Chapter 1: The Key My Son Didn't Know He Was Carrying
I thought my husband was picking our son up from school every Thursday — but one day, my boy casually asked, "Mom, why didn't my other mom pick me up today like she usually does?"
My husband, Ryan, and I have been married for eight years.
We have a six-year-old son, Toby.
Because we both work full-time, we have a very strict schedule.
I usually handle school pickups, but Ryan works from home on Thursdays, so that has always been his day to get Toby.
It's been our routine for the last seven months, and as far as I knew, it was working perfectly.
Ryan always texted me at 3:15 PM saying they were safely back at the house.
Yesterday afternoon, my office lost power.
Since they sent everyone home early, I decided to drive over to the elementary school and get Toby myself.
I didn't bother texting Ryan, figuring I would just surprise them when we walked through the front door.
I parked in the pickup line, signed Toby out at the front office, and walked him to my car.
He climbed into his booster seat and let me buckle him in.
Usually, he talks non-stop about recess.
But yesterday, he was strangely quiet.
As I pulled out of the parking lot, I glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
He was frowning, looking around the empty car.
"Is everything okay, bud?" I asked, turning the radio down.
"Yeah," Toby said.
He kicked his feet against the back of my seat.
"But why didn't my other mom pick me up today like she usually does?"
I kept my eyes on the road.
"What do you mean, your other mom?" I asked calmly, keeping my voice completely steady.
"Daddy picks you up on Thursdays."
Toby shook his head.
"No he doesn't," he said matter-of-factly.
"Daddy is never there."
Before I could ask him anything else, Toby unzipped his little jacket pocket, pulled something out, and dropped it into the center cupholder.
"She told me to give this back to him," he said.
I slowly pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road, put it in park, and just stared at the item in complete silence.
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What was in that cupholder — and who is Toby's "other mom"?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2.
