While the crew got started, I went to find my phone charger. I’d packed it in Rodrigo’s duffel bag at the airport because my carry-on was full.
I unzipped his bag. I dug around under his T-shirts.
His tablet was in there too. And as I moved it, the screen lit up.
A notification. A text message. From Lauren.
Don’t you dare tell her there was never a resort reservation in the first place, or she’s going to lose it.
I froze.
Before I could even process it, another one slid in under it.
So glad you brought her. Now I actually get to relax for two weeks. You were right, she practically loves cleaning anyway.
A cold wave went down my spine.
I didn’t touch the tablet. I didn’t unlock it. I didn’t need to. The previews just kept coming. It must have been a group thread. They’d been texting on the boat.
George: Make sure to mention grocery duty to her. We already spent enough renting this place.
And then my husband.
Rodrigo: Leave her to me. Once she’s down here, it’s not like she’s going to pack up and turn around.
I read it four times.
Once she’s down here, it’s not like she’s going to pack up and turn around.
There it was. The real truth.
There had never been a last-minute change of plans. There had never been a resort reservation at all.
My husband had set this up with his family weeks ago. Maybe months. Back in January, while he was scrolling through resort pictures in our kitchen telling me I deserved a break.
They’d brought me five hundred miles to Florida knowing that once I got here, I’d go along with it. Because I’d be too far from home. Because I wouldn’t want to make a scene. Because I’d never once in eight years of marriage made a scene.
And while I played unpaid maid, Rodrigo was going to spend my savings on a fishing rod.
I sat down on the edge of the bed in the guest room.
For a second, the urge to cry was so strong I could feel it in my throat.
Then it just stopped.
Because my job has taught me one rule over and over. When a project is built on bad math and lies, you don’t keep pouring money and time into it just because you’ve already spent some.
You cut your losses.
And you protect what’s left.
I zipped the duffel bag back up exactly the way I’d found it.
I didn’t take the tablet. I didn’t take photos of it. I didn’t need them. I’d seen everything I needed to see.
Then I went back out onto the deck, opened my laptop again, and started making one more reservation.
Sophia Rivers is an experienced News Content Editor with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for delivering accurate and engaging news stories. At TheArchivists, she specializes in curating, editing, and presenting news content that informs and resonates with a global audience.
Sophia holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Toronto, where she developed her skills in news reporting, media ethics, and digital journalism. Her expertise lies in identifying key stories, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring journalistic integrity in every piece she edits.
Known for her precision and dedication to the truth, Sophia thrives in the fast-paced world of news editing. At TheArchivists, she focuses on producing high-quality news content that keeps readers informed while maintaining a balanced and insightful perspective.
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