Sarah did not stay long after we ate dinner. The plates were still on the table. There were bits of chicken and rice left.

Sarah stood up fast. She grabbed Jake’s arm with both her hands. “Can you take me home?” she asked.

Her voice was loud. She smiled a big smile, but it did not look nice to me.

I rolled my eyes. I did it slow so no one would see. But inside, I felt mad. Sarah acted like she did not notice. She kept holding Jake’s arm.

Jake looked at me. His eyes said sorry, he smiled a small smile. It was the kind of smile he gave when he did not know what to say. I did not smile back. My face stayed still.

When I stayed quiet, Jake said, “Wait a minute. Let me help Chloe clean up first. Then I will take you.”

His voice was soft. He always tried to be fair. But Sarah made a face. She puffed her cheeks. She looked like a baby who did not get candy.

I was so tired of Sarah acting like a baby. Every time she came, she wanted all of Jake’s time. She never helped. She never said thank you.

I waved my hand. “Just take her,” I said. “I can wash the dishes alone.”

My voice was flat. I just wanted her to go.

Lily heard me.

“Daddy, where are you going?” she asked. Her voice was sweet and high, she stood up fast raising her little arms up. She wanted Jake to pick her up.

Jake smiled big. He bent down. He lifted Lily into his arms. He kissed her cheek.

“Daddy will be back really soon!” he said. “Stay here and play with Mommy, okay?

Sarah made a grumpy sound. “Why do you want to come, kid?” she said. Her voice, not so nice.

I did not like that. My heart felt tight. I reached out and took Lily from Jake’s arms. Her little body was warm.

“Sweetie,” I said,

“Daddy is just taking Aunt Sarah home, he will be back before you go to bed. Can you stay here with Mommy?”

She nodded slowly. Then she hugged my neck tight. Her cheek was soft on mine. She turned her head to Jake.

“Okay!” she said. “But come home fast, Daddy!”

Jake leaned in. He kissed Lily’s forehead.

“I promise,” he said. His voice was warm like a blanket.

He put Lily down. Her feet made little thuds on the floor. Jake grabbed his car keys from the table. He walked to the door. Sarah followed him. She held his arm again. She looked back at me. Her smile was strange.

But I did not care anymore. I just wanted her out of my house. The door closed.

The house was quiet now. Too quiet. I looked at the table. Plates. Cups. Forks. Crumbs. Everything was messy. I started to pick up the plates. One by one. They were heavy in my hands.

Lily sat on the floor. She played with her doll. The doll had yellow hair. Lily made the doll talk.

“Hi, Mommy!” she said in a tiny voice. I smiled a little. Lily made everything better.

I washed the plates. Scrub. Scrub. The sponge was rough. The chicken bits came off. I rinsed.

Time went slow. Lily yawned. Her eyes were sleepy.

“Mommy, when is Daddy coming?” she asked.

“Soon, baby,” I said. I picked her up. Her head rested on my shoulder. I carried her to her room. The room was pink. There were stars on the ceiling. They glowed in the dark.

I changed her into pajamas. I tucked her in bed. The blanket was soft.

“Good night, sweetie,” I said. I kissed her forehead.

“Night, Mommy,” she said. Her eyes closed. She was asleep fast.

I went back to our room. The big bed was empty. I got in. After what seemed like forever. Finally, the door opened and Jake came in.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said. He took off his jacket. He climbed into bed. His arms went around me. He kissed my shoulder. His lips were warm.

“My dad wanted to talk about some stuff.”

“It’s okay,” I whispered.

Jake fell asleep fast. He breathed slow. In and out. I stared at the ceiling. The room was dark. Only a little light from the window. I could not sleep. My heart felt heavy.

The next morning. It was bright. Jake woke up early. He always did. He put on his work clothes. A blue shirt. A tie. He looked nice.

“I have a big meeting at nine,” he said. “I will take Lily to school. You can rest.”

He was so kind. He always thought of me. He picked Lily up. She was still sleepy.

“Let’s go, princess,” he said.

They left. The door closed. The house was quiet again. Too quiet. I walked around. I picked up Lily’s toys and put them in the box.

Then I saw Jake’s clothes piled in the bedroom corner. They smelled like him. The pile was big. Too big. I had to take them to the cleaner’s soon.

I started to check the pockets. I always did that. Jake left things inside. Money. Paper. Once he left a candy. I did not want them to get ruined.

Third pants. Gray ones. He wore them on his work trip. My fingers went in the pocket. I felt something. Small. Thin. I pulled it out.

My body went cold like ice water inside me.

It was a wrapper. A condom wrapper. And it was open. Someone used it.

My hands shook badly. The wrapper was shiny. Silver and blue. I almost dropped it. My fingers felt weak.

After Lily was born, I got an IUD. For many years. We did not need condoms. There was no reason for Jake to have one.

Unless… unless he used it with someone else.

The thought hit me hard. I threw the wrapper on the floor. It landed on the carpet. My heart broke into tiny pieces. Now I knew. He’s seeing another girl. No other reason.

I fell to my knees right there next to his dirty clothes. My knees hurt but not as bad as my chest. Pictures came in my head. Jake kissing another woman. Her lips, not mine. Jake touching her, his hands, not on me. My chest hurt. I could not breathe right. It felt like a big hand squeezed my heart.

I gave him everything. My youth. My love. My whole life. I worked hard and sacrificed everything, he betrayed me, just when we finally had a good life. He threw it away.

Tears ran own my cheeks. I wiped them hard with my hand. Again and again. Crying would not help, it would not fix anything.

I sat on the floor for a long time, the wrapper next to me. I looked at it over and over, my mind went round and round.

What now? What do I do?

I asked to myself. Out loud. My voice was shaky.

“Chloe, calm down. Do not break, you worked too hard, you gave too much. You can't lose everything you've worked so hard for”

One wrapper was not enough. He could lie. He could say, “It’s old.” Or “A friend gave it.” I needed more. Real proof. I had to see with my own eyes.

I picked up the wrapper, my hands shook less now. I took my phone and took a picture, then put the wrapper in a little pocket in my purse.

I stood up. My legs were wobbly, took a big breath, went to the bathroom, washed my face, fixed my messy hair, put on makeup to hide my red eyes.

I picked a blue dress, Jake always said, “You look pretty in blue.” I wanted to look strong. Like I was okay. Even if inside I was falling apart.

I took my purse. The wrapper was inside, so I called an Uber. The white car came in no time, I got in.

As we drove, the city went by fast, tall buildings, cars, people walking. My mind went fast.

What will I see? Is he at the office? Or with her? Is the meeting real? Or another lie?

My hands held the purse tight. I had proof, but I needed more.

The car stopped, I paid the driver. The building was big. Glass everywhere, it sparkled in the sun. This was our company, mine and Jake’s. I helped build it, my parents gave me the money, I worked late nights, I made phone calls, I met people, I did everything.

I had to see the truth with my own eyes. No more questions. No more maybes.