Catching Them In The Act
She was near her house's driveway when she noticed something odd in her home. The garage door was open, though barely. Inside, the glossy gleam of her husband's truck shone through the darkness.
She pulled onto the sideway, trying to make sense of everything. Her husband never parked his vehicle inside the garage, so why was today different? She was still debating the matter when her eyes caught a woman dressed in black sneaking past the truck.
Linda And Cliff
When Linda and Cliff moved to a small town in Iowa, they only wanted to find a good neighborhood to start their family. The two had been all over the country, jumping from state to state because of their jobs.
But now that they were nearing their mid-thirties, Linda proposed the possibility of them settling down in a picturesque town that was not only peaceful but safe. She had no idea what she was getting herself into.
Early Life
Linda and Cliff met when they were in their early twenties. Linda was on her way to getting her master in law, while Cliff had passed the bar to join the nation's navy SEAL training.
The two's romantic relationship would be on and off, with many things daring to cleave them apart. But it wouldn't be long before they did the unexpected.
Going Through The Motions
Linda and Cliff had been together for seven years before Cliff got on his knees and popped the magic question. By then, he was a full-fledged SEAL with several tours under his belt, while Linda had moved ahead to pursue a Ph.D. in civil law.
For a better part of their late twenties and early thirties, the two spent their time across America, with Cliff's deployments perfectly marrying with Linda's lectures as a guest professor in many universities. But this harmony wouldn't last for long.
Their Home
Everything changed when the couple moved to Iowa. Their home was a perfect two-story house with two garages, a driveway, and the most ideal yard Linda had ever seen.
Looking at the house and the neighborhood surrounding it, she knew this was where she was meant to raise her family. The next few months would test her belief.
Problems
Linda and Cliff had always had their qualms. Some were world-shattering, leading to the breakups before their marriage. Others were minimal, often needing a simple apology to fix. But among their biggest issues was an isolated incident where Cliff didn’t treat Linda right.
She caught him in an uncompromising position with one of his friends, leading to an altercation that almost cost them their relationship. Although several years had passed after that incident, Linda always hoped history didn't repeat itself.
Moving To Iowa
Their move to Iowa was as sound as they expected. They settled into their home, with Linda finding employment in a local university as a lecturer while Cliff enjoyed his few months at home before returning to base.
Due to Linda's teaching schedule, she'd leave home early and return in the evening. She had no idea what her husband was doing behind her back.
A Different Day
The day that the incident took place was a different one for Linda. Halfway through her day, she'd come down with a nasty cough.
After rescheduling the rest of her lectures, she drove to the town's clinic, got some prescription medicine, and quickly hurried home. What she'd find would leave her with no option but to retaliate.
The Garage, The Woman, And The Truck
Linda was near her house's driveway when she noticed something odd in her home. The garage door was open, though barely. Inside, the glossy gleam of Cliff's truck shone through the darkness.
Linda pulled onto the sideway, trying to make sense of everything. Cliff never parked his vehicle inside the garage, so why was today different? She was still debating the matter when her eyes caught a woman dressed in black sneaking past the truck.
Face It Head On
Linda didn't know what to make of the situation. Her blood was slowly boiling as she remembered how Cliff had wronged her years before.
It had taken everything in her to forgive and put everything behind her. But she never forgot. With her fury now simmering, she hopped out of her car and stole into the garage. She'd face this matter head-on.
A Forgiving Person
Linda had always been a forgiving person. As much as she tried not to think the worst in this situation, her mind conjured her biggest nightmares to torment her.
But as she sneaked into the house, getting a better look at the woman, it quickly became apparent that she had misinterpreted everything. As she peered from a corner, one thought razed her mind: I'm in danger.
The Reality Of Things
Linda slowly backed away from the corridor, leaving the house the way she came in. She'd thought the woman was looking for her husband when she realized she was terribly wrong.
The woman was a burglar armed to the teeth. Linda locked every external door, including the garage, through the house's automated system and called Cliff.
Rushing Home
Cliff had been away at a navy friend's house when Linda called. Unknown to her, he’d been spending most of his days there to avoid the boredom of being home alone. He didn't hesitate, jumping on the first cab home. Whoever chose to steal from his family had made a terrible mistake.
Cliff found Linda standing away from their house. He hugged her tightly, glad she was safe, before marching toward the towering house before them. But Linda did something that made him stop in his tracks.
Please Stay
Linda's wrapped her fingers around her husband's wrist tightly. She didn't speak, but her gleaming eyes told him everything he needed to know: Please don't go.
Cliff had been with Linda for over a decade, and he'd always seen that look whenever his platoon would get deployed. This time he would stay by her side.
The Right Way
Cliff remained back, calling the police instead of handling the situation independently. He was more than capable of dispatching whatever danger was lurking within his house, but the look in Linda's eyes kept him rooted.
The police flooded the house in less than an hour, catching the thief who found herself locked in a place with nowhere to leave. They thanked Cliff and Linda for choosing the correct way to deal with the situation. Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.