I looked at her again.
Late twenties, maybe.
Avoiding eye contact.
I had never seen her before in my life.
“Okay… then where are the kids?”
He answered immediately.
“At Mom’s. They’re more comfortable there. She’s better at babysitting than I am.”
“It’s not babysitting when they’re your own children, Jack.”
“You know what I mean.”
Nina shifted uncomfortably.
Watching them both, I realized something.
I had the simplest way to test his story.
I pulled out my phone.
“Who are you calling?” Jack asked.
I didn’t answer.
Brenda picked up on the third ring.
“Michelle? Sweetheart?”
“Hi, I just wanted to check on the kids. Are they okay? Is Liam sleeping?”
“Oh, he’s having trouble settling. You know how he gets. Ava’s fine.”
I kept my eyes locked on Jack.
His smile had disappeared.
“I really appreciate you taking them tonight,” I said calmly. “With Nina arriving so late and all. I can’t believe I’ve never met her before.”
“Nina? Who’s that?”
“Jack’s cousin. Nina.”
Silence.
Then:
“He doesn’t have a cousin named Nina.”
And then I heard Liam’s voice in the background:
“Is that Mommy? Tell her she can’t go home.”
“Liam?” Brenda said. “What are you talking about, honey?”
“Daddy said his friend could only visit if nobody else was home. I heard him on the phone.”
For illustrative purposes only
The room went completely still.
I hadn’t even realized I had stepped backward until I bumped into something.
I turned.
Hannah. Brooke. Lila. Jenna. Marissa.
Standing in the doorway.
Staring at Jack.
They must have come up when I didn’t return.
On the phone, Brenda’s voice sharpened. “Jack has a friend over?”
“I’ll call you back,” I said, ending the call.
“Nina was adopted,” Jack rushed out. “It’s complicated family drama. Mom wouldn’t necessarily know—”
“Enough!” Nina suddenly stepped forward.
She looked at me.
Relief in her expression.
“He’s lying. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone along with the cousin story… but I’ll tell you the truth.”
“Keep quiet,” Jack snapped.
She ignored him.
“We met on a dating app. He told me he was separated. We’ve been seeing each other for weeks.”
“Weeks?”
I looked at Jack.
He said nothing.
There was nothing left to say.
“You both need to leave,” I said.
“This is my house,” he replied.
“It’s our house. And you don’t get to lie to me in it.”
He tried again.
“Michelle, think about the kids—”
“I am thinking about the kids. Liam heard you. He warned me not to come home.”
That shut him up.
Nina cleared her throat. “I’ll just get my things?”
“Go ahead. Keep the robe,” I said. “And you—” I pointed at Jack. “Pack a bag. You’re not staying here tonight.”
“Michelle—”
“No. Tomorrow, we’re talking to a lawyer.”
A few minutes later, we stood in the entryway.
I opened the door.
The neighbor’s curtain shifted.
The taxi was still outside.
Engine running.
Exactly where we left it.
Jack walked out first, head down.
Nina followed.
She paused beside me.
“I’m truly sorry. I had no idea.”
She didn’t wait for a response.
She left.
Jack hesitated on the step, like he wanted to say something.
I didn’t let him.
I closed the door.
Locked it.
The sound echoed.
My friends surrounded me in a silent group hug.
They didn’t need to say anything.
I had lost a husband that night.
But I was reminded exactly who had my back.
And I made myself a promise:
I would never ignore my instincts again.