Once Betrayed
Laura considered herself a fortunate woman: she had her adored son Ben, her beloved husband Nick, and a cushy job. Nick had always earned well, allowing her to work part-time and spend lots of time with their son. What more could anyone ask for?
But everything could have turned out differently… “I’ve fallen for another woman,” her cherished husband announced 13 years ago, avoiding her gaze. “We need to part ways.” “Nick, are you serious?! I love you, and you loved me too. This can’t just end like that!” Nick merely shrugged and said she could file for divorce if it was more convenient for her. Convenient?! It was convenient for her to have her husband — not just loved, but truly adored! — by her side. She spent a week crying into her pillow and having outbursts, unknowingly pushing Nick further away. Then she calmed down, collected herself, and suggested a farewell evening…
In the end, they never got divorced, because it turned out Laura was pregnant. They’d been trying to have a child for the last five years without success. At 25 and 27, Laura and Nick were perfectly healthy, yet pregnancy hadn’t occurred. And then, just once, as a goodbye… And goodbye never happened. Nick immediately declared he wasn’t going anywhere — Laura even felt he stayed with some relief — he showered her with love, and was overjoyed at Ben’s birth.
They never spoke of his infidelity again, and Laura never investigated who the other woman was. Who cares! The important thing was that everything turned out even better for them! Now, Ben was 12 and growing into a clever young man. Laura even considered enrolling him in a math-focused academy but realized it too late. He was attending a regular school but winning nearly all the local maths competitions. He joined a chess club and learned to play the violin at music school. He wasn’t too fond of the violin, but Laura was determined that her son must develop in various areas. “Maybe he should join a football club then?” Nick suggested, wincing when he heard his wife’s intention to put Ben into music. “Are you crazy?!” gasped Laura. “You want your child to get injured?! To become disabled?! No way! No way!”
Nick waved it off — “Do as you please.” At the time, he was facing challenges at work, with all his thoughts revolving around that. Now, Nick led a department, and both his career and salary were in a good place.
Laura found herself lucky again at her husband’s office. She had come to pick him up for their anniversary dinner and ended up chatting with one of his colleagues. A striking, slim brunette named Claire made Laura feel a bit insecure, but Claire turned out to be very welcoming. She also had a son, Ben’s age, giving the women plenty to talk about.
“How about I pull some strings to get Ben into the academy where my Philip studies?!” Claire suddenly offered. “Oh, I doubt that’s possible. You can’t get in there, even with money,” Laura replied hesitantly. “Money isn’t everything, but I have connections. Being attractive has its perks!” Claire playfully winked. “Oh, I’d be so grateful!” exclaimed Laura. Claire kept her promise, and Ben began the next school year at the “mathematical” academy. However, there was a catch — the school was in another part of the city, and Laura was terrified of letting her son travel alone, even to the nearby school, let alone far away. She comfortably drove Ben in the mornings, but after classes… “Laura, our son is a big boy now, smart and sensible. He can make his way home just fine! There’s a bus stop right near the academy. Hop on and he’ll be home in no time, with no transfers needed!” Nick cut off her attempts to make him pick up Ben.
“Nick, you act like you have a spare kid! Even adults feel unsafe out there alone,” Laura protested. “Enough! I’ll pick him up when I can, but otherwise, he’s fine on his own.” Laura confided in Claire — the women occasionally talked on the phone about their sons and the academy. “Oh, please, that’s no problem!” declared Claire. “Let the boys come over to ours after school, we live nearby, and you can pick Ben up when you can.” “Are you serious?” Laura perked up. “No way! That would be so inconvenient… for you!” “What’s inconvenient? I work too. But at least they’ll be home, together. Both are calm and responsible — they might even become friends!” “Oh, Claire, I’d be so grateful!” “It’s nothing!”
Ben was apprehensive about the news. He knew Philip, but they were in different classes and hadn’t bonded. Ben found it hard to make friends. He was excited to transfer to the new academy mainly because it meant dropping violin lessons — it was far, and Laura could no longer drive him there. But by the second day, picking him up from Claire’s place, he was reluctant to leave. “Mum, can I stay a bit longer?” Ben groaned. “We haven’t finished our game…” “No, you have homework to do. Besides, it’s not polite to impose on their hospitality. Claire is already doing us a big favor,” Laura stated firmly. “Doing you a favor, not us,” Ben grumbled quietly. Laura pretended not to hear.
Nick, when he heard about the arrangement, was initially upset — “I work with Claire, what will people say?” But after hearing Laura’s arguments and wanting to avoid a row, he shrugged it off. He’d be traveling frequently due to a new branch opening — she could do what she wanted!
So that was that. Ben increasingly asked Laura to let him stay at Philip’s longer: “Mum, we have so much to do… We’ll do our homework. Please…” he pleaded. “Laura, why are you being difficult?” Claire chimed in. “The boys have bonded, they’re good kids. Ben can stay with us.” They coaxed her every time. It got to the point where Ben sometimes stayed the night. Laura reluctantly agreed and then would call to check how her son was — she was used to him always being close. Nick indeed went on frequent business trips, leaving Laura lonely at home, so she less frequently agreed to let Ben stay over.
“Mum, why are you like this?!” Ben cried one day when she refused to let him visit Philip. “Like what?” Laura asked, surprised. “Like this! You fuss over me like a hen with a chick! I’m grown and you won’t let me breathe?!” “Ben,” Laura said sternly, “now tell me where you learned these… phrases? Who taught you?” “No one taught me!” he grumbled. “I’m not living under a rock, after all.” “I’m your mother and care about you. I want what’s best for you,” Laura lectured.
“Claire is a mum too and she cares for Philip! Only she doesn’t hover or nag him!” Ben shot back. “I see… And what does she allow?” “Nothing bad,” he muttered. “I’m going to bed.” Laura was uneasy. Ben was usually calm, even a little indifferent, but had raised his voice at her this time. Claire was unlikely running an anarchic household — perhaps Ben just needed more male influence. Nick could talk to him when he returned. But when Nick returned, he sided with Ben: “Laura, you’re smothering Ben with your care. Give him some space. Philip seems like a good kid, they do their homework and play together. That’s normal.”
“Yes! But talking to his mother like that isn’t normal!” Laura fumed. “Or do you disagree?” “I agree. But I’m telling you — ease up a bit, or you’ll risk your own son resenting you. You seem to have plenty of free time now. Visit a beauty salon, for instance.” “What?! Are you implying I don’t look good?” “Let’s just say it wouldn’t hurt to pay some attention to your looks…” Laura couldn’t take it anymore. She didn’t speak to Nick for a week until he left for another trip, and even then gave short answers to his calls about home and Ben. She was trying her best to raise their son well and run the household, but now she was supposed to go to the beauty salon, apparently!
When Nick returned, he did apologize, and of course, she forgave him — she loved him, after all. Then the boys planned a camping trip. From two classes they gathered fourteen willing participants, requiring parental involvement.
Initially, Laura didn’t want to let Ben go on this “horror trip”, then she considered joining him, but couldn’t. Work wouldn’t allow it, and Ben persuaded her otherwise. Unexpectedly, Nick decided to join the camping trip: “I mean, why not? I have some time off. Haven’t enjoyed nature with a tent for ages…” he mused. “Well, if that’s the case…” Laura hesitated. “Alright, you both can go! Just stay in touch, okay?” Father and son exchanged glances and rolled their eyes in synchronization — just like mum!
During the three days her men were away camping, Laura was a wreck. Communication was spotty, and they called only a couple of times. Unable to endure it, she drove to Philip’s home — he was being dropped off first — to meet her husband and son there. The courtyard was crowded with cars, and Laura parked on the street. Near the entrance, she noticed a couple embracing in the dusk. It took a moment to recognize them. The voices were unmistakable. “Nick, how much longer?” Claire demanded quietly but assertively. “When are you getting a divorce?”
“Claire, not today. We had such a lovely three days, don’t spoil it,” Nick replied. “I love you, of course, and I’ll be getting divorced soon.” The couple clearly kissed. Who was her husband in love with? Had they been camping together? Was Nick planning to leave her? Questions spun through Laura’s mind… “What’s going on here?” she asked, uttering the question that countless others had before her.
“Well, thank goodness,” Claire murmured. “I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.”
“And how long have you… been hiding?” Laura asked sarcastically.
“Nearly a year,” her rival replied serenely. “You have no idea how tiresome it is.”
“I don’t know! But I do want to know why you befriended my son!” Laura demanded.
“Well, Nick is quite the doting father, only Ben kept him tied to you. I thought it smart to befriend him. You have a great kid, though you’ve been overbearing. I certainly wouldn’t mind if he lived with us.”
“What?! Don’t count on it! My son will live with me! And Nick, by the way, too. Right, Nick?” Laura fumed.
“That sounds ominous,” Nick finally coughed. “Let’s discuss this at home, just the two of us.”
“No way! You’re going to say right now that you’re staying in the family! And where’s Ben?”
“They took some things up to the flat; they’ll be right down,” Nick said calmly. “And Laura, let’s not make a scene. It so happens that I love Claire, and I want to be with her.”
While Laura was trying to find words to respond, Ben came into view: “Mum? What are you doing here? You won’t believe…”
“Let’s go home,” Laura cut him off sharply. “Now!” She grabbed her son’s hand and led him to the car, ignoring his protests.
Nick did go to Claire. They tried to take Ben from Laura, but after witnessing his mother’s tears — she cried nearly every day since that evening — he announced he would stay with his mum. A year later, Nick wanted to return, but Laura couldn’t forgive a second time.
