After months of being on the road, I couldn’t wait to surprise my family on Christmas Eve. I had been planning this homecoming for weeks, imagining the look of joy on my wife Sarah’s face and the excitement in my sons’ eyes. But as I pulled into the driveway, my heart sank when I saw Sarah’s car with my two boys huddled inside.
The snow was falling heavily, but I didn’t even notice. I was too focused on the unexpected scene in front of me. I had been away for so long, and I couldn’t wait to be back home with my family. I had even packed the car with carefully selected gifts to make up for my absence.
As I approached the car, my unease grew. The garage door was open, and Sarah, who was usually meticulous about security, was nowhere in sight. My sons, Tommy and Jake, were bundled up in coats, and their rosy cheeks showed just how cold it was outside. When I asked them what they were doing, they told me that their mother had instructed them to stay put and that she was inside with some man.
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. Who was this man, and what was he doing with my wife? My mind raced with dark thoughts, and I couldn’t help but raise my voice as I demanded answers from my sons. They didn’t know much, but they did know that they weren’t allowed inside the house.
With my heart racing, I led my sons towards the house. The door to the garage creaked as we stepped inside, and the only sound we could hear was muffled voices coming from the living room. I recognized Sarah’s laugh, but there was another male voice that made me feel sick with worry.