Dinner had just been served when my husband David's phone rang.
He shot me a guilty glance.
I didn't even look up, calmly saying, "Put it on speaker."
The moment he did, just as I expected, a woman's sobbing filled the living room.
"David... can you come help me? The pipe in my house burst, and now there's water everywhere. My downstairs neighbor is banging on my door with a knife, yelling at me... I don't know what to do!"
It was Tina.
She was David's friend's widow.
Last year, David's friend Allen died unexpectedly, leaving behind Tina and their daughter Jenny.
"Don't open the door! Hold Jenny and hide somewhere safe! I'll be right there!"
David hadn't even hung up the phone before he rushed to the door to change his shoes, ready to leave.
I quickly stepped in front of the door.
"A burst pipe isn't that big of a deal. Just call the building management and have them check it out."
"Besides, it's pouring outside. Don't go."
But he pushed my hand aside without hesitation.
"Charlotte, you know she can't handle things on her own. It's hard for her and her daughter, so stop making a fuss."
Watching David hurry out the door, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness.
This was the third time this month.
The first time it was because of a power outage.
The second, fixing the refrigerator.
Ever since David's friend passed away, he's been constantly looking after their every need.
At first, I supported him.
After all, losing a husband isn't something anyone can easily bear.
But over time, I could only watch helplessly as they became increasingly outrageous.
Not only did my husband send gifts to the widow during the holidays, but he also transformed into a handyman, available to help them anytime, around the clock.
Even in the middle of the night, during thunderstorms, Tina would call for comfort.
And today, on Valentine's Day and the Christmas Day, David, afraid she and her daughter might feel lonely, left me to spend the day with them.
He excused it by saying, "It's not easy for them."
But today also happened to be our third wedding anniversary.
One moment, David had just posted a picture of us celebrating our anniversary on social media.
The next, Tina called.
I frowned—it was too much of a coincidence.
When I went back to check his post, I saw that Tina had posted right after David.
"Braving mountains and seas, he comes for me (playful)."
The picture was of a man running through the rain to her building.
Our mutual friends flooded her comments with sympathy.
"Don't be sad, Allen is watching over you in heaven."
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Don't carry the burden alone."
"When you miss Allen, we're all here for you (hug)."
"..."
As I looked at the picture, my heart clenched.
The man's face wasn't clear.
Everyone assumed Tina had posted an old picture of Allen, sharing a tribute to him late at night.
But I knew the truth—the man in the picture was David.