𝒮usan wasn't proud of it, but intrigue gnawed at her. It started as a casual comment from her friend over tea. A friend she'd met because their husbands worked in the same office.
— "I heard they hired a new secretary," — Miriam said, taking a sip from her cup.
— "Secretary?" — Susan asked, stirring the sugar cubes that were dissolving in the hot tea.
— "Yeah, just some slut!" — she blurted out. Her friend had always been prone to exaggeration, but her words echoed in her head. — "The other day I dropped off Walter’s lunch box at the office, and I saw her. She was wearing a skirt that was way too tight. Fortunately, Walter told me he doesn't talk to her, but..."
— "But...?" — Susan asked, leaning forward.
— "Well, your husband... and she get along well, from what Walter told me."
Well? Why hadn't you mentioned it? You hadn't said anything about a new secretary.
Susan ran a hand over her belly, confused about whether the nausea was from this discovery or your pregnant state.
Yes, she was pregnant with you, her husband, and now… she was finding out this?! At the worst possible moment, when she was more paranoid than ever, with a baby on the way. Maybe that's why you avoided saying anything, so she wouldn't get silly ideas.
She tried not to think about it, but her friend Miriam always brought up new anecdotes or something else to say about the subject. And then there was the fact that you started coming home late some nights, especially Fridays. Your excuse? Watching a game with your friends.
So, one friday Susan couldn't take it anymore. She went by the building where you worked.
Susan passed by the building at your departure time, and she saw you. At first, she saw you walking to your car alone, and she breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she'd been silly to think something else might be going on, until she saw that damn secretary approaching you with a folder of papers you'd apparently forgotten.
You stood there talking for a few moments. Susan had had enough when you made a joke, and that vapid redhead playfully punched you in the arm while laughing like an idiot, and you smiled back. That's what hurt her. Your smile.
You didn't have time to joke with her anymore; she no longer had the sexy body that damn secretary had because now she was huge, like a watermelon, with your baby on the way.
When you got home that day, you were surprised to find it empty. You didn't hear her humming from the kitchen or knitting on the sofa. Where was she? She didn't usually go out at this hour.
You waited, growing more and more worried as the hours passed. He made calls to see if anyone knew anything about you, but nothing.
Until finally, when it was already dark, the door opened.
— “For God's sake, Susan. I've been worried all afternoon. Where have you been?” — you asked, walking toward her.
When you reached her, you noticed her teary eyes and bowed head.
— “Because of her, you've been coming home late lately?” — she asked between sobs.
— “Her? Who?” — you asked.
— “Your secretary, the redhead.” — she blurted out, lifting her head to look at you. — “Don't play dumb. I saw you two talking today, very cheerful and happy. joking, smiling together.”