Paige loves her career, even if it means being away from home a lot. However, when she returns from a business trip, she overhears a cryptic conversation between her husband and her four-year-old son. Little does she know — the thread of her marriage is about to unravel.
When I think about the foundations of my life, there were three that always stood out: my husband, Victor, my son, Mason, and my career. Despite the storms that Victor and I weathered together, including four heart-wrenching miscarriages, we emerged stronger than before the storm.
Or so I believed.
A couple sitting together | Source: Pexels
Victor and I were a strong and supportive couple — we knew what worked for us and what didn’t. Especially when it came to healing from the miscarriages we had survived.
“It’s okay, Paige,” Victor constantly reminded me. “We’ll have our baby when the time is right. If not, there are other options.”
I would always smile at him, wondering when his words would come true.
But then, a pregnancy test came back positive. And three months later, our baby was still thriving in my womb.
A woman holding a pregnancy test | Source: Pexels
So, when Mason came into our lives, it felt like our shattered dreams had finally pieced themselves back together. Mason became the one thing that we focused on unconditionally. Whenever our son needed us, we dropped everything.
“Mason is a lucky kid,” Victor said one day when Mason was running around our backyard. “He is incredibly loved.”
And he was. Victor and I prided ourselves on caring for our son above everything else.
A little boy holding a tree | Source: Pexels
With my demanding role as a chief executive with a clothing brand, traveling was a constant part of my life. I was involved in every step of our product designs — right until our clothing hit the stores.
Often, this resulted in me leaving Victor and Mason to fend for themselves. But it wasn’t something I worried about — Victor was a perfect father. He had even changed his work schedule, so that he worked from home more than from the office. This way, he was around for Mason.
“I don’t want a babysitter or a nanny taking care of our son,” Victor said one day when he was cooking us dinner.
“If you can handle the days, then the evening shifts are all mine,” I compromised.
Assorted apparel and accessories | Source: Pexels
I did feel bad that Victor had to hold down the fort during the day, but we didn’t have another choice.
Recently, because Mason is four and ever the curious little boy — I know that pre-school is on the horizon. So, in an attempt to be more present and spend more time with him as a toddler, I vowed to limit my work trips.
But little did I know, it was during my absence that the fabric of our family began to unravel.
A mom with her son in the bathroom | Source: Pexels
I had been away for about three days, stuck in meetings and all I wanted to do was get home and hug Mason, smelling the baby fabric softener from his clothing.
The day that changed everything was like any other. I took a cab from the airport and eagerly awaited to see my husband and son.
