Denton walked in just before dinner, setting his briefcase on the counter.
He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Smells great in here,” he said, glancing at the bubbling pot on the stove.
I smiled tightly. “Thanks.
It’ll be ready in a minute.”
At dinner, he laughed with the kids, teasing Ella about her spinning and asking Dylan how his car races went. He looked like the same Denton I’d known for years—kind, attentive, and completely at ease.
And yet, the note burned in my pocket.
That night, as we lay in bed, Denton turned off his side lamp and leaned over to kiss my forehead. “Goodnight, hon,” he murmured, his voice warm and familiar.
“Goodnight,” I whispered back, staring at the ceiling long after he’d fallen asleep.
The next morning, after Denton left for work, I sat at the kitchen table with my phone in hand.
The note lay next to it, the words staring up at me like a dare.
Taking a deep breath, I dialed the number.
“Hello?” The voice was calm, feminine, and confident.
“Hi,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “I would like to book your… services.”
There was a pause on the other end. Then, the woman said, “If you have my number, you must know what to do.
Be here at 2 p.m. tomorrow.” And she gave me the address right before hanging up.
Before I could ask anything else, the line went dead.
I stared at my phone, my stomach churning. What did she mean?
What was I supposed to do?
The next afternoon, I stepped out of the taxi, clutching my bag tightly. The seaside mansion loomed before me, its large windows gleaming in the sunlight. Waves crashed softly in the distance, a soothing backdrop to my rising nerves.
The front door opened before I could knock.
A young woman, polished and poised, stood there. Her sleek black dress hugged her figure, and she wore a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“You must be here for the appointment,” she said, her tone smooth but unreadable. “Come in.”
I hesitated but followed her inside.
The room she led me to was stunning, with elegant furniture, fresh flowers in crystal vases, and the faint scent of lavender in the air.
I perched on the edge of an armchair, trying to look calm while my pulse raced.
The woman gestured to the seat opposite me. “Please, make yourself comfortable. Someone will be with you shortly.”
I nodded, my throat dry, as she stepped out of the room, leaving me alone.
The door creaked open, and the young woman returned.
She moved with an effortless grace, her face a mask of polite professionalism.
I cleared my throat, determined to get answers. “What services do you provide?”
She raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of curiosity and mild amusement. “If you’re here, you should already know.”
Her tone was calm, almost rehearsed, but it grated on my nerves.
“I don’t know,” I said, my voice sharper now. “That’s why I’m asking.”
She tilted her head, as if considering me. “If you say so,” she murmured, her words cryptic.
My frustration bubbled over.
I fumbled with my phone, pulled up a picture of Denton, and held it out to her. “This man. Has he been here?”
For a moment, her composure faltered.
Her eyes flicked to the screen, and something unreadable crossed her face. Then, she smiled faintly. “You’ll find out soon enough,” she said.
“What does that mean?” I demanded, but she stepped back toward the door, ignoring my question.
“Wait here,” she instructed before slipping out again.
The silence that followed was unbearable. My mind raced, imagining every worst-case scenario. Had Denton lied to me?
Was this woman protecting some secret?
Suddenly, a burst of noise shattered the quiet. The door swung open, and a wave of people flooded in, their cheers echoing through the room.
Confetti rained down, and my heart jolted in confusion. I recognized faces—friends, family, even my kids and nephews.
Dylan and Ella ran toward me, laughing and throwing handfuls of colorful paper in the air.
“Mama, surprise!” Ella squealed, jumping into my lap.
I looked around, bewildered, as Denton appeared in the doorway. He wore a sharp tuxedo and carried a bouquet of deep red roses. His grin was wide, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Denton?” I stammered, my voice barely audible over the commotion.
He walked over and knelt in front of me, holding out the roses.
“Happy 10th anniversary, darling,” he said softly.
Behind him, a large banner unfurled. In bold letters, it read: “Happy 10th Anniversary!”
My breath caught as the realization hit me. This wasn’t betrayal.
It was… a surprise.
Denton took my hand, helping me to my feet. “I bet you have a million questions,” he said, his tone playful.
“That’s an understatement,” I replied, my voice shaky but tinged with relief.
He chuckled, glancing at the young woman who now stood smiling near the door. “I knew you’d find that note and wouldn’t be able to resist following the clues.”
I blinked at him, still processing.
“The note? The phone call? All of this?”
“It was all part of the plan,” he said, squeezing my hand.
“This house—it’s like the place where we first met. Remember? That summer by the sea?”
My eyes widened as memories rushed back.
The sandy beaches, the salty breeze, the way he’d made me laugh until my sides hurt. “I… I can’t believe you remembered,” I whispered.
“How could I forget?” he said, his voice soft. “I wanted to do something special.
Something you’d never forget.”
The kids tugged at my arm, their excitement bubbling over.
“Mama, we were in on it too!” Dylan said proudly. “Dad said it was a secret game, and we had to wait here until you showed up!”
Ella nodded enthusiastically. “We got to throw confetti!”
I laughed, the tension in my chest finally breaking.
“You two did a great job.”
Denton gestured toward the young woman. “And this is Rebecca. She works for a company that organizes parties like this one.”
Rebecca stepped forward, smiling.
“Your husband has quite the imagination. I was happy to help.”
As the evening unfolded, Denton explained how he’d rented the mansion for the day and coordinated everything with our friends and family.
“I wanted to remind you of where it all began,” he said as we sat together, the kids playing nearby. “Life gets busy, and sometimes we forget to take a step back and appreciate what we’ve built.”
I felt a lump in my throat as I looked at him.
“I can’t believe I doubted you,” I admitted. “I let my mind go to the worst places.”
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around me. “I wanted to keep it mysterious, but maybe I overdid it a little.”
“Just a little,” I teased, smiling through tears.
Source: amomama
