Red flags started appearing everywhere. The way Trent would angle his phone screen away from me. How he’d suddenly need “alone time” on weekends. That new cologne he swore was just a gift from work. After twelve years of marriage, I knew when something was off.
When I found the hotel receipt in his jacket pocket, my blood ran cold. The date matched one of his “business trips” with Kira. I spent that entire evening staring at Nora while she did homework, wondering how I’d explain to our daughter that her father was having an affair.
Following him to Kira’s house felt like something out of a bad movie. My hands were sweating so much I could barely grip the steering wheel. When I crept through their open front door, I expected to find Trent with Kira. Instead, I found him wrapped around Colin, Kira’s husband.
The aftermath was messy. There were tears (mine), shouting (his), and one very awkward conversation with Nora about how sometimes love changes shape. What surprised me most was the relief in Trent’s eyes when everything came out. Like he’d been holding his breath for decades.
We’re navigating this strange new reality now. Trent lives in a small apartment near Colin. Nora splits her time between us. And me? I’m learning that the end of a marriage doesn’t have to mean the end of family. Just last week, the four of us – me, Trent, Colin, and Nora – had dinner together. It was weird. It was uncomfortable. And somehow, it was okay.
