Couldn’t Believe It
April’s stomach churned as she watched the exchange taking place at their table. What was supposed to be an innocent date night now looked like a secret hookup.
Was she wrong for believing in and trusting her husband? Was he betraying her in front of her very eyes?
She would find out when she returned to her seat.
Baby Number Three
It had been a month since their third baby, Ava, was born, and this time things didn’t go as smoothly as April thought they would.
The depression was hitting much harder than it did with her other two children. And she often found herself acting out or shouting at her husband over things that weren’t even that important.
But that wasn’t even the worst part.
She Was Feeling Down
Since her daughter was born, April had been feeling down. Her entire life had changed during those last few months, and it was taking a toll on her.
It wasn’t just because she left the military to become a stay-at-home mom, though. There were other concerns as well.
Things she never thought she’d be concerned about.
Certain Doubts
April was starting to have concerns about her image. Having three children has a way of changing a woman’s body. And she was starting to see those changes.
Every time she looked at herself in the mirror, she wondered if her husband, Zane, would still look at her in the same way he once did.
His behavior indicated that he didn’t.
His New Behavior
Since April came home to start her new career path, Zane has been acting differently. While she was in the military, he was super attentive, but now…
Recently, Zane preferred spending time with his phone over his wife. And when that wasn’t an option, he’d be with the kids.
It felt like they never had a moment to themselves anymore.
Feeling Even Worse
Sadly, that did absolutely nothing to make April feel any better. It was quite the opposite, actually.
She tried to address the issue with her husband on multiple occasions. But Zane always brushed it off and told her that she looked as beautiful as she did in high school.
April wanted to believe that. She really did, but it seemed so generic.
Surprising Suggestion
Then one day, all that changed. Zane had gone out with a few of his friends, but to April’s surprise he came home early, and he had a bunch of red roses in his hand.
That would’ve been enough to settle her fears for a while. But Zane took the extra step and asked her to go on a date with him.
If she knew that she’d be in tears when it ended, she might’ve refused.
Incredibly Happy
However, April was so happy that she didn’t think twice before saying yes. For the first time in months, she felt special, and she wanted that feeling to last an eternity.
She kissed her husband before running to their room to get ready.
Not knowing that this date would be the one that would make her change her mind about him for good.
Dressing Up
Since April was in such a good mood, she decided to go all out. She put on the little black dress she knew Zane loved and even splashed on some makeup.
Even though she knew they wouldn’t be alone because the kids would be with them, it would still be a night to remember.
But would it be for the wrong reasons?
Better Than Ever
April looked at herself in the mirror, and for the first time since she had her baby, she wasn’t judging her appearance.
She felt better than ever, and she was determined to enjoy it. April swore that her insecurities wouldn’t be ruining this night.
But some things are easier said than done. That was something she would learn the hard way.
First Date Night In Years
April thought back to the last date she had with her husband and was surprised when she realized that it was over five years ago.
When their first child was born, all those things stopped. She was too busy with work, and when they did have the time, they preferred to spend it as a family.
So this was one special night.
Heading Out
April and Zane decided to go to a local pizza place since their boys loved pizza. As soon as she was ready, she helped Zane get the kids settled into the car and made a mental list of things she needed.
It didn’t seem like they were forgetting anything so they headed out. But April should’ve checked her bag.
It was a mistake she would never make again.
Happy Family
During the ride to the restaurant, everyone was very excited. The boys discussed their options of topics while April and Zane shared a loving look.
This was everything they had hoped for since they started dating. They always wanted a big, happy family, and it seemed like they had just that.
But was she hoping for something that didn’t exist?
The Waitress
When the family entered the restaurant, they were instantly approached by a waitress who seemed happy to serve them.
She led them to a cozy table and took their drink orders before walking over to the bar. That was when April’s problems started.
Her insecurities were slapping back with full force, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.
Insecurities
She watched each movement the waitress made and sighed. I used to look like that, she thought to herself.
Of course, she was comparing herself to the girl she was twelve years ago. And she didn’t take the aging process into consideration.
But those thoughts hit her like a wrecking ball, and they sent her spiraling.
Blond Bombshell
The more time April spent looking at the waitress, the more self-conscious she became. The girl was young and energetic.
And April was one hundred percent sure that she managed to melt tons of hearts when she decided to spend the night out.
She was absolutely stunning, just like April used to be… But wasn’t she still that person?
Mom Of Three
April’s eyes roamed over their table. She knew that deep down, she was still the person she used to be.
But with three kids, she and her husband couldn’t really do all the things they used to do when they were young.
And even though she was only thirty, she felt like age was catching up with her. She just wasn’t the innocent little girl she used to be anymore.
Special Attention
The fact the waitress was being extra touchy when it came to Zane wasn’t very helpful either. Every time she bent down next to him or casually touched his shoulder, April felt worse.
Of course, Zane wasn’t acting on that. He was barely paying attention.
But April couldn’t help but wonder if he’d prefer a girl like her over his wife.
Brushing It Off
As the food arrived, April told herself to snap out of it. She was letting her insecurities get the better of her, and that was ruining her night.
She was still the woman her husband loved, and she wasn’t going to let her mind convince her otherwise.
The waitress was just being friendly so she could get a good tip. Or was she?
Baby Stirs
As the family was eating, Ava woke up, and she wasn’t in a good mood. The baby was screaming at the top of her lungs, drawing everyone’s attention to them.
Being the good mom that she was, April picked her baby up, and she immediately began feeling around for her bottle.
But the bottle wasn’t there.
She Completely Forgot
“Oh my gosh,” April breathed as she realized that she had forgotten the bottle. Before they left, she decided to heat the milk, and she completely forgot about it.
It was still standing next to the microwave. April started panicking.
This was the first time in five years that she had forgotten something so crucial.
Foolish Mistake
Zane asked her what happened, and she told him. “It’s just a little mistake,” he said, trying to offer her some comfort. But it did nothing to help calm her nerves.
April was a perfectionist when it came to her children. When she did something, she checked it a million times to make sure it was perfect.
But this time, she let her excitement overwhelm her, and her child was hungry because of it.
She Had No Other Choice
“She can have some of my pizza,” Luke, the three-year-old, said. If it weren’t for all the judgmental glances that were being thrown her way, April would’ve laughed at his innocence.
But she was too preoccupied with her situation to find the humor in it.
Not knowing what else to do, April grabbed a baby blanket, tossed it over her shoulder, and fed her child.
Stares
However, that just seemed to make the situation worse. At that point, people were staring at her.
They didn’t care about the fact that she could see them, and they didn’t even try to hide their looks.
They were looking right at her and whispering among themselves. That definitely helps my self-esteem, she thought to herself.
Incredibly Uncomfortable
The truth was that April couldn’t care less about them staring at her like she was some kind of alien. It was that they were making her feel uncomfortable that really bothered her.
No woman should be subjected to that kind of gawking. It wasn’t like she was doing something otherworldly.
What she was doing was completely natural.
What Needed To Be Done
April did what needed to be done, and she didn’t care if a bunch of strangers thought she was wrong. Heck, she was even being polite about it by covering herself and her baby.
So those people could say whatever they wanted to. In her heart, she knew it was the right thing to do.
And nothing was going to change her mind.
Progressing Smoothly
After her feeding Ava went back to sleep, and the family continued their dinner as if nothing had happened.
Everything was going so well that April even allowed the boys to order dessert since they were so good.
Besides the one little accident, everything was progressing smoothly. And April thought the night would end that way.
Everything Seemed Fine
A good dinner with her family was more than she could’ve asked for. But the night was far from over, and there would be another incident that would have her questioning everything she thought she knew.
She never expected a trip to the bathroom to turn her whole world upside down.
But that was exactly what it did.
A Trip To The Bathroom
After finishing off her dessert, April excused herself. She went to the bathroom and refreshed her makeup, hoping the night would go on.
She examined herself in the mirror, and once again, she felt good, knowing that even though she wasn’t 18 anymore, she still had her husband’s heart.
But was that really the case?
Shocking Sight
When April stepped out of the bathroom, she saw something that had her stopping in her tracks. The waitress was kneeling next to Zane and slipping him an envelope.
She rushed off after that, but Zane still had the letter. He took it out of the envelope, and his eyes scanned the page.
What on earth was happening?
She Couldn’t Believe Her Eyes
The worst part was when April saw Zane putting the letter down on the table and taking a picture of it. A picture?! Was whatever it said really worth a picture?
April felt tears welling up in her eyes.
This was the worst thing that could’ve happened on what was supposed to be a date night.
All Those Years
She thought back to how they met. They were still in high school when they got together. And over the years, they planned on being where they were now.
Then they got married, and everything seemed to be falling into place. It was a fairytale. Everyone always said that they were meant to be.
But April was starting to have her doubts.
The Memories
She thought about her decision to join the military. Zane was so supportive of her decision, and back then, she thought it was because he wanted her to be happy.
And in all the years she spent there, he never once made her believe that he had ulterior motives.
He even went as far as to quit his job so he could look after their first child.
Promise After Promise
On every anniversary, he promised that he would always be there for her. That his love for her was just as strong as it was on the day they met.
He swore that he would never betray her and that he’d support her no matter what happened.
Were those all lies? Did he say those things so he could be alone? So he could sneak around behind her back?
Was This The End?
April couldn’t help but wonder if that night would be the end of their fairytale.
If the waitress did give him her number, would he act on that?
Has something like this happened before? Would April be able to forgive him if it had to come to that? Could she forgive herself for pushing him away?
Such Confusion
As she stood there watching her husband interact with their children, April felt more confused than ever before.
There were just so many variables in this situation that she didn’t know where to start or where to finish.
She never thought she would be faced with a situation like this one. She never thought she’d have to act on something she wasn’t supposed to see.
A Million Questions
There were a million and one questions racing through her mind, but there were absolutely no answers for any of them. Would there ever be any answers?
As that question passed through her mind, April made a decision so drastic it could make or break things between her and Zane.
What would she do to find the truth?
She Needed Answers
April decided that standing there and letting her mind play tricks on her wasn’t the best way to deal with the situation.
She was a soldier, and she would treat this problem like she treated her missions. With a clear mind and the determination that brought her this far.
She would find the answer one way or another.
Best Foot Forward
April wiped her tears away, took a deep breath, and walked back to her table. When she got there, the letter was gone, and her husband was acting like nothing had happened.
She promised herself that she wouldn’t break at such a crucial point in her life.
And she was sure she could pull it off.
Unable To Hide
But if she thought she could hide something from her husband of ten years, she was making a big mistake. Zane took one look at her and immediately asked what was wrong.
April tried to play it down because she didn’t want to raise his suspicions or discuss it in front of the children.
But Zane did something that caught her completely off guard.
Turning The Tables
Zane offered his wife a warm smile and pulled the letter out of his pocket. “While you were in the bathroom, the waitress gave me this,” he said, waving the envelope in the air.
Zane had a smug smile that infuriated April.
She didn’t know what kind of game he was playing, but he was doing the worst thing possible at that point.
His Offer
Seeing that she wouldn’t budge, Zane said, “Would you like to know what it says?” April couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Zane had always been aware of the effect he had on women. But this would be the first time he rubbed it in his wife’s face.
Had her moodiness really pushed him that far?
Unsure Of How To Act
April looked at the envelope, unsure of how she should respond. Her curiosity was pushing her to snatch it out of his hand and see the insult for herself.
But something else was holding her back. If that letter confirmed her suspicions, she would have no idea how to deal with it.
And she wasn’t sure she was ready to make that choice.
Did She Really Want To Know?
April had no idea if she wanted to see the evidence or not. She never thought that she would be in such a position, so she never thought she’d need a backup plan.
If it said what she thought it said, she’d need to have a serious discussion with her husband about their past.
And she definitely wasn’t ready to hear those kinds of things.
What It Said
Unable to help herself, April took the note and scanned over it. What she saw left her feeling like the biggest fool on the planet.
“The pizza is on the house. Please thank your wife for feeding your baby. Not many people are that brave,” the note said. April doubted her husband for absolutely no reason. He was still as perfect as he always had been.
In order 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 or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.