I Was Christmas Shopping With My Mother-in-Law When I Saw My Husband Holding Another Woman’s Hand—Then She Whispered, “Don’t React. Watch Me.”

Avoidance.

He did not want to lose me.

Did not want to stop seeing Samantha.

Did not want to admit he had crossed a line.

So he delayed choice until the mall chose for him.

That pattern had existed elsewhere in his life too.

Career decisions.

Family conflict.