At her daughter’s graduation party, Emily spotted her husband with a strange woman.
“Mrs. Wilson, have you gone mad? It’s a graduation, not a carnival!” Mrs. Thompson, the Year 13 form tutor, threw her hands up in exasperation. “Live butterflies? Where on earth are we supposed to get those? And more importantlywhy?”
“But it has to be something special!” insisted Emily, tapping her pen against the list of ideas. “This is our children’s last school celebration. Theyll remember it forever!”
The parent-teacher committee had gathered in the headmaster’s office. Sarah sat quietly in the corner, her mind elsewhereweighed down by an upcoming work deadline, unpaid bills, and a quiet but nagging worry about her husband, who had seemed increasingly distant lately.
“Mrs. Hughes, what do you think?” Mrs. Thompsons voice snapped Sarah back to reality. “You work in event planning, dont you?”
Sarah straightened in her chair, gathering her thoughts.
“I think we should focus on what truly matters to the kids,” she said calmly. “Good music, a photo booth, maybe a small buffet. The rest is unnecessary extravagance thatll drain the budget and our energy.”
Emily pursed her lips.
“Of course, youd say thatalways the practical one. But the children want a proper celebration!”
“They want to have fun with their friends, not stare at butterflies,” Sarah countered gently. “Ask Sophie if you dont believe me.”
Mentioning her daughter seemed to soften Emily.
“Fine, lets put it to a vote. Whos in favour of the simple, no-frills option?”
Most hands went up, and Sarah exhaled in relief. One problem solved. Now if only she could figure out what was going on at home.
Leaving the meeting, she dialled her husband.
“Andrew? Still at work?” she asked, weaving through the car park.
“Yeah, late again,” he sighed tiredly. “The projects a messyou know how it is. Dont wait up for dinner.”
“Again?” She couldnt hide her disappointment. “Third time this week.”
“Sarah, not now,” irritation crept into his voice. “Im working, not out having fun. And dont worryIll definitely be there for Sophies graduation.”
“Fine,” she decided not to push it. “See you tomorrow.”
At home, Sophie was hunched over a history textbook at the kitchen table. Though her A-levels were over, university loomed, and she was still revising.
“How was the meeting?” she asked without looking up. “Did you save us from another one of Mrs. Wilsons mad ideas?”
Sarah smiled, pulling ingredients from the fridge.
“You wont believe itthis time she wanted live butterflies.”
“Ugh.” Sophie wrinkled her nose. “Id spend the whole ceremony terrified one would land on my head.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Sarah said, turning on the hob. “Dads working late again.”
“Shocker,” Sophie rolled her eyes. “Mum do you ever think hes”
“What?” Sarah froze, knife in hand.
“Nothing, forget it.” Sophie waved a hand. “Just hes been acting weird lately.”
Sarah resumed chopping, but her mind raced. Had Sophie noticed the change in Andrew too? Three months of distracted conversations, late nights, and mysterious weekend errands. His phone always glued to him, messages hastily deleted.
Twenty years of marriagewhy now? Of course, shed wondered if he was having an affair. But shed pushed the thought away. Not Andrew. Theyd weathered so muchmortgages, Sophies birth, job losses. Surely now, when life was stable, he wouldnt
“Mum, youre staring into space. That onions been diced for ages.”
“Just thinking,” Sarah blinked away a tear, blaming the onion. “Lets eat, then you can help me pick a dress for the big night.”
The next fortnight flew by in a whirlwind of work and graduation prep. Andrew kept working late but promised hed be on time for the ceremony.
Graduation day arrived. Sarah spent the morning at the salonhair, makeup, nails. At forty-five, she still looked youthful, especially when she smiled. Shed chosen an elegant navy dress that flattered her figure. Sophie had insisted she look “absolutely stunning.”
“Let my classmates be jealous of how gorgeous my mum is,” shed said, adjusting Sarahs updo.
Sophie herself was radiant in a white graduation gown. Sarah couldnt hold back tears.
“Oh, not again,” Sophie grumbled, though her eyes shimmered. “If you ruin your makeup, Im disowning you.”
“Wont happen,” Sarah promised, dabbing her eyes. “Im just so proud. My little girls all grown up.”
Theyd agreed Sarah would arrive for the ceremony, while Sophie went early to meet friends. Andrew was to come straight from work.
The school hall was transformedballoons, floral arrangements, a photo booth with the graduation year. Sarah noted with satisfaction that even without butterflies, it looked spectacular.
Parents trickled in, filling assigned seats. Sarah saved a spot for Andrew, glancing at the door every few seconds. Fifteen minutes to gostill no sign of him.
She calledno answer. Texted: Starting soon. Where are you? A reply came quickly: “On way. Be there in 10.”
The ceremony began. The headmaster gave a speech, then students collected their diplomas one by one. When Sophies name was called, Sarah craned her neckAndrew had promised not to miss this. Then she saw him.
He stood by the far wall, clapping for their daughter. Next to hima woman. A tall blonde in a red dress, younger than Sarah. She whispered something, and Andrew smiledthe kind of smile that used to be reserved for family.
Sarahs stomach dropped. So that was it. The late nights, the hushed calls, the deleted messages. He was seeing someone. And hed brought her to their daughters graduation?
Sophie, clutching her diploma, scanned the room. Spotting Sarah, she beamed. Then she saw Andrew and grinned. The blonde seemed to go unnoticed.
Sarah sat through the rest of the ceremony in a daze. How could he? After the speeches, students performed. She clapped mechanically, avoiding Andrews directionbut her eyes betrayed her. There he was, leaning in to the blonde, laughing at some joke.
At the buffet break, Sarah found Sophie surrounded by friends.
“Mum! Did you see? Straight As!”
“Of course you did, genius,” Sarah forced a smile. “Dads here toodid you see him?”
“Yeah, he waved. Where is he now?”
“I dont know,” Sarah kept her voice steady. “Talking to someone, probably.”
Just then, Andrew appearedalone.
“Congratulations, love!” He lifted Sophie off her feet. “So proud!”
“Dad, put me down!” Sophie giggled, clearly delighted.
Sarah watched, unsure. Confront him here? Pretend nothing was wrong?
“Hi,” Andrew kissed her cheek. “Sorry I was late. Couldnt get away.”
“I noticed,” she said coolly. “Saw you come in.”
His smile faltered.
“Something wrong?”
“Well talk later.”
Sophie dashed off to friends. Alone in the crowd, Andrew took her hand.
“Seriously, whats up?”
“Whos the woman you came with?”
His brow furrowed.
“Who?”
“Dont play dumb. Blonde in red. You two were glued together.”
He rubbed his temples.
“Oh, Jessica. Look, I was going to introduce you later, but”
“Introduce me?” Sarahs voice shook. “To your”
“God, Sarah, is that what you think?” He looked genuinely stunned. “Jessicas my new bosss daughter. Just arrived from Manchester yesterday. Her dad asked me to show her around, bring her tonight. I couldnt say nothis projects huge.”
Sarah studied him. Plausible, but what about the past months?
“So why were you whispering? Why was she touching you?”
“Sarah,” he sighed. “It was loudI could barely hear her. And the hand? Didnt even notice. Come on, Ill introduce you.”
Jessica stood by the buffet, eyeing the mini quiches.
“Jess, this is my wife, Sarah. Sarah, Jessicamy bosss daughter.”
Jessica smiled warmly.
“So lovely to meet you! Andrews told me loads. Sorry for crashing your family nightDad insisted.”
Sarah shook her hand, searching for any hint of guilt. Nothingjust polite awkwardness.
“Dont worry,” Sarah managed. “Having fun?”
“Absolutely! Your daughters brilliant, by the way.”
Jessica excused herself moments later.
“See?” Andrew murmured. “No affair. Just work.”
Sarah exhaled. Maybe shed imagined it all.
“Then why have you been so secretive?”
He hesitated.
“Not here. Well talk after.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Sophie and her friends danced; Jessica kept her distance. By the time the celebration ended, Sarah was exhausted.
Sophie hugged them goodbye, promising not to stay out too late. Jessica thanked them and left.
Walking to the car in silence, Sarah shivered despite the warm June night.
“Fancy a walk?” Andrew suggested. “We need to talk.”
They strolled through the park, the noise of the celebration fading.
“I owe you an apology,” he began. “Youre rightI have been hiding something.”
Sarah braced herself.
“But its not what you think. I havent cheated. Ever.”
“Then what?”
He took a deep breath.
“Remember my back pain? I saw a doctor. MRI showed something concerning. Needed more tests.”
Sarahs knees weakened.
“What? Why didnt you tell me?”
“Didnt want to scare you,” he avoided her gaze. “Especially before Sophies graduation. But the final results came two days agoits benign. Needs surgery, but Ill be fine.”
Sarah clutched his arm.
“You went through that alone?”
“Didnt want to worry you if it was nothing. And if it wasnt” He trailed off. “I panicked.”
She pulled him into a tight embrace.
“You idiot. Were a team, remember? For better or worse.”
He buried his face in her hair.
“I know. Im sorry.”
They stood there, holding each other. Twenty years together, with all the ups and downs ahead.
“And Jessica?” Sarah asked.
“Pure coincidence,” he smiled weakly. “Her dad really did ask me to look after her. Shes moving here for work. Oh, and” he smirked, “shes engaged. Fiancés visiting next week.”
Sarah laughedpart relief, part embarrassment.
“And here I was, imagining all sorts.”
“There was a secret,” he said softly. “But no more. Promise.”
Hand in hand, they walked on. Surgery, recovery, worriestheyd face it together.
“You know,” Sarah said suddenly, “when I saw you with her, my heart stopped. I thought Id lost you.”
“Never,” he squeezed her hand. “Hear me? Never.”
And she believed himjust as she had for twenty years. Because theyd learned the most important thing: trust, even when circumstances seemed to say otherwise. And that trust was stronger than any doubt.
