When We Love

Chapter 3 | A Cheat & A Chance

Again, I find it hard to control my rampant thoughts and out of frustration, end up leaving the line to go find my parents and daughter. Once I find them, I'll forget about that man and my problems, I can just focus on my one, good thing in life.

After a bit of walking around in the area my dad said they were in, I spot them. I gaze at my little girl, laughing and talking to my mom about something.

She's so beautiful, my little angel. How can her father not want to spend time with her? I just want to be able to focus all of my attention to her always.

I close in on them and put my finger to my lips once my parents spot me. Alice is too busy going on about the rides to notice me come up and grab her, twirling her around in the air.

"Ahhh, Mommy!!" She screams in delight and I hold her close before putting her down.

"Where's Daddy?" I frown before quickly changing my expression and reassuring her that he's still here at the fair.

"Oh, he just wanted to see the Air Force show sweetie, he'll come over once it's over." or so I hope.

Before she thinks too much on it, I grab her little hand and urge her to follow.

"How about we go get some ice cream and see if we can rent a swan on the lake?"

She immediately smiles and agrees without hesitation.

"We'll tag along, if you don't mind?" My dad says as he and my mom walk alongside us.

"Are you sure? You guys can go enjoy the park, we should be fine!"

"Oh no, dear. We'll go with you before your dad 'accidentally' ventures into the truck show area." My mom chuckles as my dad mischievously grins.

"What, I didn't check the map this time! It's not my fault if we come across it."

Alice laughs also, "You're lying, Papa! You have the map in your pocket, see!" Before he could stop, she runs up behind him and snatches the map from his back pocket.

"Okay, okay darling you got me." We all laugh and make our way to the ice cream shop.

The day goes by pretty fast. After we finished our ice cream, we go to the lake but no swans are available so we decide to take a ride on the Ferris wheel instead. After that, we allow my dad to indulge in going to the truck show. He loves to go on and on about his sweet rides back in the day and my mom just cracks up at the faces of the guys there who are trying to escape his long-winding stories. Eventually we go back to the rides some more for Alice and by the time she tires out, it's almost 5pm! All of this fun and no sight of my husband at all. We decide to call it a day and go home to have dinner. Since we were in the furthest area of the park, it takes us a little bit to get near the exit. As we are basically all dragging our feet walking, I see my husband. Then, my heart drops. He's with another woman.

I must be mistaken, there's no way he'd do this to me.

I mean, he knows I'm here at the park so why is he here out in the open with another woman? Maybe it's his friend.

That thought immediately crumbles as I see him lay an arm on her shoulders and kiss her forehead. He then looks around a bit, as if wary of getting caught. But he doesn't see me.

He doesn't see my heart getting torn to shreds, as I walk our daughter home without him by our side.

How dare he! My sadness is quickly consumed with anger and thoughts about how I'm going to end this.

There's no way I will stay with a cheater. I quickly look away, not even sure what to do at this point. As we get further and further from that scene, my mom senses my distress.

"Nicole, what's wrong?" I sigh, not knowing what to say.

My dad fills the silence, "You must be tired. Why don't you call your husband, we will almost be at the exit anyway."

I almost laugh, but nod instead. My curiosity gets the better of me, what will he say? Will he come right away? How did he even meet this chick, did he invite her over?

My thoughts run wild while the phone rings, then I hear his voice. "Hey, what's up?" I smile bitterly at his annoyed tone.

"Just called to let you know we are heading home. Since you have the keys, can you meet us at the exit?" There's a pause, and I can imagine him thinking up an excuse.

"Well, I actually met up with some buddies here and we're drinking. I haven't seen them in awhile, you think you can get a ride home with your parents?" I laugh out loud. The tears are welling up and my throat feels tight.

"Yeah, sure." I hang up before he replies.

Wow. I really can't believe this.

I try to control my emotions as best as I can because God knows I can just breakdown right here, right now, if I don't get a hold of myself. Once I feel I'm okay enough, I turn to my parents.

"Hey, Jared is with some of his friends and wants to know if you guys can take us home. Is that okay?" I see the sympathy in my mom's eyes, and I just about let a tear drop. My parents agree, and we make our way to leave again.

My poor little Alice is completely unaware, with her distant tired eyes. She's completely out of it and ready for dinner and a nap, I think to myself.

She deserves so much better, she needs a caring father who will love her and not leave her. I bite my lip, feeling overwhelmed by everything when I suddenly catch a glimpse of him.

The man from earlier.

He's walking in the opposite direction and hasn't noticed me, but I take this moment to think. Now's not the time to be rash, Nicole.

But before I know it, I'm asking my mom to take Alice to the car and telling them I need to something super quick. They nod, and my dad picks up Alice who's starting leaning from sleepiness.

Okay, girlie. Once this moment is over, you won't even remember it happened. It's time to take life by the reins and just go with the flow!

I quickly walk in the direction the man went, my eyes frantically searching for his tall figure. By chance, I see him turning into the Air Force area and dart into that direction. Once I reach the entrance, I take out my purse and quickly scribble my name and phone number.

Phew, okay, I can do this. I won't be embarrassed!