I decided to start with the basics: where would Ben have access to a shiny car? Our family car barely qualified as functional, let alone shiny. I searched through our shared bank account for anything suspicious—car rentals, purchases, or anything out of the ordinary. Nothing. It was clean.
Next, I scrolled through his social media. Ben rarely posted, but his tagged photos were another story. One picture caught my eye—him and a group of people at what looked like a fancy restaurant. He was holding a wine glass, smiling, and seated next to a woman with curly hair. The caption read, “Great night with the team!” Team? Ben had always described his job as a solo contractor gig.I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but Liam’s innocent comment and this photo set off alarm bells.
The next step was to check the location Liam mentioned. I asked him gently during lunch, “Sweetie, where did you see Daddy with the shiny car?”He thought for a moment and then said, “At the park by the ice cream place! The one with the blue slide!”
That was enough. After dropping Liam off at preschool the next day, I drove to the park. I felt like I was in a movie, staking out a location, waiting for some grand revelation. My heart was pounding, and I could barely breathe.And then, around noon, it happened. A sleek black sports car pulled into the lot. My jaw dropped as I watched Ben step out of the passenger seat, laughing with the same curly-haired woman from the photo. She handed him the keys, and he climbed into the driver’s seat while she waved goodbye and walked toward the park trail.
I stayed in my car, watching them until she disappeared and Ben drove off. My head was spinning. Was he moonlighting as a chauffeur? Was this some secret business deal? Or worse—was he having an affair?I tailed him as he drove out of the lot. He stopped at a small office building, got out, and walked inside. I parked across the street, grabbed a pair of sunglasses and a scarf to disguise myself, and followed.
Inside, I found myself in the lobby of a luxury car rental service. Ben was standing at the counter, talking to a receptionist. “The car drives like a dream,” he said, handing over the keys.What was he doing renting luxury cars? And who was the woman?
I approached the counter, pretending to be a customer. The receptionist greeted me warmly, and I asked casually, “Does this rental service include chauffeurs?”She smiled. “No, but we do allow clients to test drive vehicles before purchasing. That’s likely what your husband was doing.”
Husband. My cover was blown.Ben turned around, eyes wide with shock. “Mary?”
I folded my arms. “Care to explain what’s going on, Ben?”His face turned red as he stammered. “I… I was going to tell you. I swear.”
“Tell me what?”He sighed, shoulders slumping. “I’ve been saving up to surprise you. I wanted to buy us a new car—a nice one. I’ve been test driving a few with the help of a sales associate, Erica. She works here.”
“Erica,” I repeated, the name leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “And why was this a secret?”“I wanted it to be a surprise! After everything you’ve done for this family, I wanted to give you something special. I didn’t think it’d look great if I said, ‘Hey, I’m spending our savings on test driving cars.’”
I studied his face, searching for any sign of deceit. He looked genuinely guilty—but not for the reasons I’d feared.
“And Liam seeing you with Erica?” I pressed.
“She let me drive the car when you were with your mom. He must’ve seen us then.”
I took a deep breath, still unsure if I believed him completely. “You know, secrets don’t build trust, Ben. If you wanted to surprise me, you could’ve done it without sneaking around.”
He nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
I left the rental place with mixed emotions. Ben’s story made sense, but it still hurt that he’d kept me in the dark. As for Erica… I wasn’t convinced there was nothing there, but for now, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
One thing was for sure: I’d keep a much closer eye on him—and Liam’s innocent words would always be a reminder to trust my instincts.