When We Were Opening Christmas Gifts, My 5-Year-Old Shouted, “Yes! The Other Mom Kept Her Promise!”

Simon tore into the paper and froze.

Then his face exploded into joy.

He clutched what was inside and shouted at the top of his lungs, “YES! The other mom kept her promise! I knew she would!”

The room went silent.

The words hung in the air, heavy and wrong.

“The other mom?” I repeated, forcing my voice to stay calm.

Simon nodded enthusiastically, still smiling. “Yeah! She said if I behaved really well, she’d make sure I got it for Christmas.”

I turned slowly toward my husband.

Mike wasn’t smiling.

The color drained from his face so quickly it startled me. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“Who is the other mom, sweetheart?” I asked Simon gently.

He hesitated, suddenly sensing the shift in the room. “Dad knows her,” he said. “She comes sometimes. She told me not to worry.”

Not to worry.

Those words echoed in my head.

I looked back at Mike. “Would you like to explain?”

He opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

“She said we’re going on a trip,” Simon added softly. “Me, her, and Daddy. You’ll have to work, Mommy.”

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