t words.

Martha hesitated for a second, then stepped aside and gestured for me to come in. “Please, come inside,” she said.

I stepped into the house, my legs unsteady.

The living room was cozy, with soft lighting and scattered toys on the floor. It looked like a home filled with love.

Martha led me to the couch and disappeared into the kitchen. When she returned, she handed me a glass of water.

“Here. You look like you need this.”

I took a sip, my throat dry. I couldn’t drag this out any longer.

“Tell me the truth,” I said, setting the glass down. “Do you have a family with Danny?”

Martha’s face twisted in surprise. “What?

A family? No, no. Oh, Kate, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.” She sat across from me, shaking her head.

“Danny’s my ex,” she said, and I started crying again.

I took a sip of water, trying to calm myself.

“But we only dated for two months. Then we realized we were better off as friends. When I got pregnant, Riley’s father left us, and Danny supported me,” she explained.

“So Danny isn’t Riley’s father?” I asked.

“No, he’s just a family friend,” Martha said.

I clenched my hands in my lap.

“Then why did you text him ‘Hi, Daddy’?” I asked, my voice cracking.

Martha’s brow furrowed. “Wait… what?” She pulled her phone from her pocket, scrolling through her messages. Then she gasped.

“Oh my God. I didn’t send that. I swear.”

My stomach twisted.

“Then who did?”

Martha put a hand to her forehead. “I think I know.” She turned her head. “Riley!” she called.

A little girl ran into the room, her curls bouncing as she giggled.

“Who’s this?” Riley asked, looking at me with wide eyes.

Martha smiled at her.

“This is Kate, Danny’s wife.”

Riley clapped her hands together. “Yay! You finally came to visit!

Danny says he loves you so much.”

My breath hitched. Children always told the truth, didn’t they?

“Riley,” Martha said, kneeling to her daughter’s level. “Did you send Danny a message today?”

Riley nodded proudly.

“Yeah!”

Martha took a deep breath. “And what did you write?”

“Hi, Danny,” Riley said, grinning.

Martha let out a short laugh, pressing a hand over her face. “That makes sense.” She looked at me.

“She’s still learning letters. Looks like she mixed them up.”

I exhaled, the tension in my body releasing all at once. My head fell back against the couch.

Relief flooded through me, but so did something else—guilt.

“That doesn’t change the fact that Danny never told me about you,” I admitted, looking at Martha.

Martha gave me a knowing look. “I asked him about that. He invited us to the wedding, but we were visiting my mom.

After that, he probably didn’t know how to bring it up.”

I nodded, biting my lip. “I should have asked him instead of jumping to conclusions… then I wouldn’t have bothered you.”

Martha smiled. “Don’t be silly.

I’m glad we talked. I hope you’ll come over again. Riley already loves you from Danny’s stories.”

I smiled back, waved goodbye to Riley, and left.

When I got home, Danny was on the couch.

He sat up the moment he saw me. “Have you been crying?”

“I went to see Martha,” I said.

Danny’s face stiffened. “Kate, I—”

I raised a hand, stopping him.

“I know there’s nothing between you. But why didn’t you tell me?”

Danny sighed. “I was afraid.

Martha is still my ex.”

“For two months,” I reminded him.

“Not even a full two months,” he admitted. “I should’ve told you. But then we started drifting apart, and it got harder.”

“You pulled away first.

That’s why I thought you were cheating.”

Danny reached for my hand. “Kate, I love you. I never would.”

Tears filled my eyes.

“I love you too.”

“Let’s have a date night every week,” Danny said. “And be honest about everything.”

I nodded. “I like that idea.”

I kissed him, knowing we would be okay.

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Source: amomama