“I’m not sure, but it was like she was hiding something from us. And now she’s gone out, saying she’s meeting a friend. Derek, I don’t trust her.”
Derek sighed heavily on the other end.
“Mom, I don’t know what to say. I’ve been getting weird vibes from her too, but I didn’t want to think the worst. Do you think she’s…?”
I didn’t want to finish the thought, but I knew what he was implying.
“I don’t know, Derek. But something’s off, and I think we need to find out what.”
“Okay, let’s not jump to conclusions just yet,” Derek said, trying to sound rational. “But keep an eye on things.
I’ll be back tomorrow night. We’ll talk more then.”
“Alright, Derek. I’ll be careful.”
We hung up, and I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in my chest.
I spent the rest of the evening pacing the house, waiting for Lindsay to return. When she finally did, it was late, and she looked startled to see me waiting in the living room. “You’re still up?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I replied, watching her carefully. “How was your evening?”
“It was fine,” she said quickly, avoiding my gaze. “Just caught up with a friend.”
“Which friend?” I asked, not letting up.
Lindsay hesitated, and I knew she was lying. “Just… a friend from work.”
I didn’t press her further, but I knew I was onto something. She hurried off to her room, clearly uncomfortable under my scrutiny.
I could feel the tension in the air as thick as ever. The next day, Derek called me again, this time with urgency in his voice. “Mom, I need you to do something for me.
I just got a call from a buddy of mine at work. He told me something strange happened last night. A girl from a dating site was supposed to meet him, but she canceled last minute, saying she got into an accident.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Derek, what are you saying?”
“Mom, the girl he described sounded like Lindsay. He didn’t know it was her, but from what he said, I’m almost sure of it. She’s been sneaking around behind my back.”
My blood ran cold.
Everything clicked into place — the late-night outings, the secretive phone calls, the car accident. It wasn’t just an accident; it was part of something much bigger. “Derek, what do we do?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“Mom, I need you to pack her things and bring them outside. When I get back tonight, she has to be out of the house. I’m done with her lies.”
I knew it was the right thing to do, but my heart ached for Derek.
He didn’t deserve this betrayal. As I started packing Lindsay’s belongings, I couldn’t help but think about how quickly things had spiraled out of control. It was time to end this nightmare and protect my son from any more heartache.
The door creaked as Lindsay stepped into the room, her eyes wide with shock as she saw what I was doing. I stood firm, ready for whatever came next. “What are you doing?” she exclaimed.
“Kicking you out. Your lies are over,” I folded my arms on my chest. “You’ll pay for this,” Lindsay growled.
“I’ll call Derek right now!”
I don’t know what Derek said in the call, but when it ended, Lindsay left. I felt a mix of relief and sadness. Derek came home, and after a brief, painful conversation, he decided to file for divorce.
It wasn’t easy, but he knew it was the right choice. The betrayal was too deep, and there was no turning back.
