Straightening Affairs - 14. Chapter 14

The flight home was difficult for Michael; all he could think about was getting home and gauging if Sarah suspected anything. He tried to tell himself there was no way she would, but he kept replaying that last phone call. Was I too abrupt? Too quick with answers?

He glanced to his right—Andre was fast asleep, leaning back, arms crossed, breathing evenly. Michael envied his ease, the calm confidence that came with living openly. Andre could sleep soundly and move through life freely without second-guessing every interaction. Michael turned away, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, but his mind kept racing, conjuring up plausible excuses, any line that might keep Sarah from asking questions.

When the plane began its descent, both Andre and Michael stirred awake. Michael caught a glimpse of himself in the window reflection, his eyes puffy, shirt wrinkled, hair disheveled. Beside him, Andre yawned, stretching his arms.

“Rough night? I’m guessing you didn’t sleep.” Andre asked, eyeing him knowingly.

“Sleep?” Michael scoffed, rubbing his tired eyes. “This has been eating me up. I’ve been running through everything in my head—thinking of what to say if Sarah asks questions.”

Andre raised an eyebrow, his voice calm but with an edge of exasperation. “Michael, I told you a long time ago—you need to come clean. You can’t keep doing this.”

Michael’s chest tightened, but he forced a weak smile. “I know, but not right now.”

Andre sighed. “When?”

When? The question echoed, uncomfortably pressing. Michael looked out the window, avoiding Andre’s gaze. “I don’t know.” After a pause, he added, “Look, just back me up, OK?”

Andre’s face softened, but his voice stayed firm. “Michael, it’s your call to lie, but you’re pulling me into this. I’ve been out a long time.” He let that hang in the air for a moment, sighed, then added, “I’ll help you out, but…”

“I know. Thanks, Andre.” Michael’s voice was quiet, almost inaudible over the hum of the plane’s engines. “I’m sorry to put you in this situation. I just need some time to think this through.”

Andre’s expression was unreadable. “I don’t know what you need to think through, Michael, but whatever.” He leaned back, shrugging off the tension. Then he smirked, “Hey, want to Uber home with me? We could mess around, then you go home and play husband?”

Michael tensed. “What? Are you crazy? No. I need to get home.”

Andre laughed, raising his hands. “Kidding, Michael. Chill out, man.”

As they stepped off the plane, the terminal lights seemed harsh and unforgiving, and Michael’s stomach churned with guilt. He could feel himself slipping, struggling to keep his lives apart, to act natural, to pretend everything was fine. He spotted Andre one last time as they waited for baggage, his colleague watching him with a small, knowing look.

“I’ll see you in the office on Monday, Michael,” Andre said, extending a hand. “I’ll send over the final contract for you to review; you can send it off after.”

Michael nodded, swallowing hard, gripping Andre’s hand a little longer than necessary. “Thanks, Andre. For everything.”

Andre just looked at him, then turned and walked away without another word, leaving Michael alone with his thoughts—and the creeping realization that something in his life was bound to crack, sooner or later.

The ride home was making Michael’s stomach churn. Each mile closer to home felt like an invisible weight pressing down on him, thickening the air in the car and tightening his chest. Dozens of scenarios ran through his mind in a chaotic loop. What if Sarah asks about Andre again? Should I just brush it off? If she mentions that call, maybe I’ll say...

But the problem was, he had no way of knowing what she knew, or who she might have spoken to, or if her suspicion had settled or grown sharper since his call. Every possible answer seemed like it could break the precarious balance he’d tried so hard to maintain.

Just act natural, he reminded himself. Don’t raise your voice. Don’t avoid her eyes, but don’t stare either. Just walk in like you always do. If he could keep his composure, maybe she’d let it go. Maybe he could keep the facade going just a little longer.

The Uber pulled to a stop at his house. He hadn’t even noticed how close they were. The driver got out, grabbed his bag from the trunk, and placed it on the curb. Michael stayed put, gripping the seat, almost reluctant to move.

A gentle knock on the window pulled him back. The driver, waiting patiently, gestured toward the bag. Michael gave a quick nod, stepping out of the car, forcing himself to put on a casual smile. He thanked the driver, who nodded, got back in the car, and drove off, leaving him standing alone in front of his home, his stomach twisting into a knot.

He stared at the house, a familiar place that now seemed to hold a thousand unspoken threats. What was he really afraid of? Losing the life he had with Sarah—or losing the freedom he found outside of it?

Michael took a deep breath before unlocking the front door. Act natural, he reminded himself, and walked in with a wide smile. “Sweetie, I’m home!”

The first to greet him were Shawn and Samantha, running down the hall toward him with excitement. The wave of relief he felt was almost dizzying—an easy, familiar welcome. He knelt down, scooping them both up in a hug, holding them close as if it could somehow steady him. Shawn quickly squirmed away to run off, but Samantha clung to his neck, beaming.

Still holding Samantha, he called out, “Sarah? I’m home.” He scanned the quiet house, feeling an odd twinge of nervousness. Where was the nanny?

“I’m in the kitchen!” came Sarah’s voice.

Michael entered the kitchen, still carrying Samantha, hoping that the sight of him with their daughter would put him in the clear. He’d been rehearsing all the way home, but seeing Sarah made his mind go blank.

“Hey, sweetie! Missed you,” he said, setting Samantha down carefully, even as his eyes searched for any sign of suspicion. “Where’s Cindy?”

“Oh, I gave her the day off,” Sarah replied with a small smile, as she poured a fresh cup of coffee. “Figured you were coming home today, so I thought we’d make it just the four of us.” She emphasized the word four, her tone casual but pointed.

“That was nice of you,” Michael replied, trying to sound unbothered, though his mind was racing. Why had she mentioned the nanny like that? “But the kids must have been a handful for you.”

“They always are. If you worked from home, maybe you could help with them,” Sarah said, her gaze meeting his. “But I know you’re not able to.”

He blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, yeah. The CEO really wants everyone in the office,” he replied, forcing a chuckle. He wondered why she was asking about working from home now. But he kept his tone light, hoping she’d change the subject.

“So, how was your trip?” she asked, almost conversationally. “Did everything go smoothly?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, his voice a little too quick. “Good trip. Just have to review the contract, but I’ll wait until everyone’s asleep. Right now, it’s family time and I'm glad to be home.” He tried to ease the tension by stepping closer to her, intending to wrap his arms around her, but she subtly moved aside.

Michael felt a flash of alarm. She was testing him, he was sure of it. And when he looked around, his eyes landed on an envelope lying on the counter. “Is this paperwork from the office?” he asked, picking it up.

“Yes,” Sarah replied smoothly. “You know, Janelle came by to drop it off. You remember her, right? She said you’d probably know what it’s about. I signed everything, just have a look and drop it off.”

Michael’s heart sank. He knew exactly who Janelle was—the office’s unofficial news reporter, always ready with more information than anyone wanted. “Janelle… Oh, right. Yeah, I know of her. ” he replied, trying to sound casual. “So what did the two of you talk about?”

“Oh mostly girl stuff, but don’t you remember Janelle? We worked together before the twins were born. You met her at our Christmas party” Sarah replied, “She said she remembered you.” Sarah sipped her coffee, watching Michael closely.

Michael’s mouth felt dry. “It’s a big company, hard to keep track of everyone. She must’ve joined recently.” He noticed that she didn’t mention what else Janelle spoke about.

“She’s said that she actually has been there a few years,” Sarah said, her voice taking on an air of surprise. “But anyway, she was helpful—brought these papers you’d forgotten. Something about the benefits plan for our family? You know, important things.”

Her tone seemed casual, but he felt a slight tremor under it, a tension he couldn’t ignore. He chuckled, maybe too quickly. “I’ll take a look at it soon, don’t worry.”

Sarah’s gaze was unyielding, and Michael knew she wasn’t done. “Of course, I’m sure you’re on top of it all. Just like with Andre, right?”

“What? Andre?” Michael managed, feeling the panic rise again.

“Yes, your new junior VP,” Sarah said evenly, placing her cup down. “Janelle mentioned he’s been handling things pretty well.”

Michael’s mind raced, his forced laugh sounding strained. “Right. Just brought him on a few weeks ago, still showing him the ropes.”

Sarah raised her eyebrows, her voice soft but steady. “That’s interesting. Janelle said he’s quite experienced. Not the type who would need much… hand-holding. She even mentioned handling his onboarding herself, not that he was a recent hire but that he had been promoted into the role. Maybe I misheard her.”

Michael’s face flushed, his thoughts colliding as he tried to stay calm. “I mean, he’s experienced, yeah, but sometimes clients just like continuity with familiar faces. I guess it’s, um, good to have a backup, too.”

Sarah tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. “Interesting that he’d need a backup on contract negotiations if he’s as experienced as Janelle said,” she replied, her tone probing.

Michael cleared his throat, avoiding her eyes. “Well, it’s more that he’s—uh—learning the way our company does things. You know, every place is different.”

Sarah’s expression softened, but her eyes held steady, watching him closely. “Of course. Just seems like a lot of support for someone who’s already well-versed.”

He forced a smile. “Just making sure he’s comfortable, I guess.”

Sarah nodded, her smile barely there. "Well, I’m glad you’re so supportive, Michael. It sounds like you’ve been quite… hands-on with your team. Even when it means being away from us so much."

Michael’s heart raced, but he kept his face neutral, hoping she’d leave it at that.

She continued, her gaze steady, "I mean, you’ve been spending so much time mentoring and guiding Andre, working late hours—it must be hard to balance everything. It just makes me wonder sometimes where your focus really is.”

The space between them felt charged, her words cutting through his practiced calm. He forced another laugh, trying to keep his voice steady. “Family always comes first,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder as if to ground himself in the words.

Sarah looked down at his hand, nodding slowly, her expression unreadable. "I certainly hope so," she replied softly.

Then, without another word, she turned back to the counter, leaving him standing there, feeling as if the walls were slowly closing in around him.

Every word Sarah said seemed to drip with sarcasm—or was he just reading more into it? He wasn’t sure. But he did know one thing: Sarah was smart, sharper than he sometimes remembered, and right now, she was watching him intently. He’d have to tread carefully. Very carefully.

As he put the envelope onto the telephone table, she continued with a casual tone that somehow felt anything but casual. “I was just curious. I mean, it’s rare to see you working this closely with someone. But it’s good to know you’re being so… thorough.”

Michael forced another smile, holding the envelope like it was a lifeline. “Yeah, you know me—always thorough.”

Sarah just nodded, her expression thoughtful, but that hint of something else—was it doubt?—lingered in her eyes.

The family gathered around the table, Sarah placing bowls of mac and cheese and colorful steamed veggies in front of the kids. Shawn eyed the plate with his usual suspicion, scrunching his nose at the sight of broccoli and carrots. As expected, he crossed his arms, shaking his head stubbornly.

Michael tried his usual coaxing. "Come on, buddy, just a few bites of the veggies, okay? It'll make you strong."

But today, Shawn was unrelenting, pushing the bowl away. The ongoing tension and mounting pressure from the past few days bubbled up inside Michael, and before he knew it, his voice had escalated. “Shawn—stop it!”

The words came out louder than he intended, echoing sharply in the dining room. For a moment, everything fell silent. Shawn's eyes went wide, his lip quivering as he looked at his father in stunned confusion. Beside him, Samantha’s eyes also began to fill with tears, and within seconds, both twins were sobbing.

Michael had never raised his voice like that before. Sarah, visibly taken aback, looked at him with equal parts surprise and concern. Without a word, she stood and went over to pick up Shawn, giving Michael a hard look that spoke volumes.

Michael, realizing his misstep, softened his tone as he reached for Samantha, trying his best to soothe her. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I don’t know what got into me. This contract has been intense, I guess… the stress…”

Sarah’s voice was calm but clipped as she said, “Michael. Never mind, we’ll talk later.” Her eyes remained focused on Shawn, but the tension was unmistakable. “Bring Samantha upstairs; we might as well get them ready for bed, they won't eat now.”

Michael’s heart sank. We’ll talk later. Those words filled him with dread. He knew he had overreacted, but her tone made it clear that this wasn’t something she was going to brush off. All through dinner, she had been unusually reserved, speaking only to the twins, making small talk that barely included him. And now this… he had done exactly what he’d meant to avoid. His own fears and insecurities had slipped out, and it was painfully obvious to everyone.