It was labeled “Inheritance.”
“Inheritance?” Michael said, reading over my shoulder.
“We’re rich?”
“Shush,” I said. “Let me read this and figure it all out.”
The document revealed that Jack had inherited a large estate from his estranged uncle, including a mansion and a significant amount of money.
Judging from the dates on the document, Jack had kept this from me for years.
“So, what does it all mean?” Michael asked.
“I’m not completely sure yet,” I said, trying to process the information. “But we need to find out more.”
Just as I was absorbing everything, Michael pulled out another item.
An old photo album.
The pictures showed Jack with another woman who seemed close to my age, and two little children, living in what looked to be the estate from the documents.
It was clear that they had been a family.
“Who are these people?” Michael asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
“I have no idea,” I whispered to my son, my mind reeling. “But we need to talk to your father.”
Michael nodded slowly.
“Come,” I told him. “Let’s get you some breakfast.”
We went upstairs, and I continued to make Michael some breakfast.
My son wasn’t stupid, and I knew that he understood what we had seen. Maybe our version of it was warped because of the disbelief and betrayal that swam through our thoughts.
But it was clear: Jack had another family stashed somewhere.
When Jack came home that evening, he saw the open suitcase and the look on our faces. Michael and I had been talking about the possibilities the entire day.
“Liz, I can explain,” Jack stammered.
“Explain what, Jack?” I snapped.
“The mansion? The money? The other family?
How long were you planning to keep this secret?”
He sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping.
“I never wanted you to find out like this.”
“Then how?” I demanded. “How were we supposed to find out? Were you going to tell us?
Or were you just going to let this secret die with you?”
“I didn’t want to hurt you. It was just a mistake. And I thought that I could handle it,” he said.
“Handle what?” I asked, my voice breaking.
“How long has this been going on?”
And then the truth came spilling out. Jack admitted that he had been living a double life for the first five years of our marriage.
“On a business trip, I met Imogen and I fell in love. It was instant.
But I didn’t tell her that I was married. So, we carried on meeting every time I was in her area. Not long after, she told me that she was pregnant.”
“I can’t take this,” Michael said.
“I refuse to listen to this. I’m going for a walk.”
“Look, both the kids don’t have my name on their birth certificates, but they are living in my uncle’s estate. I had to provide for them.
But Imogen died a few years ago. The kids live with her parents on the estate, but that’s about it. This suitcase is a reminder of a part of my life that I had control over, but I chose to keep hidden.”
I had nothing to say.
There were no words that would make the truth easier to comprehend.
“The anniversary of Imogen’s death is coming up, and I think that I was just thinking about it before I fell asleep,” Jack said.
That explained the talking in his sleep.
After that, I decided to choose Michael and myself. And I filed for a divorce from Jack. Michael refused to have anything to do with his father, and I had to side with him.
He hadn’t lied to me about anything.
Jack didn’t even put up a fight.
What would you have done?
