The package on my doorstep had my name, but I definitely didn't order it. The size of it made me a little skeptical. It was a light and thin package... Wrapped in white paper with a red bow.
As I picked it up, I couldn't help but think about my day. It had been a typical Monday, with a meeting at the office and a quick lunch with a colleague. My mind had been preoccupied with work, but now my attention was focused on this mysterious package.
I walked into the house, calling out to my wife, Maria. "Hey, babe! I'm home." She responded from the living room, her voice warm and inviting. "Hey, honey! Welcome back. I've missed you."
I dropped my keys on the counter and made my way to the living room. A very heavily pregnant and sweet Maria was curled up on the couch, looking as beautiful as ever. It is just a week away from her due date, and I couldn't wait to meet our baby.
I placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and sat beside her, hugging her close. "It was good, just busy. How about you? How's our little one doing?" Maria smiled and placed my hand on her belly. He's doing great. Active as ever, just missing his daddy," a soft smile on her face.
Usually, I would be happy to get back from all work and the day's stress to Maria, where it would all drown out.
But as I sat there, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease and dread.
The package on the doorstep had left me with a pounding heart and an upset stomach; it felt lighter in my hands, and the red bow, neatly tied, looked too deliberate.
I grabbed a knife and began to cut through the white paper with slow precision. Under the wrapping was a flat box. I turned the box over, searching for a clue of who sent it, but it sits in my hands, unmarked. My breath caught as I lifted the lid. Inside were photos of faces I knew too well—Agnes, my other wife, and our two daughters. I began to wonder if this was a punishment from God.
But I didn’t do anything wrong, I thought. I had two families, yes. But I loved and treated them equally, and I made sure they were thousands of miles away from each other. But still, I wouldn't want Maria to know about it; the knowledge of it all would kill her. Our baby was almost here; we were still trying to build our new life together. Everything was finally falling into place, so who the hell sent it?
Why now? And what the hell did they want?
A cold sweat broke on my forehead. I wasn’t sure when I stood, but the room was spinning.
Maria could not find out! She just couldn't
I finally managed to pull myself together; I had to shove the package and its contents into my work bag. I’d be able to sort this all out when I get to the office, I thought.
Later that evening, Maria opted for a movie night. She picked a rom-com—definitely something light and comforting. As the movie started, I found it difficult to stay focused. My mind kept wandering back to the package and its damning contents.
"Babe," Maria called out, sounding slightly irritated, "the movie is starting. Where are you?" I snapped back to attention, fixing a quick smile on my face. "Just thinking of our bills, baby. Bills, bills, and bills." I placed Maria's legs on my lap and began rubbing soft, circular motions on her feet.
I felt bad saying that because I knew she was going to overthink. With the way she was biting her lips, she was definitely worried.
"It's okay, baby; tomorrow will take care of itself. We'll be okay. Let's get back to the movie," I said, trying and obviously failing to sate her traveling mind.
She gave a half smile, seeming to accept my suggestion. But as I looked into her eyes, I saw a flicker of something else. A hint of suspicion, perhaps, or a glimmer of knowledge.
Maria drifted off to sleep halfway through the movie, her head resting gently on my shoulder. Her soft breaths rose and fell in rhythm. I envied her peace and her ability to find calm even in the midst of my turmoil.
But as the night wore on, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my world was about to come crashing down.
****
Maria watched as her husband tried and failed miserably in lying to her. She could read him like a book. At least she thought she could, until she found out some months ago that the man she gave everything up for had another entire family of his own.
She had cried so much that day that when she slept and woke up with blood soaking the sheets, she knew her baby was gone.
If she had other children, maybe she would have found reasons to forgive him, finding comfort in the rest of her children. But this was supposed to be their first child, their first fruit, their bundle of joy.
Now she wore a synthetic baby bump. The perfect plan was going to unfold during the coming week, and she couldn't wait. She didn’t know the kind of woman she’d become after all this, but she was sure James would know—he would wish he had remained faithful to his other family.
The first step was already done: send pictures of his other family in the mail and watch him go crazy and run around in circles trying to look for who sent it.
His hands still rubbed slow, comforting circles around her bloated feet—an effect of a drug she was taking to mirror pregnancy symptoms. Maria smiled to herself, feeling a sense of satisfaction and anticipation. The game was about to begin, and she was ready to play.