That’s how it was for me and my three-year-husband, Liam. I never doubted him since there didn’t seem to be any need to.
Until his birthday arrived and crushed my belief in love, marriage, and friendship.
Liam’s birthday rolled around, and he informed me that he had an urgent business travel to another city. He told me that he couldn’t refuse and promised to celebrate later.
“I’m sorry, Trina,” he replied. “But you understand how essential work is, and I simply cannot refuse anything like this. Work is the only way we can support our lifestyle.”
It irritated me that whenever he needed to work, Liam always mentioned “affording our lifestyle.”
“So,” he added. “When I’m back, we can celebrate by going out to dinner or something.”
He pulled a suitcase out from the closet and began packing.
“I’ll be back on Sunday evening,” he said.
Naturally, I had a heavy heart, but what else could I do?
“Fine,” I said. “We can totally do that.”
The night before his birthday, Liam called a cab and was off to the airport.
“I’ll see you soon!” he said, slamming the cab door behind him.
The following day, as I was making myself some breakfast, my mother called me.
“Hi, darling!” she said excitedly. “What do you and Liam have planned for his birthday weekend?”
“Nothing, Mom,” I replied, sipping on my coffee. “Liam is actually away for the weekend. It’s for work, so he didn’t exactly have a choice. We’re going to celebrate his birthday next weekend, instead.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” my mother said. “But let’s do something together today, then? I need to get a present for Mimi’s baby shower, too.”
“Perfect,” I replied. “I’ll shower and then come get you.”
My mother and I went to around eight different places looking for gifts for her friend’s daughter’s baby shower.
“Come on, Trina,” my mother said. “We can’t get the usual gifts for Mimi! “She’s eccentric, and I’m sure it will rub off on the baby.”
“You’re not wrong,” I replied, chuckling.
After a while, we were both hungry and needed to settle down and rest.
“Let’s get some food,” my mom said, already walking out of the mall and down the street across the mall.
As we walked down the street, my mother noticed something that was about to change my marriage.
“It’s just too big and too colorful for me…” I was talking about my sister’s new tattoo when my mother tugged my arm and pointed out a restaurant window.
“Look,” she hissed.
So there they are. My hubby is my best friend. Sitting unnaturally close together in a restaurant booth.
Mandy stroked her fingers across my husband’s cheek before leaning in to kiss him.
“What in the name of the Lord is going on?” my mother gasped, her eyes wide. “That is Liam, right? And Mandy?”
I nodded.
“Yes. That’s Liam,” I said.
“Wasn’t he supposed to be out of the state?” she asked, stating the obvious lie that my husband had fed to me.
“He was. But I guess he just wanted to spend his birthday with his mistress.”
“Your best friend did this to you,” my mother said, her tone flat.
“I should go in and confront them, right?” I said, shuffling my weight from foot to foot.
“No, darling,” my mother said, beginning to steer me away. “That’s exactly what you won’t be doing. But I’ve got a plan.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked, glancing at the happily oblivious couple in the window.
“Trust your mother, Trina,” she said.
My mom discreetly took a few photos of Liam and Mandy and led me to a salad bar a few doors down.
“We’re going to feed ourselves, and then I’m going to tell you how this will go down.”
We ordered our salads, my anxiety coming and going in waves.
My mom’s plan was brilliant, but it required patience on my part.
“Just trust the process, Trina,” she said. “This is the only way it will blow up for everyone involved.”
When Liam returned from his so-called business trip, I greeted him with a happy face.
“Welcome home,” I said, forcing a smile.
The week flew by in a blur as I waited to execute my mother’s plan.
“Hi, darling,” she said as I opened the door for her on Friday afternoon. “Liam’s still at work?”
“Yes, do you have everything I need?” I asked.
My mother gave me a pregnancy test that was packaged in a thin box. Earlier that week, she had asked Mimi to use it so that the result would be positive.
Then, she gave me the nanny cams, stashed in two little white frames.
“You’re supposed to connect it to your computer or phone and it should all be good to go.”
On Saturday, Mandy and Steve came over for dinner, as per my invitation during the week.
And just like that, the stage was set.
“Did you really cook all of this by yourself?” Mandy asked, helping me set the table.
“Yes, of course,” I replied. “It’s an important evening. I have a big announcement to make.”
“Really?” my husband asked from his place at the table. “What is it?”
I pulled the pregnancy test out of my pocket and waved it in the air.
Liam’s eyes widened and he pretended to be happy.
“Wow!” he said. “This is a big surprise!”
Mandy looked at me uncertainly, a smile faltering on her lips.
“Congratulations, guys!” she said.
“Thanks,” I replied. “Of course, you’ll be the baby’s godmother!”
Mandy looked nervous but picked up a piece of roasted carrot and popped it into her mouth.
“But there’s something else that I need to share as well,” I said.
“What could be more important than us having a baby?” Liam asked.
“The fact that the baby is Steve’s,” I said nonchalantly.
The room fell silent as Steve choked on his mouthful of food.
“What?” he gasped in unison with Mandy and Liam.
“This is nonsense,” Steve said. “There’s no such thing.”
“We’ve been seeing each other for over a year now,” I said, looking at Steve.
I almost laughed at my own lies.
“I think that it’s time for us to come clean,” I continued. “Just like Liam and Mandy. You can confess, too.”
“What is wrong with you?” Liam shot back. “It looks like the hormones are getting to you, and you’re out of your mind.”
Mandy ran to the bathroom in tears, with Liam hot on her heels.
As soon as they left, Steve turned to me, panic in his eyes.
“How could you lie about that?” he asked.
I pulled out my phone and went onto the app that allowed me to view the footage of the nanny cams.
“This is why,” I said, shifting closer to him.
“Does Trina know about us?” Mandy asked Liam, her voice echoing in the bathroom. “I don’t want to lose Steve. I married him for money, and nothing will make me give that up.”
Steve gasped.
“Sweetheart, Trina is just being Trina. She doesn’t know anything. Also, you look very pretty when you cry…”
Their voices trailed off and the sound of kissing took over.
“How long?” Steve asked. “How long has this been going on?”
“I just found out myself,” I said. “I’m not pregnant either.”
Mandy and Liam came back to the table and sat down, avoiding eye contact.
“So, you’ve been cheating on me and staying with me for my money?” Steve exploded. “You need to get your things and get out.”
“Finally,” Mandy spat. “We don’t have to hide anymore.”
“You will have nothing when I’m done with you,” Steve said. “When we get divorced, you will have nothing to your name besides the clothes you have. There’s a clause in our prenuptial agreement about cheating. Mandy, you’re through. It’s time to look for a job.”
Mandy gasped loudly.
“You can’t leave me with nothing,” she whined.
“I can,” Steve said, picking up his glass of brandy.
I turned to Liam, my voice steady.
“You can pack your things, too,” I said.
“What about the baby?” he asked, his eyebrows almost touching as he frowned.
“There is no baby,” I replied. “I just wanted to see if you were genuinely excited by the thought of a baby. But you weren’t.”
My husband was furious and followed Mandy out. Fortunately for me, my mother remembered that when Liam and I married, we had a prenup similar to Mandy and Steve’s. Liam would be left with only his work.
That wouldn’t be enough to support the lifestyle we were used to because, as important as Liam thought his job was, mine was equally crucial.
With Steve as a witness and the nanny cam filming everything, I wasn’t concerned about how my divorce would turn out. I had enough of material to present in court if Liam wanted to contest anything.
