I stared at the screen for a second longer.
DID SHE FIND OUT?
My throat suddenly went dry. Who was “she”?
I heard footsteps heading down the stairs and quickly clicked the side button, turning the screen off just as Andrew walked into the living room. He looked refreshed from his shower, and he was now wearing a clean polo and shorts.
“Hey, babe. Have you seen my work phone?” he asked, looking around. “I think I left it in my coat.”
“Yeah, I saw it,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “It was low, so I put it on the charger for you.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, walking over to where the phone was. He turned it on, checking the phone casually.
I had expected a change in his expression, but there was nothing. He didn’t even look nervous. I stood there just watching his expression carefully. Instead, he casually unplugged it and slid it into his pocket, then turned to me.
“Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?” he asked. “Still thinking about this morning?”
I felt guilty. I had just apologized to him hours ago, and here I was, dissecting his expression again. I didn’t want to be the crazy, accusing wife.
“No,” I lied, trying to sound casual as we walked back toward the kitchen. “I was just wondering… who usually messages you on that phone? Is it mostly clients?”
Andrew chuckled, leaning against the counter. “Yeah. Clients, managers, the guys from the tech team. Why?”
“Just curious.” I shrugged, pulling a plate from the cupboard. “Do you have a lot of women working under you in Chicago?”
Andrew smiled, shaking his head playfully as if he thought I was just teasing him. “Sallie, are you fishing for something again?”
His relaxed tone made me feel ridiculous. He was so transparent. But the words on the screen wouldn’t leave my head. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Andrew, I saw a message,” I said quietly.
He stopped and smiled, looking straight at me. “What message?”
“An unknown number,” I said, my grip tightening on the plate. “It said, ‘Did she find out?’”
Andrew paused for half a second, his posture shifting slightly.
“Oh,” he said softly.
My heart started to race again. “So, you do know who sent it.”
He let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sallie, it’s not what you think. The message was from my sister, Olivia.”
I frowned. “Olivia?”
“Yeah. She got herself into a really messy situation,” he said, dropping his voice low, probably because he didn’t want Kelly hearing us.
“She’s pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” I repeated. “Wait, isn’t that supposed to be great news?”
Andrew sighed again. “Actually, the guy said he isn’t ready to be a father. So she’s planning on getting an abortion, and she’s terrified,” he explained.
I shook my head in despair. “That’s a lot. Is she okay?”
“She’ll be. She’s been text-bombing my work phone because she didn’t want Mom or you to find out and freak out. I was trying to keep it private.”
Before I could apologize or ask anything, Andrew’s phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out, looked at the screen, and showed me.
“Speak of the devil.”
He answered, putting the phone on speaker. Olivia’s voice came first.
“Hi, Andrew. Are you alone?”
“Sallie knows, Olivia,” he replied.
“What? Andrew, you said you’d keep it a secret.”
“Sorry, she was going to find out anyway.”
I could hear Olivia’s broken voice from the other end. “Oh, God. I feel so embarrassed right now.” She paused for a while. “Please tell me Mom doesn’t know.”
“Don’t worry, she doesn’t,” he assured her.
“But you promised not to tell anyone,” Olivia repeated, disappointment evident in her tone.
“I didn’t,” Andrew defended himself. “She saw the text, so I had no choice.”
As they talked, I stood there. A strange feeling crept into my mind. Olivia and Andrew had always been so close. They were the closest siblings I had ever seen, so it made sense that she would trust him with something this huge.
I mean, she had access to his emergency credit card, she had a key to our house, and came whenever she felt like it. Andrew always spoiled her, letting her get whatever she wanted. I had always written it off as a sibling bond, but now? It felt awkward. I mean, she couldn’t trust her mother enough to tell her this, but Andrew? He was a man. I didn’t know ladies could have such talks freely with a man.
Well, what do I know? I was the only child of my parents, after all.
Andrew finally hung up and looked at me, his eyes gentle. “Are you now convinced there’s no other woman? I was only trying to handle a family mess without burdening you with it.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, stepping close and wrapping his arms around me. He kissed my forehead, pulling me against his chest. “But you really need to stop worrying about me so much.”
“Won’t happen again,” I said. “Dinner is ready.” I mumbled into his shirt. “Let me serve you. You’ve had a really long trip.”
Andrew didn’t let go. Instead, a slow, playful grin spread across his face. “Actually, I think dinner can wait.”
“What are you doing?” I chuckled as he suddenly swept his arms under my knees, lifting me off.
“Andrew, put me down, Kelly hasn’t eaten yet!” I protested, laughing as he started carrying me toward the stairs.
“Kelly!” Andrew called out.
“Yeah?”
“Go ahead with dinner. Don’t wait for us.”
“Okay,” she answered, unbothered.
Andrew carried me all the way upstairs, pushing the door open with his foot before gently dropping me onto the bed. He leaned down, pressing his lips to my neck.
“You smell so good,” he whispered, his fingers softly brushing a stray lock of my hair away from my face.
He stared down at me, his eyes intense. “You look so beautiful, Sallie. Even after fifteen years together, you still take my breath away.”
I smiled at his words.
“Why do you worry so much, hm?” he asked softly, his thumb tracing my jawline. “If you’re beginning to doubt my love for you, then I must be failing as a husband. Have I ever done anything to make you doubt that I’ll keep loving you for the rest of my life?”
My heart melted. All the doubts from earlier dissolved under the warmth of his voice. He was right. He was my Andrew.
“No, you’re not,” I said quickly. “I’m sorry. It was stupid of me.”
“Shh,” Andrew murmured, silencing me with a deep, slow kiss. He pulled back just enough to smirk down at me. “The only apology I need from you is right here.” He kissed me again, his hands moving over my waist.