My Husband Turned off His Phone Location Every Time He Left Our House – One Afternoon, I Followed Him, and What I Saw Made Me Regret Ever Checking
“How old are you?”
Daniel stared at her.
“She kept them all?”
“Every one.”
His face crumpled, but after weeks of lies, I couldn’t comfort him.
“When did Isla contact you?”
Daniel hesitated.
“When did Isla contact you?”
“Before the twins were born,” Isla answered.
“You knew while I was pregnant?”
“I didn’t reply at first,” he said.
“When did you?”
“After Kai and Theo came home.”
I gripped my keys.
“You knew while I was pregnant?”
“So, while I was recovering and learning how to care for two babies, you were meeting her.”
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“That’s different from protecting me.”
“You were overwhelmed.”
“You probably told her I was fragile, huh?”
She looked at the ground.
“You were overwhelmed.”
“He said there was never a good time.”
I faced Daniel.
“You made my recovery your excuse.”
“I was scared you’d leave.”
“So you let me question myself. You blamed the babies and lied about the money.”
I looked at Isla.
I faced Daniel.
“What did he send you?”
“Money for bills after Mom died. I didn’t know it came from your emergency account until I asked for money again, and he told me. I’m sorry. I just… I needed help.”
“I believe you.”
Daniel’s head lifted.
“Helping your daughter wasn’t the betrayal,” I said. “Taking our money and lying about it was.”
Isla wiped her cheek.
“I believe you.”
“I thought you knew I existed…”
That hurt more than I expected.
“No, honey. I had no clue.”
Daniel had made her believe I had agreed to keep her outside our family.
I stepped back when he reached for me.
“You aren’t coming home tonight.”
“No, honey. I had no clue.”
“Megan, the boys need me.”
“They need honesty more.”
“I’m their father.”
“And I’m the mother you used every time the truth became inconvenient.”
His hand fell.
“You know where Kai and Theo will be. You can call, but tonight, you’re staying somewhere else.”
“I’m their father.”
For once, Daniel did not decide when I was ready for the truth.
I looked at Isla.
She stood beside her mother’s memorial, holding photographs of children she’d never met.
Daniel had hidden her for 17 years.
Then he’d hidden her again.
I looked at Isla.
***
Mom opened the door before I knocked.
“What happened?”
I looked at my sleeping sons.
“Daniel has a 17-year-old daughter. She knew their faces and names. I didn’t even know hers.”
***
The next morning, I called Daniel.
