Daphnée stumbled upon her husbands infidelity purely by chance
As is often the case, the wives are the last to find out. Only afterward did Daphnée grasp the meaning behind her coworkers odd glances and the whispers that followed her. Everyone at the hospital knew that her dear friend Claire was carrying on a fling with her husband, Nicolas. Yet nothing in Nicolass behavior had ever raised Daphnées suspicions.
She learned the truth that evening, unexpectedly, when she got home. Daphnée had been working for several years as a physician at a Parisian hospital and was scheduled for a night shift that day. Near the end of the workday, a younger colleague, Pauline, asked her for a favor:
Daphnée, could you swap shifts with me? Ill work tonight and youll cover for me on Saturday, unless you have other plans. My sisters wedding is Saturday.
Daphnée agreed. Pauline was pleasant and helpful, and a wedding was a valid excuse.
That night, Daphnée returned home, eager to surprise her husband. The surprise, however, was on her. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard voices coming from the bedroomNicolass voice and another one she recognized, though she never expected to hear it then or there. It was Claires voice. What Daphnée overheard left no doubt about the nature of their relationship.
She slipped out of the apartment as quietly as she had entered. She spent the rest of the night at the hospital, unable to sleep. How could she face her colleagues, who now knew everything, while she had been blinded by her love for Nicolas and placed total trust in him? He had become the center of her world, to the point where she gave up her own dream of motherhood each time he claimed he wasnt ready, insisting they should wait and enjoy life. Daphnée now understood that he saw no future for a family.
That same night, she took what seemed the only possible step. She wrote a leaveofabsence request followed by a resignation, returned home, packed her belongings while Nicolas was at work, and rushed to the train station. She had inherited a modest country house from her grandmother and thought no one would look for her there.
At the station she bought a new SIM card and discarded the old one. Daphnées cut every tie to her former life and embraced the new one.
Twentyfour hours later she stepped off the train at a familiar stop. The last time Daphnée had been there was ten years earlier, at her grandmothers funeral. Everything still seemed quiet and deserted. Just what I need right now, she thought. After a short carshare ride and a twentyminute walk, she reached the old house. The garden was overgrown with shrubs, making the front door hard to find.
It took her several weeks to clear the house and tame the garden. She wouldnt have managed alone, but the neighbourswho remembered her grandmother, Adeline, a teacher of more than forty yearsoffered invaluable help. Daphnée was surprised by such a warm welcome and felt deeply grateful.
News of a doctor living in the village spread quickly. One day a neighbour, Marie, rushed to Daphnée, looking panicked:
Daphnée, Im sorry, but I cant help you today. My little girl ate something that isnt agreeing with her; shes got a bad stomach.
Lets take a look, Daphnée said, grabbing her medical kit.
Little Mathilde was suffering from food poisoning. Daphnée administered the appropriate treatment and advised Marie on what to watch for.
Thank you so much, Daphnée, Marie said emotionally. Youre our doctor now. The nearest hospital is sixty kilometres away. We used to have a nurse, but she left and was never replaced.
From then on the villagers turned to Daphnée for all their medical needs. She could not refuse, having been embraced so kindly by her new community.
The local authorities heard about her work and offered her a position at the district medical centre.
No, Ill stay here, Daphnée replied firmly. But if you assign me to the dispensary here, Ill gladly accept.
Officials were flattered that a Parisian physician with her experience would consider a modest dispensary, yet Daphnée held her ground. A few months later the dispensary reopened, and she resumed seeing patients.
One night someone knocked on her door late, which didnt surprise herillness respects no schedule. She opened to a stranger.
Mrs. Daphnée, he announced, I come from Villefranche, fifteen kilometres away. My daughter is gravely ill. At first I thought it was a simple cold, but her fever hasnt broken for three days. Please, examine her.
Daphnée hurried to gather her supplies while the man described the symptoms. Upon arrival she found a pale, bedridden girl struggling to breathe. After examining her, Daphnée declared:
Her condition is serious. She needs to be hospitalized.
The man shook his head.
I live alone with her. Her mother died shortly after she was born. Shes everything I have I cant lose her.
The hospital is better equipped for a child that sick. I dont have the medicines here.
Tell me what to give, Ill get it. But please dont take her to the hospital. Theres an oncall pharmacy in the district I can reach. I just have no one to watch her while Im gone.
Seeing his panic and desperation, Daphnée looked him over more closely; he was a tall, slender man with chestnut hair and darkgreen eyes that shone with resolve.
Ill stay with your daughter, Daphnée said. Whats her name?
Juliette, he replied softly. And Im Antoine. Thank you, doctor.
Antoine left to fetch the medication with Daphnées prescription.
Juliettes fever stayed high; she was restless, crying, and calling for her father. Daphnée cradled her, gently rocking and humming a lullaby until the girl calmed slightly.
Hours later Antoine returned with everything needed. Daphnée administered the treatment and, weary, said:
Now we just have to wait.
Both kept watch through the night. At dawn Juliettes temperature finally began to fall, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Thats a good sign, Daphnée noted. Though exhausted, the relief of having turned the illness around kept her going.
You saved my daughter, Antoine kept repeating his thanks.
A year passed. Daphnée continued her work at the dispensary, caring for villagers and nearby residents. She now lived in Antoines spacious, beautiful house. They had married six months after that harrowing night when Juliettes life hung by a thread.
It still took several weeks for the little girl to fully recover. She grew very attached to Daphnée, who loved her deeply while occasionally reflecting on the dreams she had set aside by postponing her own desire for children.
In the evenings, tired but fulfilled, Daphnée returned home to the two people she cherished. That night Antoine greeted her cheerfully at the doorway and asked:
So, did you get your leave? Ive planned everything; the three of us will go on vacation.
Daphnée smiled enigmatically and replied:
My leave is approved, and we wont be three, but four.
Antoine stood stunned for a moment before lifting his wife into his arms, joy radiating from him.
Tatiana Stumbles Upon Her Husband’s Secret Affair
