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(Third Person POV)

While Logan and Aaron sat on the beanbag chairs playing video games, the girls and Sophie played with Charlie on top of Logan's bed.

Sophie discovered that Charlie loves getting belly rubs and scratching under his ear and chin.

He ran around the bed between girls as they giggled and played with him while holding a small interlaced rope, and a blue ball with stars Logan bought for him.

"So, Sophie." Ashley displayed a mischievous smile on her face.

"Yes!" Sophie dragged her word, knowing quite well she was bound to ask something out of the ordinary.

"You and Logan have been dating for two months now. Any plans for your anniversary this Wednesday?" She waved her eyebrows, causing a blush from Sophie and a grin from Meghan.

"I um, I don't know. We'll both probably be too busy with Thanksgiving arrangements. I usually help mom do all the cooking. And I hear your dad is coming by to spend time with you guys. I really wanted to do something, but I want Logan to spend time with his dad too. So maybe once Thanksgiving passes, we can go out." Sophie glances at Logan with a warm expression on her face.

Sophie's birthday was just a few days before Thanksgiving. She preferred not having parties because it would otherwise make her mom a bit more stressed having to juggle two events in a single week. Plus having their two-month anniversary around the same time making three important events back to back would take a toll on everyone.

A soft knock is heard at the door. Logan's mom comes in with a tray full of cookies, and hot chocolate to ease the chilled atmosphere outside.

"Oh! Cookies! Yummy." Meghan runs to aid her aunt and grabs the mugs, and begins handing them out.

"Hey, guys. Just remember! Don't stay up too late. I need you guys up and early for breakfast before you-" She stops in her tracks, realizing she almost gave away Logan's surprise for tomorrow.

"Just, don't stay up too late. Ok guys?"

They all agree in unison and bid her goodnight.
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Riley stood at her vanity placing her night-time lotion on her flawless skin after she had a long and much-needed hot bubble bath. Even at such a mature age, she still looked so radiant and beautiful.

She glares at her phone and reaches for it, unlocking her screen in hopes to have a missed call or text from her husband. Closing her eyes, too scared to look at the blue lighted screen.

He has been distant lately. Detached from the attention the few last times they had exchanged words. She tries to ignore the gut feeling something is wrong. She loves this man, regardless of the long periods he is away.

She understands that he is a busy and highly demanding lawyer. He's s good at what he does, too good if you ask her. This is why he is one of the top lawyers in all of Chicago.

Bewildered, she bites her thumb and debates on checking her phone. With an endearing sigh, she unlocks it again after the screen had gone dark once again and checks for missed calls- but nothing. Other than the missed call from the school principal, which she hesitantly dialed back, immediately.

She presses her message box, and WhatsApp, and even her messages on Facebook, scanning through in hopes she missed something-Nothing but calls and messages from clients and friends.

She sighs, slumping down. The feel of defeat sets in, and a devastating feel in her chest. There are just a few days before Thanksgiving, he should have already called to confirm with her about his flight or when he'd be arriving.

She places the phone down and stands. Walking to and fro in her room, unwilling to break her sight away from the wretched device.

By this time, if she fails to leave her thumb alone, she fears her nail will completely disappear.

She puffs her cheeks and grips the phone again. Glancing at the screen- it's past ten, meaning it's a bit over 9 there. He should already be home.

'Come on now Riles, it should not be this hard to call your husband.' She thinks out loud to herself.

Puffing her cheeks once more, she dials his number and places the phone on her cheek. It rings once, twice, three times. Suddenly- a groggy voice picks up. And her heart leaps with joy a little. "Hello."

"Hi, sweetheart. Did I wake you?" Her heart stammers in her ear. Why is she so nervous? She has only been married to this man for nearly twenty years!

He clears his throat. She obviously woke him up. But a bright smile forms in her face nonetheless.

It takes him a while to answer, she's unaware his voice is almost a whisper. Maybe he's just groggy since she just did wake him up.

"Riley. Do you have any idea what time it is? I have to be at work early in the morning." His voice sounds distant, cold, irritated.

"I'm sorry sweetie. I just wanted to confirm with you about Thanksgiving. When will you be arriving?" Her voice sounds hopeful while she fiddles with her pendant looped around her thin silver necklace Logan gifted her for mothers day.

He sighs deeply, still probably trying to stay awake as she just woke him.

"Riles, I'm sorry. But...... it looks like I will have to work through this holiday season. I have a huge case right now. I can't afford any days off. I'm sorry. Please tell the kids that I miss them. Ok?" He's ready to hang up, at the same time, Riley's eyes water in disbelief.

She had hoped to see him for at least a few days. She had hardly seen him for a few weeks this summer. Her walls keep crumbling down unnoticed tears flow down her cheek. She even hates herself for not being able to accompany him to the cruise he and his colleagues hold every summer.

Just as he is ready to say goodnight and hang up as if she hadn't just received bad news already! her worst fear comes to reality.

All those times he cuts her phone calls short, the short responses lately, the distant voice, and the irritation in his tone when she calls him trying to ask him how his day has gone! Surely they had an explanation!!

"Who is that on the phone swee-" the line dies, and Riley can't believe she just heard a faint voice of another woman. Obviously, it has to have been a misunderstanding. That man loves her!

He bowed that he would love her, and only her till death do them apart. She holds a hand to her mouth to protrude her muffles as she cries. The big lump on her throat building excruciatingly painful, though not as painful as the big dagger in her heart.

She quickly dials back. She has to know, she has the right to know. She has to hear it from him that it was a misunderstanding. Surely, he couldn't have another woman in his bed while still married to her? No! She just knows this can not be. It must be a misunderstanding.

He loves her as much as she loves him. Right?

The phone rings again, and again, and again until it goes to voice mail.

She ends the call and dials again, and again, and may e just obe more time, until the phone stops ringing. It sends her straight to voice mail.

She doesn't understand. Where did she go wrong? What did she do to deserve his infidelity?

Why?

Why? She thinks to herself as she slumps down next to her bed. Biting on her bottom lip, to stop the quivering and muffling her cry. Her hands clutch tightly around her legs as she holds them to her chest in hopes that the pressure will ease the pain built up in her chest.

She has to stay strong. But how can she? When her marriage just shattered into a million pieces in her ear.

She cries silently in her bed, just like she has been doing so since a few weeks back when he began to act more distant with her. She had decided it was best to shrug it off as her sister told her to.

Maybe it was just his busy schedule. But now- she knows otherwise.

How will she ever face this matter to Logan? He'll go crazy! His relationship with his dad has been so rocky lately. She would hate to add wood to the fire between their quarreling.

How will she break it to Ashley?

Oh, Ashley!

Though she is one tough girl, she has always been a huge daddy's girl. The last she needs is to have Ashley become distant and hateful towards him as well.

Her mind was clouded with a million disappointments and a whole lot of questions roaming through her mind to keep her from staying aloof. Keeping her from feeling the joy she had hoped for just a few minutes ago when she hoped to hear a positive response on the other end of the line.

Once again, like all the other disappointing nights. She stifles her cries, clears her throat, and dries her tears, forcing herself to stop crying.

She can't afford to plaster the same sadness on her babies. Once again, she must be valiant and put on her happy poker face before the light of day makes its appearance in the heavens.

They can't find out not just yet. Logan worked so hard on the surprises he has for Sophie. She will not be the cause for the upcoming events to crumble Logan's hard work.

She knows just what to do. She has to be a smart cookie. Besides, he taught her well.

'Think one step ahead Riles! One step ahead.'

And with that in mind, though the pain in her heart is excruciatingly bad, she knows deep down she saw it coming. She knows what needs to be done- and just who to call.

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