In Plain Sight

As soon as my dad hung up, the silence in the car clung to the air. Stanley exhaled, long and low. “So... are you gonna drop us off and head to your blind date?”

Before I could answer, Samantha chimed in, her voice soft but edged with something sharper. “Well, I was hoping to actually get to know you. I’ve heard so much... and now you’re heading off to meet someone else? I hope you enjoy it.”

Her words weren’t cruel—but they landed with a thud in my chest. There was something in the way she said it, like disappointment wrapped in politeness. It was our first time meeting, yet it felt like she had wanted more than just small talk. Like she had hoped to be the date.

I stared out the windshield. What was I supposed to do? Disobeying Dad wasn’t a casual thing—it had... consequences. I’d already let him down enough. Maybe tonight, at least, I could try to fix something.

We drove in silence for a while—five full minutes where even the wind outside seemed hesitant to speak. Then I cleared my throat and said, “Well... since I’m expected home for dinner, I’ve got the rest of the day free. So I’m yours. No rush.”

Stanley smiled at that. Samantha raised an eyebrow, her expression softening ever so slightly. “Dad’s always like that,” I added, half-laughing. “He wants you to live by his script, not your own.”

And just like that, the tension cracked. We eased into light conversation, laughter blooming between us again like sun through clouded glass. I found myself turning toward Samantha more often—asking questions, listening harder, watching the way her smile lingered after certain words.

In the backseat, Stanley and Shalom were in their own bubble—headphones, inside jokes, stolen glances.

But in the front seat, something was shifting. Quietly. Unstoppably. I was falling for her. No—truthfully, I started falling the moment I saw her by the gate at her place. The way she smiled without knowing I was looking. The way her presence sent my already muddled thoughts into a tailspin. I hadn’t stood a chance.

We slowed as we passed the department store, its glass façade glittering in the sunlight like a thousand tiny mirrors.

“Wow,” I said, stealing a glance at her. “That’s beautiful. And… you’re actually stunning. My mind’s blown.”

I said it casually, like I was talking about the building. But even I knew my words gave me away. And apparently, so did she.

Samantha turned toward me, one brow raised. “Seriously?” she said, half laughing. “You don't know there are guys who don’t even notice me, right? Like, I’m invisible to some of them.”

She looked at me pointedly and said, “Something must be wrong with your taste in women."

"Some guys don't even look at you? That must be a lie. Who wouldn’t gaze at you and get lost in thought and driven crazy," I said.

Then she grinned, that mischievous spark in her eyes. “But thanks. I know you meant me.”

We parked the car and headed inside. Stanley and I trailed behind the ladies, both quietly captivated. He couldn’t keep his eyes off his girlfriend, and I—I couldn’t stop watching Samantha. Her presence was like gravity. Effortless. Unspoken.

I stepped ahead of Stanley, turned around to face him as I walkedbackwards, and grinned. “Dude, when are you going to tie the knot? I mean it—I can’t wait to be your best man.”

He chuckled, but then his expression turned thoughtful. “Funny you mention that. Where’s your ring, huh? You’re married, remember?”

The words hit harder than I expected. I stopped in front of him, locked eyes with him and then began to walk alongside him.

He then shrugged gently. “I shouldn’t have tried setting you up with someone when you’re already legally bound to someone else. Even if you don’t like it. Maybe—just maybe—you should try getting to know her. You might be surprised how much love can grow from the unexpected.”

I nodded slowly. His words sat heavy and clear in my chest. He was right. If I kept pretending my marriage didn’t exist, it wasn’t just careless—it was cruel. She couldn’t move on, not while still tied to me by paper and silence.

I leaned in and whispered, “Thanks, man. You’re right. I don’t want to be the reason someone else stays unhappy. I’ll try—talk to her more, maybe even take her out once or twice.”

I looked ahead at Samantha, laughter bubbling from her lips as she scanned a rack of scarves. “But that means letting go of this beautiful soul right here. I think I’m falling for her, Stanley. And I only just met her today.”

He raised his eyebrows, a slow smile spreading as he clapped my back. We both laughed, letting the moment breathe.

Then we followed the ladies as they disappeared deeper into the store—chasing color, comfort, and maybe something neither of us was quite ready to name.

We stepped into a boutique filled with soft lighting and neatly arranged displays of women’s fashion. Samantha picked out two dresses and slipped into the changing room. A few minutes later, she stepped out in a red one that made the world momentarily blur around her.

She looked over at me and called out, “Come closer—what do you think? Does this suit me?”

Man… my breath caught. The way the dress hugged her figure, the way the crimson color brought out the quiet fire in her—goosebumps. Literal ones. I just stood there, speechless, jaw tight, heart pounding louder than it should’ve. In my head, I saw us walking together, fingers intertwined, like we’d always belonged in each other’s orbit.

Then a thought crept in: This moment should’ve been simple.But I’d buried too much in too little time. A part of me still hadn’t replied to that message from Liza. We need to talk.

And now here I was—daydreaming about Samantha.I must be losing my mind. Then Stanley tapped my shoulder, amused. “Dude—she’s waiting for your answer.”

Snapping out of it, I smiled, trying to mask just how far I’d drifted. “You look amazing. Honestly, it’s like the dress was made just for you.”

I didn’t need to say more—my eyes, my posture, the way I stood there stunned. Everyone in the room could read it.

As we made our way to the register, walking behind the ladies again, something shifted. Samantha suddenly froze. Then, without warning, she darted forward and embraced a woman who was standing near the till.

“Hey!” she squealed, joy lighting up her face. “Oh my goodness, it’s been forever!” The woman’s expression shifted from surprise to delight as they hugged again.

“Samantha, wow! What......what are you doing here? Visiting, or are you living in the country now?”

Samantha smiled. “Just visiting my sister for two weeks—then it’s back to work. It’s good to see you," she said. Then her eyes drifted down, catching a glint on the woman’s finger. Her expression shifted slightly.

“Wow,” Samantha said, tilting her head as the gem caught the light. “That’s a stunning ring. When did you get married?”

The woman laughed softly, her fingers brushing the ring like a memory she hadn’t yet let go of. “It’s a long story,” she said, her tone tinged with something unreadable. Then she turned slightly, her eyes sparkling with something like mischief—or revelation. “But actually... my husband’s right here.” She raised her hand and pointed. Right at me.

My stomach sank. My pulse stopped. Time... fractured. I looked into her face fully for the first time—and the world tilted.

It was Liza. My wife.

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