Our dad lives in another house too, said the son, and I knew his business trips were a lie.
Ive told you a thousand times, Im not wearing that dress! Emily stamped her foot and crossed her arms. Its itchy, and the collars horrible!
But darling, we bought it specially for Grans anniversary, Sarah replied, forcing calm into her voice, though frustration simmered beneath. Shell be upset if you turn up in jeans.
Well, let her be! Im tenI can decide what to wear!
Sarah closed her eyes and counted to five. The last thing she needed was her daughters tantrum. The day had already been exhaustinga crisis at work, rushing through the shops, baking a cake for her mother-in-law. And, as usual, James was away on business when she needed him most.
Em, listen she began, but six-year-old Oliver burst in, clutching a toy car.
Mum, Mum, look what I drew! He thrust a crumpled sheet at her. Its our family!
Sarah glanced at the scribbled figuresherself with a wide smile, Emily with pigtails, little Oliver, and their father, drawn inexplicably twice, on either side of the page.
Thats lovely, sweetheart, she murmured absently. Why is Daddy there twice?
Oliver tilted his head, as if the answer were obvious. Thats not two Daddies. Thats him in our house, and him in the other house where he lives when hes not here.
A cold prickle ran down Sarahs spine. She studied the drawing againtwo figures of James, one beside them, the other near a boxy house at the pages edge.
What other house, Olly? Her voice was light, deliberate.
You know, the one with the flower boxes and the cat, he shrugged. He took me there when you were at work. But its a secretDad said not to tell you.
Emily, momentarily forgetting the dress, froze. Ollie, stop making things up! Dads always on business trips, not in some other house!
Im not lying! Oliver pouted. We watched cartoons and had pizza. And Auntie Laura made us hot chocolate.
Whos Auntie Laura? The room seemed to tilt.
Dads friend. She lives there. Oliver had already lost interest, rolling his car along the floor. Can I go watch telly?
Sarah nodded, numb. Emilys frightened gaze darted between her brother and mother.
Mum, hes confused, she whispered. Dad wouldnt
Go to your room, Em, Sarah cut in softly. Wear whatever you want.
Once alone, Sarah sank onto the sofa. Her thoughts scattered, her pulse loud in her throat. Jamesher Jameswith his fortnightly business trips? The man who always returned with souvenirs, spinning tales of meetings in Manchester or Edinburgh?
She remembered the first flicker of doubt six months ago. Hed started working late, those trips growing suspiciously frequent. Once, shed found a café receipt dated for a day he was supposed to be in Glasgow. Hed brushed it offsaid hed returned early but didnt want to wake them.
Shed believed him. Or convinced herself she had.
Standing abruptly, she went to the filing cabinet where they kept household documents. Bills, mobile statements, utilitiesJames usually handled them, but he wasnt due back for three days.
Then she saw itan unfamiliar invoice. A phone and internet bill, but for an address in Islington. The account holder? James Carter. Her husband.
Her hands shook. Proof. Stupid to hope a child would invent such details. Children that age didnt lienot about things like this.
Her phone buzzed. A message from James: *Miss you all. Counting the days. Love you.*
She stared at the screen. Should she reply now? Call him out? Wait till he returned and watch him lie to her face?
In the end, she typed, *Were fine*, and set the phone aside.
The next two days passed in a haze. She functioned mechanicallywork, school runs, mealsbut her mind circled back to her husbands double life. Oliver said no more about the other house, and Emily watched her with wary eyes, bracing for an explosion.
When James mother hosted a family dinner, Sarah claimed a migraine and sent the children alone. She couldnt bear to sit at that table, smiling as if nothing were wrong. Did his mother know? Was she the only one in the dark?
On the third evening, the key turned in the lock. Sarah sat at the kitchen table, cold tea untouched before her. The children were asleep.
Im home! James cheerful voice rang out as he strode in, suitcase in one hand, a bouquet in the other. God, Ive missed you!
He leaned in to kiss her, but Sarah pulled away. His smile faltered.
Whats wrong? You seem off.
Oliver drew something interesting, she said evenly, holding his gaze. Our family. With you in two houses.
A flicker of panic crossed his face, quickly masked by a laugh. Kids imagine all sorts, love. You know that.
Dont, James. Her voice was tired. I found the bills for the flat in Islington. Oliver told me about Auntie Laura and the cat. Thats a lot of detail for imagination.
James set the flowers down slowly. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. Anna, I can explain.
Explain what? Her anger surged. That youve been living a double life? That your business trips were just visits to another woman? That you took our son to her home?
Its not that simple. He ran a hand through his hair. I never meant for you to find out like this.
When *were* you going to tell me?
I dont know, he admitted. It started as nothing serious. But Laura got pregnant, and
Sarahs stomach dropped. You have a child with her?
Sophies four, he murmured.
Four years. All those nights shed waited up, packed his suitcase, ironed his shirtswhile he raised another child.
Why didnt you just leave? Her voice was eerily calm.
I couldnt choose, he said helplessly. I love our kids. I love you. But I love them too. Its like two separate worlds.
No, James. Its deceit. She stood. You dont get to have both. Not anymore.
He reached for her hand, but she stepped back.
I want you to leave. Pack a bag and go. Live your other life properlyno more hiding.
You cant just throw away fifteen years
*You* threw them away. Her voice broke. When you decided you could have two families. When you thought Id never find out.
Silence. In it, she saw his guiltnot regret, but surrender.
Can I at least say goodbye to the kids?
Theyre asleep. She shook her head. Come tomorrow. Tell them the truthno more lies.
Theyll hate me.
Maybe. She met his eyes. But itll be honest. Unlike you.
She watched him pack essentials into a duffel bag. At the door, she asked, Why Oliver? Why take him and not Emily?
Hes younger. James wouldnt look at her. I thought he wouldnt remember. Emily shed have figured it out.
She already did, Sarah said quietly. She just didnt want to believe it.
When the door closed, she slid to the floor, finally letting the tears come. Grief and relief tangledno more pretending, no more waiting for lies to unravel.
Morning came with Oliver climbing into her bed.
Mum, wheres Dad? He was supposed to be back.
He had to go away, sweetheart. She hugged him tight. Hell come today to talk to you.
Was he mad about my drawing? Olivers lip wobbled. I didnt mean to tell the secret
No, darling. She kissed his hair. You did the right thing. Never be afraid to tell me the truth.
Emily appeared in the doorway, taking in the empty space beside Sarah.
Hes gone for good, isnt he?
Hell visit, Sarah said gently. But he wont live here anymore. He has another family.
I knew. Emilys voice was small. I saw a photo on his phone. A woman with a little girl. He said it was his cousin.
The pain twisted sharperEmily had carried this alone, afraid to break them further.
Sarah opened her arms. Come here. Were staying in today. Pancakes, films, no school.
But what about
One day wont hurt. She managed a smile. Weve earned it.
The children curled into her, and Sarah held them close, resolve hardening. It would be hardfinancially, emotionallybut shed manage. For them. For herself.
Life didnt end with betrayal. It just began anewpainful, but honest.
Mum? Emily whispered. Will we be okay without Dad?
Sarah kissed her forehead. Well be fine. Were a proper familyno more secrets.
And as Oliver chattered about dreams of flying dragons, Sarah breathed deeply for the first time in years. The road ahead was rough, but it was theirsbuilt on truth, not lies.
