“Daddy, you have to look at this!”
Seven-year-old Ava ran into the dining room with tears streaming down her face, clutching a phone in both hands.
Her father, Daniel Reed, immediately turned toward her.
“Ava, slow down. What happened?”
“It's Mom.”
Daniel's expression changed.
He looked across the marble dining table at his wife, Caroline.
She had been quietly drinking coffee.
“What about your mother?”
Ava held out the phone.
“She's in the hospital.”
Daniel took the phone.
His face went pale.
On the screen was a photograph of a woman lying in a hospital bed.
She was unconscious, surrounded by medical equipment.
Daniel looked at Caroline.
“Who is this?”
Caroline's face suddenly lost its color.
“Where did you get that?”
“Ava, answer me,” Daniel said.
Ava pointed at the phone.
“A man sent it to me.”
Daniel stood so quickly that his chair scraped across the floor.
“What man?”
“I don't know.”
Caroline reached for the phone.
“Give that to me.”
Daniel pulled it away.
“Why are you scared?”
“I'm not scared.”
“Then tell me who that woman is.”
Caroline looked toward the hallway.
“Daniel, this isn't what you think.”
“I don't even know what I'm supposed to think.”
Ava began crying again.
“Mommy said I wasn't allowed to tell you.”
Daniel slowly looked at his daughter.
“Tell me what?”
“That lady has been sick for a long time.”
Caroline stood.
“Ava, stop.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Don't talk to her like that.”
Caroline stared at him.
“You don't understand what you're doing.”
“Then explain it.”
She said nothing.
Daniel looked at the phone again.
There was another message beneath the photograph.
“Ask your wife why she has been paying for this woman's hospital room.”
Daniel's eyes widened.
“You've been paying her medical bills?”
Caroline lowered her head.
“Daniel...”
“How long?”
“Please let me explain.”
“How long?”
“Three years.”
The room went silent.
Daniel stared at his wife as if he no longer recognized her.
“Three years?”
Caroline nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
“I couldn't.”
“Why?”
Caroline's eyes filled with tears.
“Because if you knew who she was, you would leave me.”
Daniel looked toward Ava.
“Who is she?”
Caroline didn't answer.
Then Ava quietly spoke.
“Daddy, Grandma told me not to trust Mommy.”
Daniel froze.
Caroline closed her eyes.
“Oh God.”
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
“What did my mother know?”
Caroline looked terrified.
“More than you think.”
Before Daniel could ask another question, Ava's phone rang.
A man's voice came through the speaker.
“Mr. Reed, you need to come to the hospital.”
Daniel grabbed the phone.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who knows why your wife has been hiding that woman.”
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Caroline.
“We're going.”
Caroline shook her head.
“Daniel, please don't.”
“I'm done listening to secrets.”
And as he walked toward the door, Caroline realized the secret she had protected for three years was finally about to come out.
Leave a Comment