I’d always believed in Wade, my husband, but lately, the way he kept going over to our new neighbor’s house made me uneasy. In the beginning, it seemed harmless—he helped her carry some heavy boxes, changed a lightbulb, just normal neighborly things. But as the weeks passed, it felt like he was going there nearly every single day.
“Why are you always over at her place?” I asked one night, my voice sharper than I intended.
Wade barely looked up from his phone. “She’s a single mom, Dana. She just needs a little help. It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? You’ve been at her house almost every day this week.”
He let out a sigh and waved me off. “You’re reading too much into it. She’s just going through a tough patch.”
I wanted to believe him. Wade never seemed like the kind of man who would cheat. But doubt had already settled in, and it was growing stronger every day. Then came the moment when everything changed.
One afternoon, I came home earlier than usual. As I pulled into the driveway, I saw them standing on her porch. Wade’s arms were around her, and the hug looked far too familiar. My stomach flipped. All the worries I’d been trying to ignore suddenly felt very real.
Wade was cheating. My Wade was having an affair.
The next morning, I couldn’t sit around pretending everything was okay. I needed to know what was really going on. I grabbed a tin of cookies—something to make me look friendly—and walked across the street, heart pounding. I told myself I was just being a good neighbor, but I knew why I was really there.
The door opened, and Camille smiled, looking surprised to see me. “Dana, hi!”
“Hi, Camille.” I held up the cookies and tried to smile. “I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.”
“That’s really kind of you! Come on in.”
The smell of fresh paint still lingered inside, and toys were scattered across the living room floor. As we chatted, I kept glancing around, looking for anything that might show Wade had been there—his jacket, his tools, something. Then a little boy ran into the room, laughing. He looked about five years old, with dark brown hair and eyes that made my heart stop. He looked just like Wade.
“Levi, say hi,” Camille said, gently brushing the boy’s hair back.
Levi gave me a small wave and then ran off to play. I stood there frozen. Could he be Wade’s child? The thought made my stomach twist. The resemblance was too strong to ignore.
Camille’s voice broke into my thoughts. “Levi’s birthday is coming up. We’re having a small party. Just cake and a few close friends. You and Wade should come!”
A birthday party? That would be the perfect chance. I could wait, watch them together, and catch them in the act if there was anything to catch.
“That sounds lovely,” I said, my smile tight. “We’ll be there.”
Back home, I whispered to myself, “Just wait. They won’t see it coming.”
When the day of the party arrived, I was more than ready. Camille, Wade, and Levi were outside putting up decorations. They looked like a happy little family, and it made my blood boil.
I had planned something bold—a garbage truck I’d arranged to show up and dump trash all over her front lawn. It was my way of making a point, loud and clear. Right on time, the truck rolled up. The driver gave me a nod and dumped everything onto the grass with a loud crash. People gasped and stepped back in shock.
Wade’s face turned from confusion to worry. Camille looked stunned. I stood tall, feeling a strange, cold satisfaction rising in my chest.
“What is going on, Dana?” Wade asked as he walked over. “Why would you do this?”
“I know what you’ve been doing!” I yelled, pointing straight at Camille. “You’ve been sneaking around behind my back! And Levi—he’s yours, isn’t he? You think I can’t see it?”
Wade’s mouth fell open. Camille looked pale and shaken. “Dana, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to me!” I snapped. “I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. I’ve seen how much time you spend together!”
But then I noticed something I hadn’t seen before. On a table nearby sat a large cake, carefully decorated. Written in icing were the words: Happy Anniversary, Dana.
My breath caught. Anniversary? Our anniversary?
“What… what is this?” I asked, my voice suddenly small.
Wade stepped closer, speaking gently. “I wanted to surprise you. Camille helped me plan it. It was supposed to be for us.”
I had forgotten our anniversary. I’d been so caught up in my jealousy that I never even remembered the date. But before I could say anything else, Wade put his arm around Camille again like it was no big deal, and my heart squeezed painfully.
“Why are you hugging her?” I asked, my voice cracking.
Wade opened his mouth, maybe to explain, but I couldn’t stay to hear it. I turned and ran, tears spilling down my cheeks as I left the party behind.
I spent the next two days hiding in a cheap motel on the edge of town. The curtains were thin and didn’t block much light, but I didn’t care. My phone kept buzzing with messages and missed calls from Wade, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer. My mind was spinning. If Wade really had been cheating, why would there be an anniversary cake? But if he wasn’t, then why all the secrecy?
On the third day, I forced myself out and went to the café I always visited when I needed to clear my head. It was warm and smelled like fresh coffee, but I could barely taste anything. I sat in silence, staring into my cup, until I saw someone walk toward me.
It was Camille.
“Dana,” she said softly. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
I gave a small nod, not sure what to expect. She sat across from me and looked at me gently, with no anger in her face.
“You deserve to know the truth,” she began. “Wade… he’s my brother. Levi is my son—his nephew.”
I felt the air leave my lungs. His sister?
“I’ve been going through a really bad time,” Camille continued. “My ex was abusive. Wade has been helping me get back on my feet and making sure Levi and I are safe. I asked him not to tell anyone, not even you, because I wasn’t ready. The party was meant to be a surprise for you, and after that, we were going to explain everything.”
Tears stung my eyes. I’d been so wrong.
“Wade’s waiting outside,” she said quietly. “If you’re ready, he’d really like to talk.”
I stepped outside, my heart beating fast. Wade was standing beside the car, with Levi holding his hand. Without saying anything, Wade pulled me into a gentle hug, and all the tension I’d carried started to melt.
“Want to go get some ice cream?” Camille asked, her tone light. “We can all go together.”
Levi’s eyes lit up. “Ice cream!”
Wade smiled at me. “What do you think? Ice cream first… then maybe we can finally celebrate our anniversary the way we were supposed to.”
I let out a small laugh and nodded. “Yeah, let’s do that.”
