“I see,” said Eric.
“I wouldn’t have said anything, sir,” Farrow said.
“But I’ve known you all my life, sir, since you were a little boy…”
“Well, Farrow, maybe you can help me solve this mystery,” Eric said. “Tomorrow you will tell Mrs. Montpelier that your nephew will be driving her because you have a doctor’s appointment.
“I’ll wear your uniform, your cap, and dark glasses and I’ll keep the smoked divider in the limousine up,” Eric said.
“She won’t even look at me, and I’ll find out the truth.”
That night, Eric casually asked Marla what she was doing the next day and she replied, “Oh, nothing much! Just going into town for some shopping, maybe get my hair done…:”
But Eric knew it was all a lie! That night, lying in bed next to his beautiful wife he couldn’t sleep.
Was his entire marriage a lie? He’d been so happy these last two years, and he thought Marla was too…
Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow I’ll know the whole truth. The next day, Eric pretended to leave for the office, then ducked back into Farrow’s apartment over the garage and changed into his uniform.
He slicked back his hair with gel, put on his dark glasses, and got into the car to wait for Marla.
At the arranged time, Marla came out, got into the car, and said: “Please can you drive me to 25 Camden Street?”
Eric nodded and drove. The address Marla had asked to be taken to was very unsavory, in a part of town where the apartments were cheap, and often occupied by people just one step away from living on the streets.
When they arrived at the address, Marla instructed him to wait for her phone call before picking her up. Not once had she looked at Eric.
She really seemed preoccupied.
Eric drove down two blocks and parked the limousine, then he walked back and into the building Marla had entered. It was a dump! What was his wife doing here?
Then Eric heard her voice. “I’m sorry I can’t stay too long, but you know I do love you…”
A red hot wave of jealousy and anger ran through Eric, and without a second thought, he shoved his shoulder into the door. Inside, the apartment was even more miserable, and sitting on the sofa holding an old man’s hands was Marla.
She jumped to her feet, deadly pale.
“Eric,” she gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be the one asking the questions!” Eric cried. “What is this place and who is this man?”
Marla took a deep breath.
“This is my father, Eric. He is ill. He had a stroke, so I come to help him whenever I can.”
“But why didn’t you tell me?
You said you were an orphan!” Eric asked.
“My father was in prison, I was so ashamed.” Marla whispered. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want to be with a girl like me, a girl from nowhere with a convict father…”
Eric took Marla’s hands in his. “I love you, Marla, and nothing would ever make me change my mind about you.” Marla started crying and threw her arms around Eric.
“Oh Eric, I’m so sorry…I’ve hated lying to you!” Marla said.
Then she introduced Eric to her father, who was badly affected by his stroke and had lost the power of speech.
Eric insisted on getting Marla’s father into an assisted living facility where he was properly cared for and Marla didn’t have to sneak in to visit him. A few weeks later, Marla had some wonderful news for Eric: he was going to be a father!
What can you learn from this story?
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
