I had planned to surprise my husband with lunch at work, but instead I found out he was on holiday.
Confused and suspicious, I followed him the next day and discovered the shocking secret at my sister’s house. What I discovered made me question everything I thought I knew about my marriage and my family.
Last Tuesday, I decided to surprise Ben with lunch at work. In the morning, I made his favourite dish, lasagna. I had some free time when the kids were in school, so I thought it would be a sweet gesture. After all, what husband wouldn’t enjoy a surprise visit from his wife with a home-cooked meal, right?
When I got to his office, the receptionist gave me a perplexed look. ‘Are you here for Ben?’ – She asked, looking at the lasagne in my hands. ‘Yeah, just wanted to bring him lunch. Is he home?’ She hesitated. ‘Ben’s been on holiday for the last two weeks.’ I stood, stunned, trying to comprehend her words. A holiday? He’d told me he’d been working late all week.
My stomach twisted and I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. I thanked her and left. At home, I tried to make sense of what had happened. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. But what kind of misunderstanding lasts a fortnight? I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. So I did what any suspicious wife would do – I decided to follow him up the next day.
The next morning I called my mum and asked her to pick up the kids for the day. I told her I had a few errands to run. She was happy to help, ignoring the turmoil in my head. I then followed Ben to find out what was really going on. I watched as he left the house and got into his car, and I followed him at a safe distance.
He drove across town and stopped in front of Kate’s house-my sister’s house. My mouth went dry as I watched him get out of the car. Kate got out, smiled warmly, hugged him, and led him into the house. My mind went blank. Was Ben really having an affair with my sister? I couldn’t believe it, but what else could explain it? The pain of betrayal pierced me to the core, and I felt tears come to my eyes.
I should have known for sure. I parked the car a few houses away from Kate’s house and called Carla, my lawyer. She had already handled a few legal matters for us, and I trusted her judgement. I told her everything, my voice shaking with anger and resentment. ‘Julia,’ Carla said, her tone calm and professional, ’gather concrete evidence before jumping to conclusions. It’s important to be certain before taking any legal steps.’ I knew she was right.
So I went back to Kate’s house, lurking nearby like some kind of spy. I felt ridiculous, but I had to find out the truth. I looked out the window. Inside, I saw Ben and Kate sitting at the kitchen table, huddled over their lunch and a pile of papers. They looked serious and glanced around every now and then, as if afraid of being caught. What were they up to?
The more I watched, the more convinced I became that something was terribly wrong. This wasn’t just a fling – they were planning something. I took a few pictures with my phone, and my hands were shaking. I needed proof, something concrete to confront Ben with. All sorts of horrible scenarios were running through my head. What were they up to?
I called James from the car. He picked up on the first ring. James, my brother-in-law, was always the most sensible one in the family. Married to Kate for almost ten years, he was the calm, rational counterbalance to her more impulsive nature. He and Ben got along great, often bonding over their shared love of sports and grilling. I trusted James, and if anyone could help me make sense of it all, it was him.
‘James, it’s Julia. I need to talk to you about Ben and Kate.’ There was a pause. ‘Julia, calm down. What’s going on?’ ‘I think they’re having an affair,’ I whispered, my voice shaking. James sighed. ‘Julia, you need to come over here. Now.’ I hurried back to Kate’s house, fear and betrayal swirling around in my head. When I arrived, I saw that James’ car was already parked outside the house.
I crept up to the house and peered out the window again. James was there, sitting with Ben and Kate at the kitchen table. Through the half-open window, I could hear bits and pieces of their conversation. ‘Julia called me,’ James said with a concerned look. ‘She’s really worried and thinks you two are having an affair.’ Ben nodded. ‘So she doesn’t know about everything.’ ‘That’s great!’ replied Kate, her tone filled with excitement.
Couple having relationship issues
‘Our plan is working,’ Ben added. My heart shattered. I’d heard enough. I stormed into the house, seething with anger. ‘You lying, cheating traitors! How could you do this to me?’ Kate and Ben looked at me, stunned. James stood up, trying to calm me down. ‘Julia, please let us explain.’ ‘Explain what? That my husband is cheating on me with my sister?’ I screamed, tears streaming down my face.
‘Julia, it’s not what you think,’ Ben said softly, trying to calm me down. ‘I took a holiday to prepare a surprise for you.’ I laughed bitterly. ‘A surprise? Meeting every day at Kate’s house is a surprise?’ ‘Yes,’ Ben said, his voice flat. ‘I was planning to fulfil your dream. You always talked about having a coffee shop, right?’ I blinked, not understanding anything.
‘What?’ Kate stepped forward, holding a stack of papers. ‘Ben used his inheritance to buy the coffee shop for you. We worked on the business plan and all the legal paperwork here.’ My anger began to subside, replaced by confusion and a glimmer of hope. ‘A coffee shop? For me?’ Ben nodded, pulling out a folder and holding it out to me.
‘Look, here’s the paperwork. The lease agreement, the renovation plans, everything. I wanted everything to be perfect before I told you. James and Kate are co-investors, so I wanted to make sure they were in full agreement.’ I stared at the papers, the words blurring through my tears. Everything was here. Proof of his love and devotion, the coffee shop I’d always dreamed of. My knees buckled and Ben managed to pick me up before I fell.
‘Oh my God, Ben… I’m so sorry. I thought… I thought you…’ ‘I know,’ he said, hugging me tightly. ‘I should have told you, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I wanted to see your face when I handed you the keys.’ ‘I’m such an idiot,’ I sobbed into his chest. ‘I’m so sorry.’ ‘Shh, it’s okay. I understand why you felt that way. But Julia, I love you. I would never betray you.’
I nodded, feeling the weight of my mistake. ‘Thank you, Ben. Thank you for everything.’ The next day we went to sign the final papers. The coffee shop was ours. I could hardly believe it. When I walked into the quaint little space, the smell of freshly baked goods already in the air, I felt so joyful. Ben squeezed my hand. ‘This is all for you, baby. I believe in you.’
I smiled and tears of happiness ran down my face. ‘I love you, love. Thank you for believing in me.’ We worked together, transforming the coffee shop into something magical. It became a place where dreams came true, where love and trust were the secret ingredients in every recipe. Looking back, I realise how important trust and communication are in relationships. Misunderstandings may happen, but it’s how we handle them that really matters.
Standing in my coffee shop, surrounded by the aroma of fresh baked goods, I felt grateful for Ben’s unfailing love and support. We have met the storm, and together we are stronger. To anyone who feels like their relationship is in a quandary, I want to tell you that sometimes it just takes a little trust and a lot of love to see the truth behind the secrets. And sometimes those secrets can turn out to be the most beautiful surprises.
