Mark came back from his business trip looking like a dark cloud had settled over him. It seemed the negotiations had been a total disaster. Jennifer didn't dare bring it up.
"Hey, honey, I made your favorite beef stew," she said softly. "Wash up and have a seat before it gets cold."
Mark headed to the bathroom on autopilot. When he finally picked up his spoon, he spent a long time just stirring the broth around in his bowl. Jennifer sat down next to him and asked, "Is something wrong with the food?"
Mark startled, as if waking from a daydream.
"No, not at all. You know I always love your cooking. I just don't have much of an appetite tonight, and I'm not really ready to talk about it. Sorry, I just need to rest and clear my head."
He headed to the bedroom while Jennifer pulled his bowl toward her and added a dollop of sour cream. Suddenly, her phone rang.
"Look, I can't right now," she whispered into the receiver. "Your offer is tempting, but I'm really not in the mood for you today."
Her husband was so buried in his own thoughts that he didn't hear the call. Jennifer went into the bedroom and said loudly, "Mark, I think we're out of milk, and you won't touch your coffee without it in the morning. I'm going to run to the store real quick; you try to get some sleep."
Whether it was the sweetness of his wife's words or pure exhaustion, Mark actually drifted off. Jennifer got dressed, checked herself in the mirror as if she were heading somewhere much fancier than a grocery store, quietly clicked the door shut, and headed out. She was gone for nearly an hour and a half—long enough to have visited a distribution warehouse rather than the shop down the street.
When she returned, Jennifer tiptoed into the bedroom. Mark was sleeping like an angel; he didn't even stir when she brushed a hand over his hair. However, in the middle of the night, he began to mutter a name. He spoke so softly that Jennifer couldn't make out who he was talking about. The next morning, as she was seeing him off to work, she asked in passing, "Hey, is everything okay with you?"
Mark reacted as if he'd been hit by a live wire.
"What's that supposed to mean? Am I acting weird? Why are you even asking that, especially first thing in the morning?"
Jennifer realized he wasn't going to open up.
"Fine, I was just checking to make sure you're alright. You didn't even eat dinner last night, and that's not like you. Maybe it's time for a vacation? I could talk to Mr. Harrison; I'm sure he'd let you off."
Mark pulled his hand away.
"No, we don't need to be asking for favors like that. We need the money right now. We'll take a break some other time."
Jennifer noticed his eyes darting around nervously. It felt like he was afraid of something. But who could be intimidating him? She had no answer to that, nor did she know what to do if she ever had to tell him the truth.
Yes, Jennifer had her own secrets, but she wasn't ready to share them yet. After Mark left for the office, his mother decided to pay a visit.
***
To put it mildly, Jennifer didn't exactly cherish her mother-in-law's company. Martha caused a physical visceral reaction in her. Once, they had been left alone together in an appliance store while Mark and his father went to take care of some business. They ended up having a massive row over a vacuum cleaner. Both wanted to buy the exact same floor model, and it escalated until the manager finally pulled the unit off the shelf.
"That's it, I've heard enough," the manager had said. "This item is no longer for sale."
It was a classic "if I can't have it, no one can" situation.
So now, as Martha walked in, Jennifer instinctively felt a sense of danger. Still, she pretended to be happy to see her.
"Hello, Martha! All by yourself? Is Mr. Harrison worn out?"
Her mother-in-law gave her a searching look.
"Don't be snide, Jennifer. It doesn't suit you. I only came because I want to know what is going on with our men. Richard hasn't been himself since they got back from that trip. Did you notice anything odd with Mark?"
Jennifer felt a wave of relief.
"Well, aside from him skipping dinner and crashing early, not really. He looked exhausted, though. Do you think it's work, or just the weather?"
Martha seemed to grow irritated.
"There you go again. Do you have any conscience at all?"
Jennifer pulled some juice from the fridge.
"My throat is a bit dry, want a glass? Honestly, Martha, our men always—or almost always—come back from business trips in a bad mood. You have to understand, they're running a serious business. There's no room for fun and games there."
Martha grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured herself some juice.
"I see you have new earrings. Where did those come from? Judging by the stones, they cost a fortune. Even I can't afford those. Care to tell me where the money came from, or more specifically, who picked up the tab?"
Jennifer broke into a light sweat.
"Well... Mark gives me cash sometimes, and I just saved it up. I saw a sale at the jewelry store recently and decided to treat myself."
It was clear Martha wasn't buying it.
"Maybe. But I'm keeping an eye on you regardless. And I'll be honest, I know exactly what Mark makes. Richard doesn't hide a thing from me; he tells me everything."
Martha stood up and paced a bit. Jennifer covered her mouth with her hand to hide a smile.
She had a good reason: not long ago, while they were all out shopping together, her father-in-law had managed to swat a shop assistant's backside a couple of times when he thought no one was looking. Martha had missed it, of course, but Jennifer had caught his eye and wagged a finger at him in jest. Martha sat back down.
"Fine, I won't grill you anymore; I don't have the time. But just so you know, if anything is going on, I'll be the first to find out. And believe me, you won't like me when I'm angry."
Jennifer saw her out, and the moment the door clicked shut, she sank to the floor and took a deep breath. She'd dodged a bullet this time, but there was no telling what Martha would dream up next. Jennifer was walking on thin ice, and only a miracle had saved her.
***
As it turned out, Martha wasn't lying about the men being depressed. A few days later, Mark and his father headed off on a fishing trip—so hurriedly they didn't even mention exactly where they were going. Jennifer seized the moment to take a break of her own.
When she got into a taxi, a dark sedan pulled out and followed them. The whole way there, Jennifer kept checking her phone as if expecting a call. The sedan stayed back but never lost them. Finally, the taxi dropped her off at an apartment complex. She practically ran inside. Meanwhile, the dark car pulled over about twenty yards from the entrance. The windows were heavily tinted, making the driver look like they were playing spy.
An hour and a half later, Jennifer emerged, and within minutes, a taxi pulled up for her. She took the same route back home. The sedan kept its distance, never losing sight of her. Back at her place, just as Jennifer was paying the driver, a familiar voice called out.
"Not so fast, dear. We need to talk."
It was Martha, appearing like a bad penny at the worst possible moment. Jennifer stopped.
"Well, Martha, how timely. Just the person I wanted to see. What is it this time? Going to check my clothes to see if they're too expensive?"
Martha grabbed Jennifer by the sleeve and literally hauled her into the lobby.
"You're going to explain everything right now. I'm not blind."
A neighbor was coming down the stairs, so Martha held her tongue for a moment. But as soon as they were inside the apartment, she exploded.
"Did you really think I'd believe that fairy tale about the earrings? Not a chance. I know you have a lover."
Jennifer started to shake. "How do you know... I mean, where are these accusations coming from?"
"I saw you go to his place with my own eyes," Martha snapped. "And don't you dare tell me he's 'just a friend.'"
Jennifer took a breath and regained her composure.
"Oh, I see. You were stalking me? Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Martha? I looked up to you. By the way, that's a lovely necklace. Did Richard finally get generous?"
Now it was Martha's turn to flush crimson.
"Don't dodge the question. I want the truth. What I wear is none of your business."
Slowly, it began to dawn on Jennifer. Martha hadn't just been following her randomly. The way she said "at his place" and "just a friend" suggested Martha knew exactly whose apartment that was. There was no point in hiding it—Jennifer was caught. But she needed to flip the script.
Martha kept staring her down, but Jennifer's mind was racing. She asked a pointed question.
"So, maybe Richard didn't give you that necklace after all?"
Martha lowered her head and answered quietly, "No, he didn't. It was a gift from a friend. Or rather, our friend. It seems we've both fallen for the same man."
Jennifer's jaw dropped. "Are you telling me you're cheating on your husband? Wow. And you had the nerve to judge me."
Martha pulled a chair closer. "Yes, I've strayed. But you're no angel either. We're both unfaithful wives."
Jennifer let out a loud laugh.
"Well, isn't this a lovely family tradition? What do we do now? I can't exactly confess to Mark, and I doubt you're dying to break Richard's heart."
Martha nodded. "I knew the moment I saw you at that building. I've known Greg for a long time. He's so charming and attentive. You have to understand, I don't get enough attention. Richard is always at the office or traveling. And let's be honest, you aren't exactly drowning in affection either. But something else is bothering me: the way our husbands are acting."
Jennifer frowned. "What do you mean? We talked about the exhaustion. I'm used to it, and I didn't think it bothered you that much. Especially now that we've realized we're 'sisters in arms.' I mean, a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sleeping with the same guy? If we told anyone, they'd never believe it."
Martha waved her off. "Don't you dare mention it to a soul, or we'll both be out on the street."
They decided to cover for each other. And surprisingly, neither of them stopped seeing Greg. He became their shared little secret.
***
A week passed, and Mark started packing for another "business trip." He was frantic, repeating, "We have to wrap this up or we'll lose the investors. But there's a good chance we'll land a huge contract."
He actually seemed cheered up, as if the gloom from the previous trip had evaporated. Richard was acting the same way; as the CEO of the firm where Mark worked, they were heading out together again.
Later that evening, after Mark called Jennifer to say they'd arrived safely, Martha dropped by. She looked anything but happy.
"I'm worried, Jennifer. My gut is telling me something is wrong. What if Richard suspects something?"
Jennifer calmed her down and handed her a glass of water.
"Stop shaking. Nobody knows anything. Since our men are gone, why don't we go to a resort and soothe our nerves?"
A smile finally touched Martha's face.
"You're right. I'm in. But let's not just go to a spa—let's go to Miami. Richard told me in confidence this trip would last three weeks, and he left me plenty of cash to enjoy myself."
Jennifer went to the bedroom and brought out a small box.
"Mark gave me a stack of bills, too. They're acting so strange; I have a bad feeling about this."
But Martha was already mentally on the beach. "Oh, we're going to have a blast, Jennifer!"
It took them three days to pack and book their flights.
***
They decided to go all out and flew down to South Beach. After checking into their hotel, they grabbed their bikinis and headed straight for the sand. Despite the crowds, they found a couple of lounge chairs. Jennifer was rubbing sunscreen on her shoulders and helping Martha with her back when Martha suddenly froze.
She turned around, her voice trembling. "They're here. The business trip was a cover."
Jennifer looked over Martha's shoulder and nearly choked.
"Unbelievable. And we actually believed them."
Martha gripped her hand. "Well, look at us. We aren't exactly angels either, are we? We have to do something, or we'll just keep lying to each other forever."
They decided to go for broke. Jennifer led the way, sneaking up to the spot where her husband and father-in-law were lounging with two other women. The men looked like they'd seen a ghost.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at home!"
Jennifer didn't bother making excuses.
"The same thing you're doing, I guess. Looking for a little warmth and affection."
Martha joined them, and it became clear that a very serious conversation was unavoidable. Jennifer confessed her affair to Mark, and he, in turn, asked for her forgiveness. Richard did the same. They had to make a choice, and after weighing everything, they agreed not to tear their families apart. They realized that to understand one another and deal with their problems, they didn't necessarily have to resort to scorched-earth tactics.
Jennifer and Mark are still together, and Richard has become surprisingly more attentive and devoted to Martha than ever before.
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