Scrolling through Facebook, I was just looking for a picture from our anniversary party last month—the one where Lily had frosting all over her face. But as I scrolled, something else caught my eye. A woman named Ella had liked and commented on nearly every single one of my husband’s posts. Her name appeared again and again, and her comments felt… too familiar.
“Looking good as always!” she had written under a photo of Sam and me, all dressed up for a fancy dinner two months ago.
But the comment that made my stomach twist was under a picture from Lily’s birthday party. My daughter had been wearing glittery fairy wings and a silver plastic crown. Ella had written:
“Oh wow, you took my suggestion about the wings! So glad Lily liked them ❤️”
I frowned. Suggestion? How did this woman even know about Lily’s wings? My heart pounded as I clicked on her profile. She was stunning—bright eyes full of mischief, a smile that lit up the screen. She looked vaguely familiar, but I knew I had never met her. And yet, Sam had liked and commented on nearly every single one of her posts.
Just then, Lily came running into the room, her pigtails bouncing. She peered at my screen, then gasped in delight.
“Ella!” she squealed, pointing at the photo with sticky fingers.
My stomach dropped. “You know her?” I tried to keep my voice calm, but it came out tight and shaky.
“Of course, silly! Don’t you? We see her all the time!” She giggled, hopping on one foot.
“What do you mean, all the time?” My heart was hammering now.
“Every Wednesday after school. Daddy picks me up, and we meet Ella.” Lily twirled, completely oblivious to the storm inside me. “She’s so much fun! We get ice cream and feed the ducks. But we don’t give them bread, because Ella says it’s bad for them.”
Then she stopped, eyes widening. Her tiny hands clamped over her mouth. “Oh no,” she whispered. “I wasn’t supposed to tell! Daddy said it was our special secret. Sometimes grown-ups keep secrets so they don’t hurt other grown-ups’ feelings.”
Secret.
The word hit me like a slap. Sam had been meeting another woman behind my back. And worse, he had brought our daughter into it.
I swallowed hard and forced a smile. “It’s okay, sweetie. Why don’t you go play with your dolls? I think Princess Sparkles needs a tea party.”
As she skipped away, humming her favorite cartoon song, I sat frozen, staring at my phone. My reflection in the dark screen looked like someone else—a worried, broken woman who no longer knew her husband.
Was he having an affair?
I had to find out.
The next day, I called in sick for the first time in three years. I parked outside Lily’s school, my fingers gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turned white. My stomach twisted as I watched Sam’s white car pull up. He checked his phone—probably texting her.
Lily came skipping out, her light-up sneakers blinking. Sam helped her into the car, double-checking her seatbelt like he always did. Then they drove off, and I followed at a safe distance.
Minutes later, they pulled into a park. I parked a few spots away, heart racing. Lily kicked her legs on a bench while Sam kept checking his watch. Ten minutes later, a car rolled up, and my breath caught in my throat.
It was her.
Ella stepped out, just as beautiful in person. Lily ran to her, arms wide.
“Ella!” she squealed.
Ella scooped her up, spinning her around. Then Sam walked over and—oh God—he hugged her. Not just a friendly hug, but warm, familiar. And then, he kissed her cheek.
I felt like I was going to be sick.
I watched as they took Lily to a café across the street. The same place where Sam and I always took her for special days out. They laughed together over pizza, like a family.
My hands shook as I pushed open the café door. The bell chimed softly. Ella glanced up, her face turning pale as I stopped right in front of her.
“Hi,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “I’m Sam’s wife.”
Her phone slipped from her hand. “I know,” she whispered.
Behind me, Sam’s voice cracked. “Sarah?”
I turned. He stood frozen, his face ashen. Lily clung to his leg, eyes wide.
“Sit down,” Ella said quickly. “Please. This isn’t what you think.”
“What exactly should I think?” My voice shook, but I sat, needing answers more than I needed to scream.
Sam exhaled. “Ella and I go way back. We dated in high school. She reached out to me on Facebook after she moved back here. Because… well, she should tell you herself.”
Ella hesitated, then nodded. “I needed Sam’s help with something.” She swallowed hard. “My husband passed away last year. We always wanted kids, but it never happened. I started thinking about adopting, but I was terrified I wouldn’t be good enough. I knew Sam was a father, so I reached out for advice.”
She wiped her eyes. “Sam suggested I spend time with Lily. To see if I was ready to be a mom.”
I stared at her, processing.
“We never meant to go behind your back,” Sam said quickly. “I just didn’t know how to bring it up without it sounding weird.”
Ella reached into her purse and pulled out a photo. A little girl with bright eyes and braided hair smiled back at me.
“This is Maya. She’s four, and she’s waiting for me in Arizona. I’m adopting her.”
Tears pricked my eyes.
“I’m moving to Phoenix on Saturday,” Ella added softly. “This was my last week here. I never meant to cause problems. Sam talks about you all the time. About what an amazing mother you are. I just hoped some of that magic might rub off on me.”
I looked at them—Sam, guilty and anxious. Ella, teary-eyed and hopeful. Lily, confused but happy.
The anger drained from me, replaced by understanding—and maybe even a little compassion.
I turned to Sam. “No more secrets.”
He nodded, swallowing hard. “Never again.”
I looked back at Ella. And this time, I didn’t see a threat. I saw a woman trying to find her way to motherhood, just like I had once done.
