On prom night, I helped Lucas get ready.
He looked so handsome in his black tuxedo. When the cab arrived and Yuki rolled up in her stunning blue dress, I started crying.
“You both look beautiful,” I said, hugging them.
Lucas whispered in my ear. “Is Dad really angry?”
“He’s not feeling well, honey. But he’ll be fine. I promise.”
I watched them drive away, my heart breaking.
Yuki rolled up in her stunning blue dress.
Then I went back inside to confront James.
He was sitting in the kitchen, staring at his phone.
“I can’t believe you punished our son because you don’t like Yuki.”
He didn’t look up.
“You’re his father. It’s his prom. How can you do this?”
“I already told you. I’m not okay with him dating Yuki.”
“Why? Give me one good reason.”
“I’m not happy.”
Before I could yell further, my mother-in-law, Dorothy, stopped by unexpectedly that evening.
She took one look at me, then said, “Merlin, sit down. I heard everything. I think it’s time. You need to know the truth about her.”
“What truth?”
“Please sit.”
I sat down slowly at the kitchen table.
Dorothy pulled out a chair across from me.
My mother-in-law, Dorothy, stopped by unexpectedly that evening.
“Two years ago, James was involved in an accident.”
“An accident?”
“He hit a young girl who was riding her bike. He panicked and drove away, but not before calling 911 anonymously to report the accident.”
I looked at James.
“What?”
Dorothy continued, “That girl was Yuki. James recognized her when Lucas showed him her picture. He’s been carrying that guilt ever since.”
He panicked and drove away.
My hands started shaking.
“James? Is this true?”
He wouldn’t look at me. “I didn’t want Lucas to know. I didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
Dorothy stood up. “I thought you deserved to know why he’s been acting this way.”
She left for the guest room, closing the door quietly behind her.
“You deserved to know why he’s been acting this way.”
I stared at James.
“Is that really why you’ve been against their relationship? Because you feel guilty?”
“Yes.”
But something in his eyes told me there was more. He avoided my gaze, and James had never been the kind of man who could hide things from me.
He stood up. “I need some air.”
And he left.
Something in his eyes told me there was more.
***
Over the next few days, I watched James carefully.
He’d been coming home late for weeks. Taking phone calls in the other room. Always on his phone, texting someone.
One evening, he called from work.
“Hey, I’m going to be late. Office party.”
“On a Wednesday?”
“Yeah. Client appreciation thing. I’ll be home by 10 or 11. Don’t wait.”
He’d been coming home late for weeks.
I hung up and sat there for a moment.
Something didn’t feel right.
Two days earlier, I’d hidden a GPS tracker in his car. I’d been suspicious for a while but hadn’t wanted to admit it.
I opened the tracking app on my phone.
The little dot wasn’t at his office.
It was at a motel 15 miles outside of town.
My heart started racing.
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