The Hadyns [ON HOLD]

Chapter 3 | Suspicious

VALERIE

I. Am. Pooped.

As in tired.

Goodness.

Kids can play. We must have been at D&B's for at least two hours!

"Valerie!" Eric sang from the bottom of the steps. I was currently in my room, lying on the bed, trying to avoid any requests.

I could hear him running up the steps. He opened the door and walked in. I opened my eyes and, there he was, looking down at me.

"Yes?" I asked, weakly.

"What's the plan for dinner?" He asked in reply. I sighed a long, heaving sigh and sat up. "Maybe I should have let them eat there." I said to myself. "Umm, how about we just order in. Chinese?" I asked. He shrugged, "Sounds good to me. You might want to come downstairs, though." He told me.

"Why?"

"The kids are looking for their beloved mother." He replied with a wink. I smiled.

****

"I think he's cheating on you." Monica, my co-worker, told me. We were currently in my office, where all the magic happened. The long weekend was over, which meant I was back to work. Eric and I take turns working at home. That way, the kids can do their schooling at home.

"What do you mean? That's ridiculous." I started laughing. Monica looked at me, dead serious. She took a sip of her coffee and shook her head.

"It is so obvious!" She threw her head back in exclamation. She got up, walked around the office, then came back in front of my desk.

"What kind of husband goes for a run, doesn't respond to texts, and then gets caught in new clothes?!" She asked.

"Well, you're not married, how would you know?" I asked her.

"I may not be married, but I am engaged. Even if I wasn't, I would know where the alarms go off." She told me, shaking her finger at me.

"It's not polite to point." I said to her. She took a sip of her coffee and rolled her eyes.

"Coffee's not good for you, either." I added.

"I'm not one of your kids, Val..." She sighed, then sat down. "Look. I'm just worried about you. You're such a dedicated mother, wife, and matchmaker. I would hate to see him just walk all over you with this." She said, with some honest and sincere concern.

"I appreciate that you care, but even if I did think he was cheating, there would be no proof." I replied. She nodded, taking in what I had just said. Then she snapped, and a wide smile spread across her face.

"I've got it."

*****

I walked into my house and sighed, putting down my purse. I took off my shoes then, quietly, walked into the living room. No sign of the kids, just Eric sitting in the living room on his laptop.

"Honey." I said to him. He looked up at me and smiled. "Welcome back." He said. I smiled back, and then looked around.

"Where are the kids?" I asked.

"They're all taking naps. I took them to the park earlier, now they're wiped out." He said as I sat down next to him. He looked at me and then put his arm around my shoulder, bringing me closer to him.

"We have the house to ourselves..." He leaned in for a kiss, slowly closing his eyes, and I moved my face closer to his.

BRRRRR!!!!