Patrick looked up.
“A week?!”
“Yes. I leave tomorrow morning at six. 8 a.m. flight. I’ll drive to the airport.”
Laura’s face lit up. “Oh! Do you need me to stay here? Take care of Sophie?”
I smiled sweetly.
“I’m going on a week-long business trip.”
“Yes, please. That would be so helpful. This dinner is just my way of saying thank you for all the help you’ve been giving us.”
I watched Patrick’s eyes. They were practically glowing.
A whole week without me… like I’d handed him a free ticket to paradise, right?
Sophie’s face fell.
“Mommy, you’re leaving for a whole week?”
I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know, baby. I’m going to miss you so much.”
I watched Patrick’s eyes. They were practically glowing.
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I know, sweetheart. But Daddy and Laura will take good care of you. And I’ll call you every single night before bed. I promise.”
Sophie nodded, tears in her eyes.
I stood up and kissed her forehead, holding her close for a moment.
Patrick was watching. I could see him relax. He believed it was real.
Laura stood up. “Well, I should get going. Early morning tomorrow.”
Patrick walked her to the door.
I saw him smile at her. A private little smile.
He believed it was real.
I turned away and clenched my fists under the table.
Just wait, you two… just wait.
The next morning, I woke up at 5:30.
I made coffee. Packed a small suitcase. Made it look like I was really leaving.
Patrick was still in bed, pretending to sleep.
I went into Sophie’s room and kissed her goodbye.
Made it look like I was really leaving.
“Be good for Daddy and Laura, okay?”
She hugged me tightly. “I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you too, baby. So, so much.”
At 6:00 a.m., I got in my car and drove away, watching in the rearview mirror as Patrick’s silhouette stood by the window, making sure I was really gone.
But I didn’t go to the airport.
I drove two blocks. Parked on a side street. And walked back to my house.
I didn’t go to the airport.
I slipped in through the back door, which I’d left unlocked the night before.
Inside, I crouched behind the couch in the living room. I pulled out my phone and opened Facebook.
Then I hit “Go Live.”
I muted my microphone and pointed the camera at the living room.
Within seconds, Patrick came downstairs, just as I’d suspected. He was smiling and humming to himself.
He picked up his phone and called someone.
“She’s gone. Coast is clear. Come over. We’ve got the whole week.”
I crouched behind the couch in the living room.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper.
Twenty minutes later, the front door opened.
Laura walked in.
She was dressed as if she were going to a club. Tight red dress. High heels. Hair and makeup done perfectly.
Patrick’s face lit up when he saw her.
“Wow! You look incredible, babe.”
She laughed and did a little spin.
She was dressed as if she were going to a club.
“I wanted to make a grand entrance. We’ve got the whole house to ourselves.”
“Sophie’s still asleep,” Patrick said, pulling her close. “We have time.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Long. Deep. Like they were the only two people in the world.
I held my phone steady.
The Facebook Live was recording everything.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Soon, comments started flooding in:
“Is that Patrick? 😱”
“OMG, is he cheating?? 😨”
“WHO IS THAT WOMAN?? 🤬”
“Someone tell his wife! 🤯💔”
Patrick’s phone started buzzing.
At first, he ignored it.
But then it rang. And rang. And rang.
Patrick’s phone started buzzing.
He pulled away from Laura, frowning. “WHAT THE HELL?”
He looked at his phone. His face went white.
“It’s my mom. And my dad. And my boss. And… what’s happening?”
Laura’s phone was ringing too.
“Patrick, what’s going on?”
He scrolled through his messages. His hands were shaking.
“I don’t know. Everyone’s calling me. Everyone’s texting.”
Laura’s phone was ringing too.
Then he read one of the texts aloud: “Check Facebook. NOW.”
He opened the app. His face drained of all color.
“Oh my God.”
Laura leaned over. “What? What is it?”
He showed her the screen.
They were live. Right now. Streaming to hundreds of people.
His face drained of all color.
Laura’s hands flew to her mouth.
“No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.”
Patrick’s voice was shaking. “Who’s doing this? Where’s the camera?”
I stood up from behind the couch. Both of them jumped as if they’d been electrocuted.
“SURPRISE!”
Patrick’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. “Cindy, I…”
“Save it.”
“Who’s doing this? Where’s the camera?”
I turned to Laura. “You’re FIRED. Effective immediately. And I’m going to make sure no one in this town ever hires you to babysit again. I’ll call every agency. Every family. You’ll NEVER work with children again.”