Something felt turned off.
It began as an annoying feeling, a kind that crawls at you when something just doesn’t fit right. Maybe it was the way Mark had acted lately – the silent phone calls, the way he left the room whenever I walked in, the persistent scent of perfume that wasn’t mine. I thought I had exaggerated. I’ve never been a jealous or suspicious type. But then Emma said something that changed everything.
My daughter compared our gingerbread house with “secret house dad every weekend” and I laughed until she mentioned a beautiful lady with chocolate. A few days later I found myself after my husband, although I was never a suspicious woman.
Gingerbread House and Secrets that changed everything
When decorating the gingerbread house, my daughter made an innocent remark that sent me chills on my spine. “It’s beautiful, just like Dad’s Secret House takes me every weekend,” she said. At first I laughed, but when she mentioned a kind woman who gave her chocolate, my amusement turned to restlessness. A few days later I found out that I was doing something I never imagined – I was following my husband.
A simple evening becomes a suspicious
One evening in mid -December I managed to leave the hospital soon to change. My daughter, Emma, asked for weeks to decorate a gingerbread house, and I promised her to do it together.
Her excitement was contagious when I pulled out a set of gingerbread.
“Mom, can we do it super nice? With gumdropy, icing and sprinkling?” She asked and jumped with excitement.
“Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, stretching her hand. “If we have to!”
When we finally placed the last rubber on the roof, Emma retreated to admire our work. A huge smile spread on her face.
“It’s so beautiful, Mom. Just as the secret house takes me every weekend, ”she said carelessly.
My heart skipped a beat. “What did you say, honey?”
“The secret house,” she repeated, as if it were the most visible thing in the world.
“You know, the one with a nice lady who gives me candy and calls me” dear. “She’s really nice!”
I forced a smile, despite the storm of thoughts that had rushed over my head.
“Seriously?” I asked and kept my voice stable. “That sounds fun, sweetheart.”
But inside I was something other than calm. Who was the woman? And why did my husband keep it secret?
Doubts crawl
Later that night, when Mark read Emma at bedtime, I stood alone in the kitchen and recorded her words again and again. Could my husband really cheat?
I’ve never been a jealous type, nor have I doubted Mark. But now, with Emmia’s innocent words that reflect in my mind, I couldn’t ignore the annoying suspicion that grows in me.
That night I lay beside him and pretended to sleep, but my thoughts were constantly racing. What if Emma didn’t understand? What if I exaggerated? But what if I wasn’t?
I decided the next morning.
Secret mission
I told Mark that I had a long shift in the hospital because I knew it didn’t doubt.
“I will probably be gone all day,” I said carelessly.
“No worries, honey. I don’t modify Emma, ” he replied, kissing me on his face.
As soon as he left with Emma, I followed and stayed far enough so that he did not notice. My heart pounded when I gripped the steering wheel, uncertain if I even wanted to know the truth.
After a short ride, he pulled into the driveway of the charming house that looked like something from the Christmas postcard. My stomach dropped.
Emma was right – it looked like a gingerbread house.
And then I saw her.
She was beautiful, with soft brown hair that cascaded in the waves over her shoulders. Her smile was warm and pleasant. When Emma ran to her, the woman knelt down and handed her a candy before she hugged her.
Then Mark entered her house.
Confrontation
That was enough for me.
“Excuse me!” I called and stomped to them.
“Mom!” Emma shouted. “Look at the house!”
The woman turned and smiled clearly. “Oh! You have to be Eleanor! ”
I stopped in my footsteps. “And are you?” I asked and narrowed my eyes.
She stretched her hand. “I’m lily. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I am a supplier who works on the house. ”
“Supplier?” I said and washed at me.
“Wait … Didn’t you know about that?” Her smile behaved. “Oh dear.”
I turned to Mark, crossed arms. “What’s the matter?”
Mark exhaled. “I can explain it.”
“You should be better,” I said, my patience is thin.
“That’s not what you think,” he assured me.
“Really? Because it looks like you sneak up with another woman – and bring our daughter to it! ” My voice cracked despite my efforts to remain folded.
“If you just let me explain -“
“Then explain it!” I gave off.
Mark took a deep breath. “This house is for us, Eleanore. I bought it with my father’s heritage. I wanted to surprise you with it as soon as it was ready. Lily is a supplier that helps me reconstruct. ”
I was flashing. “You … what?”
“I know how exhausted you are from long commuting and shifting your hospital,” he continued. “I wanted us to live closer to your work, so you would have more time at home with Emma. I thought if I kept it secret, it would be a perfect surprise. ”
My eyes stabbed my eyes. “You … did you do it for me?”
“For us,” he fixed gently. “For you, me and Emma. There is a corner of reading at the window, Emma has his own playroom and the kitchen is a dream. Our main bathroom even has two sinks. ”
“Well!” Emma encouraged and was already running to the front door.
Mark smiled and reached out. “It?”
I exhaled and finally let the tension leave my body. I took his hand and followed him in, ready to see the future he built for us.
When I entered, my heart was still pounding, but for a completely different reason. The warmth of home, consideration for Mark’s gesture and pure joy on Emma’s face melted my doubts.
I let my fears get the best of me, I jumped to the conclusions before I knew the truth. But now, standing in what our new home would soon be, I realized how much love went to this secret – not a betrayal but a gift.
Mark wrapped her arm around me and his eyes were looking for mine. “Do you like it?”
I exhaled and finally let my smile. “I love it.”
And so what began as a suspicion night has changed to the beginning of the new chapter – one filled with love, laughter and home that we could really call our own.