I sold my parents’ house and my car to finance my husband’s dream farm. I trusted him completely until a call on the way to the bank made me wonder who I was really building this life for.
I sat on the edge of our old bed early in the morning and watched Jake sleep. He always slept so peacefully, as if he had no debts or bills. I gently touched his shoulder.
“Jake. Wake up. We agreed I’d take the money to the bank today.”
He rubbed his sleepy eyes. “Good morning, honey. Early morning again, huh?”
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“Well, who else but me?”
I got up to make him coffee. That way he could sit in our kitchen and dream about his farm. Five minutes later, he was standing in the kitchen doorway. He took his cup and sat down across from me.
“Martha, you know I love you, right? You’re my rock. You’re all I have.”
I just smiled.
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“Tell me again. What shall we do?”
Jake put the cup aside and held out his arms, as if he were already holding the entire farm in them.
“We’ll have our own land, fresh milk, no chemicals. People will come from all over the country. Our name on every jar. And that’s just the beginning.”
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“And the children? When will we finally be able to send Benny to a decent school?”
“Soon, baby, soon. Everything will be all right. You sold the lake house, that’s the beginning.”
I nodded. That little lake house was the last memory I had of Mom and Dad. But if it helped my husband build his dream…
“But your money… that’s the final piece.”
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I looked at the envelope on the shelf.
“I’ll put it all into your account today.”
“I adore you, you know that?” Jake leaned closer to me and brushed his fingers against my cheek. “No one has done as much for me as you have.”
“Because we’re family, Jake. You promised: the farm is our dream together.”
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“Of course, darling.”
Jake kissed my forehead, so gently I almost believed him. “Nothing bad will happen. You’ve always been my lucky charm.”
And while he whispered those sweet words, I was already getting everything ready to head to the bank.
I really wanted to help my husband get on his own. But I didn’t know that just ten minutes after that conversation, a phone call would turn my whole life upside down.
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***
I stood at the bus stop and felt the cold creep through my coat. The walk to the bank would only take twenty minutes. I kept imagining how I’d hand the money to the cashier, how Jake would hug me afterward.
But deep down I was wondering…
Am I giving too much to this marriage?
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My thoughts were racing so fast that I almost didn’t hear the buzzing of my phone inside my bag. I took it out and looked at the screen.
ALEX.
I narrowed my eyes. I couldn’t remember any Alex among my acquaintances.
I pressed the green button.
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“Hello darling…”
The voice was a woman’s. Soft. Syrupy, like honey dripping from a spoon.
“You weren’t answering. Did she leave? I’m so tired of waiting. I’ve been waiting for you all night…”
A lump formed in my throat so strong I could hardly breathe.
I pressed END CALL without saying a word.
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What was that?
I looked at the phone. The same old crack in the corner, the worn casing…
The phone wasn’t mine!
“Damn…”
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I rummaged through my bag, turning everything upside down. Of course. Jake and I had exchanged phone numbers that morning. I had HIS phone number.
ALEX. His voice kept ringing in my ears.
“I’ve been waiting for you all night…”
I didn’t go to the bank. Instead, I went to the nearest coffee shop, ordered a cup, but didn’t take a single sip.
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The phone was on the table in front of me. I stared at the messages my husband hadn’t even bothered to hide.
“I’ll see you in thirty minutes.” / “I miss you already.”
Suddenly, it hit me.
What if… what if I didn’t let him know I knew? What if I just watched him?
I had to go back for his phone. I could catch him.
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I hurried home, quietly entered, and placed the phone on the kitchen table as if it had always been there. And sure enough, Jake was back. I watched him through the kitchen window. He winked at me.
“Hey! Have you seen my phone?”
“On the table. Right where you left it.”
“You are my lifeline.”
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Not today, Jake. Not anymore.
I watched him send a quick text and walk away again. He didn’t even kiss me goodbye.
“I’ll be late! Meetings. Don’t wait up for me.”
Yes, of course. Meetings.
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I slipped behind him. My heart pounded under my jacket like a bird trapped in my ribs. I jumped into the first taxi I saw (the kind they always show in movies).
We stopped in front of a small house with green shutters. I could hear his voice through an open window: bright, sweet, sticky. I sat in the back seat, watching Jake wrap his arms around a pretty blonde woman.
“Okay, hubby. Let’s play your game together…”
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I wanted to look into her eyes. So I waited until Jake left. Then I got out of the taxi and headed straight for that house with the green shutters.
***
Alex couldn’t have been more than thirty. Her blond hair fell to her shoulders, and an oversized sweater slipped down one side. She blinked, confused.
“Yes? Can I help you?”
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I took a deep breath, hurting my ribs.
“I think so. I’m Jake’s wife.”
For a second he stared. His mouth fell open, then closed again.
“Your… wife?”
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“That’s right. Martha. The woman who pays the bills. The one he’s building his dream farm with.”
He half-laughed, half-snorted, but there was nothing funny in his eyes. He opened the door wider.
“Come in. We’re not doing this on the porch.”
I walked in. I saw his hands were shaking.
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“Why are you here? To call me a witch? To tell me to stay away?”
I almost laughed. God, what a mess we’d let him create.
“Who are you to my husband? Why did he come here instead of going to the business meeting?”
Alex looked away, but lifted her chin.
“I’m the woman he’s going to marry. After he leaves you.”
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“Marry you? Did he say that to you?”
“Yes. He said you’re impossible to live with. Controlling. That you’d ruin him if he didn’t escape now. I’ll give him everything to help him…”
I blinked.
“Will you give him money?”
“Yes. He said he needed it for the lawyers. To pay the divorce settlement. And alimony for your son.”
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I stared at her, my hand tightening on the strap of my bag.
“I sold my parents’ lake house so he could start a business. This morning I was going to the bank to give him every penny I had.”
“You didn’t do it?”
“No, Alex. But I was close to it. Until I grabbed his phone by mistake. I heard your sweet little voice.”
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He stared at me as if he were looking at his own cracked face in a dirty mirror.
“I sold my shares in my father’s company for him. He said we’d find a new place together, far from here. He swore he was done with you.”
“So why did he hide you? Why did he lie to me, telling me this was all for us?”
Alex looked up, her mascara smudging at the corners. She shook her head slowly.
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“I thought he was smart. I thought he loved me.”
“He loves himself. And his bank account. Just like mine.”
Alex sank onto the edge of the couch.
“So what do we do now?”
“If we let him think he still has us both, he’ll fall right into his own trap.”
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Alex wiped his cheek with the back of his hand.
“And then?”
“Then we will recover what is ours.”
He finally smiled.
“Tell me everything.”
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***
I told Jake I had wired all the money directly into his account, and smiled like the confident wife he always counted on.
“It will be effective in three days.”
Alex also did his part. He told my husband he’d have the rest of the money ready for him, just as he wanted. They arranged their little date at the restaurant.
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We’d already agreed: I’d be there too. Not far away. Hidden in plain sight.
I arrived early, before them, and sat right behind a table.
I was wearing an old coat I’d borrowed from Alex’s closet and a cheap blonde wig I’d bought that afternoon. It scratched my scalp beneath the scarf. But I didn’t care. From then on, all I had to do was listen.
Three days, Jake. Did you really think you’d get us both to pay you before you disappeared?
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Ten minutes later, the game began.
“Hey, beautiful,” Jake said, leaning across the table to kiss Alex’s cheek. “Sorry I’m late. You look… amazing.”
“Of course,” I thought. “She’s the ultimate investor in your fantasy.”
Alex didn’t smile back like he usually did.
“I wanted to talk about money again.”
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Jake frowned. “Again? Alex, we’ve been over this before.”
“Yes, but I want to be sure. Why do you need so much, Jake? Where does it all end?”
I could hear the forced patience in his voice.
“It’s all for us, honey. You know that. I have to get Martha off my back. Lawyers cost a fortune. She wants to bleed me dry in the divorce. She’s lost her mind.”
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I stifled a laugh.
Losing my mind? You have no idea how calm I am, Jake. Calm enough to burn you to the ground.
Alex tapped the glass with her nails.
“So you’re really going to leave her?”
Jake let out an annoyed sigh. “Of course I do. Do you think I’d be doing all this if I didn’t mean it? I need you to trust me, Alex. I’m doing this for us.”
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Alex dropped the napkin to the floor. OUR SIGNAL.
I stood up slowly and stood behind Jake. He didn’t see me until I was right there.
“Hey, honey,” I said sweetly, pulling the wig off my head and dropping it onto the table. “Looks like your big deal is almost done, huh?”
Jake’s face drained of color.
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“Martha? What the hell…”
Alex smiled in satisfaction. “Surprise, Jake. Looks like your wife and girlfriend finally agree on something.”
Jake tried to laugh, but it came out wrong.
“They’re both idiots. They were both willing to give me their money. Who’s the fool here?”
Alex raised his eyebrows. “Oh, now you’re not getting a cent from me. Not after this.”
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Jake snorted. “Well, fine. Don’t give it to me. But Martha already transferred everything to me anyway. You should learn from her. Loyal to the end.”
I leaned toward my husband. “No, Jake. I didn’t send you a single damn cent. A call from Alex saved me. Remember when you left your phone at home? Next time, be more careful when playing with two women at once.”
Jake’s mouth opened, then closed. I stepped back, took a dollar out of my purse, and tossed it onto the table.
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“Enjoy your dinner, honey. I’ll pay you what you deserve.”
Alex grabbed his coat. “Let’s go get pizza. Real food, cheap and honest. Have fun explaining it to your next ‘investor.’”
I saw Jake babble behind us as we walked away, both of us laughing. Outside, Alex nudged me with her shoulder.
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“Did you ever think we’d end up here?”
I smiled. “Not once. But I’ll tell you what: if you ever need a partner in crime again, call me.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Deal. But first, extra cheese?”
“More cheese. And maybe extra wine.”
We walked down the street together: two women who had given so much and finally received something in return.
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