Since Daniel was the only one in the family with a driver’s license, the question had naturally arisen: what should they do with the car?
Selling it would mean paying a considerable tax. Keeping it would be too expensive for her mother, especially now that she had lost the person who had supported the household. Daniel had offered what seemed like a practical solution.
“Transfer the SUV into my name,” he had told his mother-in-law. “I’ll drive it and use it for the family. I’ll sell my old car, and together with our savings, I’ll give you the money for a replacement vehicle. You’ll receive a decent amount in the end.”
At first, Claire’s mother had refused to accept money from her son-in-law. Later, after thinking it over, she decided she would take only part of the sum. The rest, she said, would be her birthday gift to Daniel.
But the paperwork had to come first. The money would come afterward.
They were supposed to go to the vehicle office on Monday, after the birthday celebration.
Claire canceled the restaurant reservation and apologized to everyone she had invited. Saturday became an ordinary day. The girls stayed home, played with their toys, and repeatedly begged their mother to call their father—the father everyone believed was away working hard.
Yet the habit of celebrating someone she loved would not let Claire rest. She dialed Daniel again and again.
No answer.
He must be busy, she told herself. He was working.
Meanwhile, in the city where Daniel claimed to be handling his important project, he was humming cheerfully as he soaped himself under the shower. His singing was painfully off-key, but he sang with complete confidence and enthusiasm.
He had left his phone in the bedroom, so he never heard Claire calling to wish him a happy birthday.
Daniel was delighted with himself. His plan had worked perfectly. He had managed to get rid of his wife and children for the entire weekend.
His girlfriend, Sophie, passed through the bedroom just as the phone began ringing again. She frowned at the screen.
The caller was saved under the name “Sister.”
Something about the repeated calls made her uneasy.
“Dan?” she called, opening the bathroom door a crack. “Your sister is calling. Maybe she wants to wish you a happy birthday.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he answered through the rush of water. “I’ll call her later. I can’t exactly chat with relatives while I’m in the shower. Come here instead and wash my back.”
“All right, sweetheart. I’m coming.”
Sophie smiled, closed the bathroom door, and glanced at the phone. On a whim, she touched the screen and selected the video-call option.
She expected to see Daniel’s sister.
Instead, a little girl of about six appeared.
“Mommy…” the child said, turning toward the woman beside her. “Why is there a strange lady on the screen?”
The girl looked remarkably like Daniel.
Sophie assumed she must be his niece. She smiled and waved brightly.
“Hi there! What’s your name?”
But the child had already handed the phone to her mother.
Now Sophie was looking at an adult woman. She appeared perfectly ordinary, with light-brown hair pinned back from her face. A tense line had formed across her forehead.
Sophie felt the awkwardness of the moment and hurried to fill the silence. She had never met any of her boyfriend’s relatives before.
“Hello!” she said warmly. “I’ve been hoping to meet you for ages.”
“I’m sorry,” the woman replied cautiously. “Who are you?”
“My name is Sophie. I’m Daniel’s girlfriend.” She laughed lightly. “Well… your brother’s girlfriend. He’s in the shower right now, getting ready for the evening. You know it’s his birthday today, don’t you? We’re going out to dinner, and it’s such a shame you won’t be there.”
She continued before the woman could respond.
“So I thought perhaps we could wish him happy birthday together. It’s a special day, after all. We could do it right now, over video. He’ll be thrilled, I’m sure.”
Claire listened without blinking.
Only the crease on her forehead grew deeper.
“So your name is Sophie,” she repeated in a voice barely above a whisper. “And you’re Daniel’s girlfriend?”
“Yes.” Sophie looked delighted. “We’ve been together almost a year. I’ve wanted to meet you so many times, but Daniel never seems able to arrange it. I even told him I could come visit you, or you could come stay with us. I’d show you around. It’s such a lovely place here.”
Her smile widened.
“I’m so happy you called today. Otherwise, who knows how long we might have gone without knowing about one another? Daniel is very private, but he’s wonderful. I think our relationship will become serious very soon.”
Claire forced herself to smile.
Everything was clear now. There was nothing left to misunderstand.
She did not reveal that she was not Daniel’s sister at all, but his legal wife. Fortunately, the girls remained quiet too.
“All right,” Claire said evenly. “Let’s give him a birthday surprise. I’m glad we finally met as well. Don’t end the call, please. I’m going to put on a party hat, bring out the cake, and have the girls blow out the candles with me. Then we’ll all sing ‘Happy Birthday.’ How does that sound?”