It was supposed to be a special day—our eighth anniversary. Frederick promised it would be just the two of us, that we’d finally go to the snowy mountains I had always dreamed of. I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. But when he arrived to pick me up, I saw Lucia sitting in the car. Frederick gave me an apologetic look.
“Lucia’s mom asked me to bring her along. She hasn’t traveled far because of her health, so...”
I stared at him, my face darkening. “Did you forget our agreement?”
He fumbled for words. “I know this was wrong, but if you don’t like it, I’ll send Lucia back right now. After I apologize to her mom, it’ll be just the two of us.”
He knew how much I’d been looking forward to a trip for just the two of us. And he knew that if I insisted, he would have to apologize to Lucia’s family, something I didn’t want him to go through. So, I grudgingly agreed to let her come along.
Back then, everything was according to Lucia’s whim. She sat in the front seat, ate the snacks and picked the hotel restaurant—her favorites, of course. To an outsider, it would have looked like I was the one tagging along.