I changed the ticket to Mom’s friend’s name.
I’ve never slept through an alarm in my life! Well, except for that one time in college when I drank a valerian sleep aid, but that was an exception.
But for me to sleep so deeply that he couldn’t wake me, and then just give my ticket away to a friend of his mother and leave without me?
The realization hit me like a physical blow.
The chamomile tea!
I didn’t cry. I was too mad to cry. Instead, I opened the airline app.
I’ve never slept through an alarm in my life!
There was one seat left on the next flight to Orlando. It was business class, and it cost a small fortune, but I didn’t care.
I booked it.
I didn’t text Mark, and I didn’t call either of his parents.
I took my bag, locked the house, and headed to the airport.
By the time I landed in Florida, the sun was starting to set. I took a cab straight to the resort. I went to the front desk, showed my ID (since the whole thing was in my name anyway), and got the room number.
I took my bag, locked the house, and headed to the airport.
My blood was still simmering as I walked down the long, carpeted hallway of the resort. I reached the door to the suite I had paid for and knocked.
A woman opened the door.
“Can I help you with something?”
I looked her up and down… Early 30s, attractive. The outrage I already felt over this whole incident hardened into a feeling of betrayal that brought out the most spiteful parts of me.
I smiled. “You must be my mother-in-law’s friend?”
A woman opened the door.
The woman’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re in the right place.”
“Oh, I am,” I said. “This room was booked under my husband’s name. I know that for a fact because I made the booking and paid for the entire holiday.”
She hesitated, her eyes darting toward the bathroom.
“Husband?”
Before she could say another word, Mark stepped into the living area of the suite.
When he saw me, his face went from a relaxed tan to a ghostly white.
“What are you doing here?” His voice cracked.
It was pathetic.
His face went from a relaxed tan to a ghostly white.
“I paid for this trip, Mark. Why wouldn’t I be here?” I asked. I looked at the woman. “Besides, I wanted to see who had replaced me. You must be the ‘friend’ who didn’t want the ticket to go to waste.”
The woman stepped back instinctively. “Replaced you?”
Leave a Comment