My Husband’s Two-Year Affair with the Office Receptionist

I was torn about whether to tell my parents about the divorce right away. I grew up here, surrounded by family and friends. My parents, both retired teachers, only have me as their daughter. They've always been progressive, despite my father's declining health over the past couple of years. I initially thought I would wait a bit.

Just a few days later, Calvin called out of the blue. He usually texted me because he knew I'd respond quickly, which he found convenient. Last night, I deleted him from my contacts.

I picked up the phone, and Calvin’s voice was exactly the same. "Amaia, your mom just called. She said she made a lot of food and invited us over for dinner tonight. I know your dad’s not feeling well, so maybe we should wait until he’s better before we tell them about the divorce. What time do we go over? Plus, next Sunday is your dad's birthday, and I think I should come with you."

Hearing Calvin's suggestion, I realized it was time to break the news to my parents. I replied, "No need."

Calvin persisted, "There's no need to be stubborn. Your parents' health is important."

I calmly shot back, "If you really cared, you wouldn’t have cheated and ended things like this. Dad may be physically weak, but he’s mentally sharp. He’d want me out of a toxic relationship."

"Calvin."

"Yes?"

"Don’t call again. If you want to see Noah, stick to the agreement, once a week."

Calvin’s conciliatory tone evaporated. "Amaia, Noah is my son, my family..."

"But you walked away from the family he had, didn’t you?"

I heard Calvin slam the phone down. I hung up, trying to steady my unraveling emotions. I decided to head to the mall. I planned to swap out the bedding, sofas, and all the furniture Calvin liked. Everything had to be available immediately. Once I finished redecorating, I cleaned the house from top to bottom and went to my mom’s place.

When she saw me alone, she thought Calvin was tied up with work. I stayed quiet, nervously saying, "Mom." She instantly picked up on my vibe, put aside what she was doing, and pulled me into a gentle hug. I didn’t say anything, but a mother’s intuition sensed my pain and distress.

Trying to stay composed, I told her everything. My mom handed me a tissue to wipe my tears. She spoke softly, "It's okay. Divorce is pretty common these days. If he wasn’t honest, it's better to end it sooner rather than later. Once it’s done, it’s done."

She held my hand, her eyes a bit misty. "Amaia, I have just one request for you."

I nodded through my tears. "Okay."

After dinner, my parents talked in their room for a long time. When they came out, my dad handed me a large envelope. He said today was a fresh start, something to celebrate. "I hope my darling daughter will always find happiness."

Leaving my parents' house, I sat in my car and cried for what felt like forever. Before coming, I worried I’d let them down. They’ve lived a peaceful life, rarely clashing. When I married Calvin, despite some skepticism, they respected my decision. Now, as Calvin gained success and people envied them for their judgment, they quietly backed my choice to divorce.

I wiped away my tears and checked the calendar. Twenty-eight days until the divorce is finalized.