I stirred the pot, realizing that my dish wasn't turning out. It smelled like it was burning, but my noodles were crunchy. I couldn't focus on cooking, knowing Dean was out there talking to Greta. That woman was poison, a toxin, a walking plague in stilettos. How did we keep allowing her in our lives? Or as Greta pointed our, how did the McKays keep letting her back into their family. I was an outsider, so what did I know? Sure, I told Dean to go see her. But now I had second thoughts. This woman verbally assaulted her daughters for years, filling their heads with garbage. But usually, she was MIA as a mom. I'd been to every soccer game, every school function, every birthday. I knew it took work, but it wasn't hard. How could she have left in the first place? The girls were my universe, and Dean... I would have never put him in another bedroom.

                "Kari," I said. "Can you order some pizza."

"Yeah," Kari shouted back.

She had an app on her phone that brought us pizza if she sent an emoji. It was quite nice. My food was disgusting tonight. I dumped it in the trash and pulled a bottle of wine from the fridge.

"Uh oh," Marisa said. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing dear," I said. "I just can't cook."

"Oh ok," she said.

                My phone buzzed and I pulled it out. I had a text from an unknown number. I clicked on it, and my eyes blurred at the sight. I quickly put my phone in my pocket, hoping Marisa hadn't seen anything.

"Marisa, I am going to lie down for a while," I said. "I don't feel well."

"Ok," she said. "Can I be in charge for once?"

"Look, if you girls need anything, come get me. Okay?"

"Ok," she shrugged.

                 I went downstairs and collapsed on the bed. I pulled out my phone and double checked what I saw.

Like I said, he'll always be mine. Good try stealing my husband, but he can't resist me. -Greta.

I shuddered as I looked at the picture. Greta was laying on the bed, totally naked. She looked uncomfortably beautiful, her hair spread out on the bed as her breasts were laying there like works of art. Below, her perfectly sculpted body was open to Dean. His face looked possessive and ready to conquer. He was standing up, ready to move in. It was definitely not an old picture, since he was wearing a tie I'd just bought for him. I'd tied it this morning and kissed him goodbye. Was that our last kiss? My heart lurched.

            I couldn't think, so I naturally, I forwarded the text to Allison.

KAYLA: I'm freaking out. Does this look real to you?

I took a deep breath. It was photo-shopped, clearly. Dean would never, and could never, cheat on me.

ALLISON: Ummmm, maybe it's an old photo. That looks real.

KAYLA: He was supposed to meet with her to discuss custody. And Greta sends me this. I mean...what do I do?

ALLISON: Call Dean, right now! If he's innocent, there'll be an explanation. Don't jump to any conclusions. He's a good man, Kay.

                I realized she was right, so I pulled out my phone and dialed. It rung twice before someone answered. I could hear water running in the background.

"Hello," I said. "Dean?"

"Dean is busy," Greta said. "He needed a shower. God, that was sweaty."

"Please put him on the phone," I said. My voice shook.

"Why," She said. "A picture says a thousand words. I have more intimate photos if you'd like..."

               I just hung up. My boyfriend cheated on me. My boyfriend cheated on me and probably was going to bring back his ex-wife. In one night, I was going to lose the love of my life and my girls. They weren't mine, they were hers. God, I had been such a fool this last year. What would I even do now? I could try to move on, but I didn't want to. All of my dreams had revolved around building this family. I sat there in the silence for awhile before I let go. It was time to move on from my denial to another stage of grief: overwhelming depression.

*

*

*

                I heard a knock on the door. I paused.

"Honey," Dean said. "I am coming in."

I couldn't decide what mortified me more: the fact the he called me honey or that he would see how he was destroying me?

"Kayla, are you ok?"

"Don't," I said. "I don't want to talk."

"Why are you crying?"

"You should know why," I yelled. "You know what you did."

"Excuse me," He replied. God he was so slick.

                  "Look, I will save you the trouble. I get it, ok. You're reconciling with your wife. I am will move out, but maybe the girls can come over anytime. I mean, I will live next door. So I can just live there, alone, wishing I was their mom. I will watch you have your fucked up marriage with Greta and just deal. I am a grownup. I can handle it."

The more I spoke, the more the reality of it all depressed me.

"Why do you think I am back with Greta?"

"She sent me her little victory message," I sniffled. "I thought you'd at least have the balls to tell me yourself."

"Tell you what?" Dean asked. "There is nothing to tell."

I handed him the phone.

              "You slept with Greta. I thought...I thought you loved me. I thought we were actually going to get married. God, I am an idiot."

Dean's mouth opened, and he looked dumbfounded.

"I can explain," he said. "This photo is misleading. It's not accurate."

"What?"

"Look, Greta is a master manipulator. Yes, I went to her hotel room. Yes, she threw herself at me, naked glory included. I said no and left."
"Why did she have your phone?"

                 "She doesn't," Dean said. "It's right here in my pocket..."

He patted his pocket, his eyes widening.

"Ok, she stole my phone."

"So you didn't sleep with her," I said.

"I didn't touch her. I am sorry...I shouldn't have let myself be in a private room with her. She is insane."

                 "But she looks...she's gorgeous. She was right there... you could have done anything you wanted. I would have never known."

"Kayla, I am in love with you," he said. "I don't want anyone else. I was going to tell you about it right away. I have nothing to hide."

"And Greta..."

"Is still gone," Dean said. "Forever."

"Ok," I sighed, my voice weak. "I just feel so...violated. That photo really hurt. Even the idea of you two...it drives me insane."

                  "Well, I'll never let myself be put in that situation again. I shouldn't have been alone with her. I could have brought Jerry, or a lawyer. I don't think I handled it well at all. I feel awful that you got hurt."

"Well, I am just glad it isn't true," I sighed. "I realized how much I don't want to lose you. I really love you Dean. You could break me if you wanted to."

"I would never," he said, his voice full of conviction. "Kayla, I love you. I will always protect you."

I just nodded and he came over, pulling me close. He pulled out a picture and I stiffened.

                 "I want to show you something," he said. "It's a picture, and I promise, it's nothing salacious."

"Ok..."

There was a picture of a diamond ring, and my heart stopped.

"What is this?" I asked, my voice cracking.

"It's an engagement ring," Dean said. "No, I am not proposing yet. I just... I wanted you to know I intend to. I don't want my ex-wife or some other girl. I want us to be a family. If you want something different, please put me out of my misery. "

"I want that. I want you."

                "How about Uncle Jerry comes over tonight and we go somewhere more private."

"Ok," I said. "Let's just avoid the hotel Greta is staying in, ok?"

"Deal," Dean said. "I love you. I'll make this right."

"Ok," I said. And I really believed him. Thankfully, I knew him well enough to realize how silly my doubts were in the first place.