The call from Caleb should have been simple – I’d forgotten his lunch money again. But his casual mention of “Dad’s cereal box money” sent me searching our pantry after my exhausting double shift. There it was: an envelope fat with cash, hidden while I worked myself to exhaustion.
At dinner, Marcus calmly lied about our finances, unaware I’d found his stash. My spa day the next morning wasn’t just pampering – it was a test. His horrified reaction when he saw me confirmed everything. His excuse about possible layoffs rang hollow after months of watching me struggle.
We’ve patched things up superficially, but the cereal box incident revealed deeper issues. Financial stress had driven us to become strangers keeping secrets instead of partners sharing burdens. Now when I reach for breakfast cereal, I wonder what other truths might be hiding in our pantry – and our marriage.
