Chapter 1: The Joke That Wasn't Funny
My sister kissed my husband at her anniversary party and called it "a joke" — what her husband did next made them come crawling back.
I'd been married to Michael for ten years.
We had two children.
I trusted him with my life.
Rachel, my younger sister, had flirted with him for years.
"How did you find a man like Michael?" Rachel would ask with a smile.
"I'm jealous.
I wish I had a husband like yours."
Her comments made me uncomfortable, but that was Rachel.
When she married Tom, I felt relieved.
He was a wonderful man who loved her.
For their first anniversary, Michael and I drove to their house to celebrate with them.
As we settled down to dinner, Michael pulled out Rachel's chair.
"If I'd met you first, I might have chosen a different husband," she said.
I nearly choked on my water.
Across the table, Tom's face went bright red.
I waited for Michael to say something, but he just smiled into his glass.
"Rachel, please don't say that.
He's my husband."
She laughed as though I had said something ridiculous.
"Oh, relax.
You know I'm joking."
I kept an eye on Rachel for the rest of dinner.
She was constantly at Michael's side, telling him what a wonderful husband he was while barely speaking to Tom.
I tried to tell myself she was only showing off, but what bothered me most was that Michael let her.
"Why are you letting Rachel act like this?" I asked when we were alone that night.
"I love you, sweetheart.
I'll speak to her," he said.
I wanted to believe him.
The next day, I did my best to put Rachel's behavior out of my mind.
The rest of the family arrived for the anniversary party, and Tom helped me carry food out to the backyard.
We were still in the kitchen when I heard a burst of shouting outside.
I hurried through the door with a serving dish in my hands.
Then I froze.
Rachel was kissing Michael.
Right there in front of our family.
In front of my parents.
Michael pulled away only when he saw me.
"It was a dare," he said awkwardly.
Rachel stepped back, smiling.
"Sorry, sis, but he kisses better than Tom.
I might not give him back!" She laughed.
"Just a joke."
Anger rushed through me, and I was about to walk over to them when Tom let out a short laugh.
He was standing behind me, so I couldn't see what he was doing.
But Rachel's smile vanished, and Michael went pale.
They were both staring at him as if they had seen a ghost.
"Actually," Tom said, "I have a special gift for you.
I've been waiting for the right moment."
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May you like
What does Tom have in that envelope — and will Michael and Rachel finally face what they've done?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2 in the comments.
