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Then, without any clear explanation, everything changed. Mark began constantly refusing to make the trip. Every single weekend, he had a different excuse ready. Urgent work projects that could not wait. Overwhelming exhaustion that required rest at home. Terrible headaches that made driving impossible. Always the vague promise of “maybe next weekend” that never materialized.
At first, I did not think much of his reluctance. People go through phases where they need different things. I assumed he was simply tired or stressed and would eventually want to return to our old routine.
I could not have been more wrong about what was actually happening.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
One ordinary Tuesday afternoon, I received a phone call from our neighbor in the village near our country house. She was an older woman who lived year-round in the area and kept a friendly eye on the properties around her.
“Listen,” she said in a casual, conversational tone, “I saw your husband near your house yesterday afternoon.”
At first, I genuinely did not understand what she was telling me or why it would be worth mentioning.
“You must be mistaken,” I replied with complete certainty. “Mark was at work all day yesterday. He could not have been at the country house.”