Mommy?
As I stared at the screen, my blood ran cold. That single word hit me like a hammer to the temple, leaving my mind reeling and my thoughts in chaos.
Harper cheated on me? She even had an illegitimate daughter?
Shaking, I turned off the digital tablet. I couldn't bring myself to watch another second of the dashcam footage. My mind was filled with the image of the girl calling Harper "Mommy".
At 10:00 pm, Harper finally came home, looking exhausted. The moment she kicked off her shoes, I slammed the digital tablet onto the coffee table.
The screen was frozen on the exact frame where the girl was calling her "Mommy".
"Care to explain, Harper? Who is this child, and why is she calling you Mommy?" I kept my eyes locked on hers, searching for the slightest flicker of guilt.
She stiffened the moment she saw the screen. But then, to my surprise, her face softened into a look of weary, bitter resignation.
She walked over, took my hand, and took a seat beside me without a hint of hesitation. "Darling, you've misunderstood. That man is Caleb Holmes. He used to work under me in my old department. His wife died in a car accident two years ago. It's just been him and his daughter. It's heartbreaking."
She sighed, her eyes shimmering with what looked like sincerity. "The kids at school tease her for not having a mother. She's become so withdrawn and insecure. Caleb was desperate, so he begged me a dozen times to occasionally step in and play the part to give her a little confidence.
"She's the same age as Erin, and I thought they might be good playmates. I just felt sorry for them. I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you'd take it the wrong way.
"As for the student ID, Jodie was just being playful when I dropped them off. She must have swapped it with Erin's by mistake."
Her explanation was seamless, delivered with such earnestness that I felt the tension begin to bleed out of me.
Harper had always been the charitable type, always donating to causes or helping out those in need.
Was I so burnt out from work that I'd turned paranoid?
I pulled my hand back and softened my voice. "Just promise me you'll let me know about stuff like this next time. I don't want other kids calling my wife 'Mommy'."
"You're absolutely right, darling. I'm so sorry. I swear, I'll keep my distance from them from now on. No more unnecessary acts of charity!"
Sensing that I believed her, Harper immediately leaned in and kissed me. "I'm going to take a shower. I'm exhausted."
As she walked toward the bathroom, I let out a deep sigh.
It seemed like it was just a misunderstanding.
I got up to hang up the suit she had left on the couch. Just then, her phone lit up on the coffee table.
A text notification popped up on the lock screen. It was from Sunflower Daycare. "Hello, Ms. Gilmore. This is a reminder that the monthly meal fee of 80 dollars for your daughter, Erin Spence, is now overdue. Please settle the balance as soon as possible to ensure there is no disruption to her meals tomorrow."
