I was stunned when my son started drawing a grinning stranger. “He comes to see Mommy when you’re at work,” Oliver said innocently. Initially dismissing it as a childish fantasy, I soon spied a mysterious man entering our home, igniting a chilling quest for the truth.
I found the drawing while tidying up the dining table. Most of Oliver’s pictures were what you’d expect from a six-year-old: dinosaurs with rainbow scales, our house with a chimney that looked more like a volcano, and stick figures of our family holding hands. But this one made me pause.
A man frowning at a drawing | Source: Midjourney
Among the crayon scribbles was a tall figure with unnaturally long arms and huge hands, wearing what looked like a suit. The figure had an enormous grin that stretched across most of its face.
“Oliver,” I called out, trying to keep my voice casual as my fingers crinkled the edge of the paper. “Is this me in the picture? Who is this?”
My son looked up from his LEGOs, his blue eyes bright with excitement.
An excited boy with a bright smile | Source: Midjourney
The plastic blocks clattered as he dropped them onto the hardwood floor. “That’s Mr. Smiles, Daddy! He’s Mommy’s new friend. He comes to see her when you’re at work.”
My heart skipped a beat. Laura and I had been married for nine years. We’d had our ups and downs like any couple, weathered job changes and family losses, and celebrated promotions and birthdays. But never, not once, did I think she’d…
No, I shook the thought away. There had to be a reasonable explanation. Laura wasn’t that kind of person. We’d built too much together.
A concerned man holding a paper | Source: Midjourney
“When does he come over?” I asked, proud of how steady my voice remained despite the tremor in my hands.
Oliver stacked another block on his tower, his tongue poking out in concentration.
“Sometimes in the morning. Sometimes at night. He always makes Mommy and me laugh.” He glanced up, suddenly serious, his small face scrunching with the weight of importance. “But, Daddy, it’s a secret! Don’t tell anyone!“
An emotional man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney
The mention of laughter and secrecy felt like ice in my stomach.
That night, I barely slept, watching Laura’s peaceful face in the darkness. The steady rhythm of her breathing, once comforting, now felt like a taunt. Every time she shifted in her sleep, I wondered what she was dreaming about. Who she was dreaming about.
The next day, I left work early, parked down the street from our house, and waited. The fall air grew crisp as the afternoon wore on, and fallen leaves skittered across my windshield. A little after 3 p.m., a sleek black car pulled into our driveway.
A black car parked in a driveway | Source: Pexels
A tall, wiry man stepped out and marched up to the front door. Even from this distance, I could see his broad smile when Laura welcomed him inside. The door closed behind them.
I gripped my steering wheel until my knuckles turned white; the leather creaking under my fingers.
“Maybe this is all in my head,” I whispered to myself, watching my breath fog the window. “But if I’m wrong, I need to know for sure.”
A man sitting in a car | Source: Pexels
Over the next few weeks, I started buying Laura flowers and gifts, trying to rekindle our bond, but I also began documenting everything.
The evidence piled up: receipts for dinners I didn’t attend, calls she’d leave the room to take, and, of course, more pictures of “Mr. Smiles” drawn by Oliver. Each new piece of evidence felt like another brick in a wall being built between us.
Laura noticed the change in me.
A woman staring at her husband during dinner | Source: Midjourney
“Are you feeling okay?” she asked one day, touching my forehead with concern. “You seem distracted lately.”
The genuine worry in her voice only confused me more. How could she act so normal if she was hiding something so huge?
“I… do you have someone else?” I asked.
“Someone else?” Laura stared at me with wide eyes, then shook her head.
A woman looking at her husband with wide eyes | Source: Midjourney
“Of course not, honey!” She let out a little chuckle. “How could you think that?”
Maybe I should’ve confronted her then, but all my evidence was circumstantial. I needed cold, hard proof.
One Friday evening, I told Laura I’d be working late. Instead, I set up a hidden camera on the bookshelf in the living room and watched the feed from my car parked around the corner.
A bookshelf in a living room | Source: Pexels
The screen of my phone cast a blue glow across my face as I waited, my coffee growing cold in its cup holder.
Right on schedule, Mr. Smiles arrived, and Laura greeted him with that same warm smile that used to be reserved for me.
But then something strange happened. He didn’t settle on the couch or share a private dinner. Instead, my sister walked in, and Oliver came bounding down the stairs with a beaming smile. More people arrived: neighbors and friends!
A man looking at his phone in confusion | Source: Midjourney
They all knew about this? And worse, they were having a secret get-together! I watched in stunned silence as Mr. Smiles, now wearing a festive party hat, juggled three oranges for Oliver and made him laugh.
“What the heck is going on?” I muttered, fumbling with my car door.
Rage and confusion propelled me toward the house. The evening air felt thick and heavy as I stormed up our front walk. I burst through the front door, making everyone freeze mid-conversation, the cheerful music cutting off abruptly.
A group of people in a living room staring at someone in surprise | Source: Midjourney
“Alright, you won,” I said, my voice trembling. “Everyone here knew, didn’t they? Even Oliver? Even my sister?”
“No, no! Please, stop!” Laura’s face had gone pale, her hands clutching a roll of streamers that cascaded to the floor.
I turned to Mr. Smiles, who had stopped juggling and was staring at me with wide eyes.
“You’ve disrespected me as a man, and you’ve got no business being here! It’s my house! It’s my…”
My voice trailed off as I spotted something shiny on the floor.
A man speaking angrily to someone | Source: Midjourney
A banner, not yet hung, with golden letters that read “Happy 10th Anniversary!” The metallic paper caught the light from our living room lamps, throwing sparkles across the ceiling.
The room went completely silent. Laura’s hands covered her mouth, tears welled in her eyes, and she smudged her carefully applied makeup. Mr. Smiles cleared his throat and stepped forward, his famous grin nowhere to be seen.
“Sir, I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” he said softly, his professional demeanor never wavering. “I’m a wedding planner and party animator. Your wife hired me months ago to plan this event — your wedding anniversary!”
A man speaking in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“You thought I was cheating on you?” Laura’s voice cracked with hurt and disbelief, each word falling like a stone between us.
I felt the floor shift beneath my feet. The room suddenly seemed too bright, too crowded, the decorations garish and mocking.
“I… I didn’t know what else to think,” I stammered, my collar feeling too tight. “I saw him coming here, and Oliver said a man kept visiting while I was at work, that this man made you laugh…”
An emotional man looking confused and shocked | Source: Midjourney
“Oliver said he made me laugh because he does magic tricks for him when we plan,” Laura interrupted, her voice rising. “I was trying to do something special for you, and you thought I was unfaithful?”
My throat felt tight. “I’m sorry,” I managed to say, the words feeling inadequate. “I was wrong. I let my insecurities get the better of me.”
Laura wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, leaving a dark smudge of mascara. “How could you think that? After everything we’ve been through?”
An emotional woman speaking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
The party guests began quietly filing out, murmuring awkward goodbyes, their shoes shuffling across our carpet.
My sister squeezed my shoulder as she left, whispering, “Fix this.” Oliver looked confused and scared, so Laura’s mother took him upstairs to his room, their footsteps echoing in the tense silence.
When we were finally alone, Laura sat on the couch, her shoulders slumped. The streamers lay in tangles around her feet.
An upset woman sitting on a sofa | Source: Midjourney
“I spent months planning this,” she said quietly. “I wanted it to be perfect. Remember our first anniversary? When you surprised me with that picnic in the park? I wanted to do something just as special.”
I sat beside her, careful to leave space between us, the cushions dipping under my weight. “I ruined everything.”
“Yes, you did.” She turned to look at me, her eyes red but fierce. “Trust isn’t just about believing in someone when everything’s perfect. It’s about believing in them when things don’t make sense.”
“I know,” I whispered, feeling the weight of my mistake. “I forgot that somewhere along the way. Can you forgive me?”
A couple having a serious conversation | Source: Midjourney
Laura was quiet for a long moment, her fingers tracing patterns on the fabric of her dress.
“I love you,” she said finally. “But this isn’t something I can just get over. You need to understand how much this hurts.”
I nodded, feeling tears start to fall. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right.”
“It won’t happen overnight,” she warned, her voice stern but not unkind.
A stern-looking woman speaking to someone | Source: Midjourney
“I know. But I’m not going anywhere.” I reached for her hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, she let me take it, her fingers cool against my palm. “Happy anniversary,” I said softly.
She gave a watery laugh that held both forgiveness and reproach. “Happy anniversary, you idiot.”
Upstairs, we heard Oliver laughing at something, probably one of his grandmother’s stories. The sound filled our living room, reminding us of all we had to lose, and all we had to save.
A couple in a living room glancing upwards | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
‘That’s for Mommy’s Friend’: Little Girl’s Reveal Almost Cost Me My Job—Story of the Day
I worked as a nanny. My little Thea was my sunshine, making my days fly by. One afternoon, she found a man’s wallet full of cash under her bed. I took it to Thea’s father, but he said it wasn’t his. “It’s for Mommy’s friend!” That phrase nearly cost me my job later on.
I had been working in Max’s household for a few weeks, and the routine had become second nature. I would wake up early each morning to prepare breakfast for 6-year-old Thea.
The kitchen was always filled with the warm aroma of pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. We often cooked together.
“Good morning, sunshine!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I greeted Thea one morning as the little girl shuffled into the kitchen.
Her eyes were still heavy with sleep.
“Good morning, Anna.”
She climbed onto a stool at the kitchen island. I set a plate of pancakes in front of her.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Do you want blueberries or strawberries today?”
“Blueberries, please.”
As I watched Thea eat, I thought about my huge love for this little girl.
“You’re my little blueberry, you know that?”
Thea giggled. “I know.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
After breakfast, I helped Thea get ready for school.
“Hold still, Thea, I need to get this braid just right.”
“Okay, but can you make it like Elsa’s braid today?”
“Of course, Elsa it is,” I replied, carefully braiding Thea’s curly blonde hair. I tied the end of the braid with a ribbon.
“You look beautiful, Thea.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Thank you, Anna. You always make my hair so pretty,” Thea replied, giving me a big hug.
I had always wanted children of my own but had discovered a few years ago that I couldn’t have any. I loved the girl as if she were my daughter, pouring all my maternal affection into our relationship.
After dropping Thea off at school, I returned home to take care of the household chores.
Veronica, Max’s wife, rarely acknowledged my efforts. She was always busy with her daily pleasures.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Not even a thank you. But it’s okay. I’m here for Thea.
In the evening, I picked Thea up from school, and we would head back home for dinner. I always made sure Thea had her favorite meals.
“Do you want spaghetti or chicken tonight?”
“Spaghetti!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Max, who was constantly busy with work, would join us whenever he could.
“You’re doing a wonderful job, Anna. Thea seems so happy,” he said that evening.
Despite his demanding schedule, he always tried to spend his free moments with his daughter. Thea was his only child from his first marriage, and Veronica didn’t want to have any children of her own.
So, Max poured all his affection and care into Thea and was deeply grateful to me for my dedication and genuine love for his little girl.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Thank you, Max. Thea is a special girl. She deserves all the love and attention,” I replied, glancing over at Thea, who was engrossed in a puzzle on the floor.
However, despite the happy moments, I couldn’t ignore the tension that Veronica brought into the household. She spent most of her time away and showed little interest in Thea.
That night, as I tucked Thea into bed.
“Why doesn’t Mommy love me, Anna?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
My heart broke at the question.
“Oh, sweetheart, you are so loved. I love you very much, and so does your daddy. Sometimes, people don’t show their love in the same way, but that doesn’t mean you’re not special.”
Thea hugged me tightly. “I love you too, Anna.”
I knew my love and support could make a real difference, and I was determined to give Thea the best childhood possible.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
***
One sunny afternoon, Thea and I were playing in the nursery. The room was filled with toys, colorful drawings on the walls, and the soft hum of children’s music playing in the background.
Thea was busy pretending her dolls were having a tea party.
“Anna, can you pour the tea for Daisy?”
“Of course, Daisy,” I replied, carefully pretending to pour invisible tea into a tiny cup.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
As we played, Thea crawled under the bed to retrieve a toy she had dropped.
“Anna, look what I found!”
She emerged holding a man’s wallet.
“Hmm, let’s see what’s inside.”
The wallet was filled with cash! No cards no ID. Just cash.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
This must belong to Max. We should return it to him.
I held Thea’s hand, and we walked downstairs to Max’s home office. He was at his desk, surrounded by papers and his laptop.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Max, we found this wallet in Thea’s nursery,” I said, holding it out to him.
“This isn’t mine.”
Just then, Thea, who had been looking around curiously, piped up, “Oh, that’s a toy! That’s for Mommy’s Friend!”
Max and I exchanged a surprised glance.
Before we could say anything, Veronica walked in. She noticed the wallet in Max’s hand and immediately narrowed her eyes.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“What’s going on here?”
“We found this wallet in Thea’s nursery. Thea said it belongs to one of your friends.”
Veronica’s eyes flashed.
“That’s ridiculous! Anna, you must have taken this from one of the workers!”
“I would never…” I began, but Max interrupted.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Veronica, that’s enough. Anna is always with Thea. She wouldn’t do something like that.”
Veronica’s face twisted with anger.
Max continued, “I trust Anna. This is a misunderstanding.”
Veronica huffed, “How can you be so sure? You barely know her!”
Max stood his ground.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I know enough to trust her. And I trust Thea’s word too. If she says it’s a toy, then it’s a toy.”
Veronica glared at me, but I held my head high. I had nothing to hide.
Veronica shot me one last icy look before storming out of the room.
As she passed by me, she leaned in and whispered, “You’re finished.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Max turned to me. “I’m sorry about that, Anna. Veronica can be… difficult.”
“It’s alright, Max. I understand.”
As Thea and I left the office, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Veronica’s reaction was harsh and unfounded.
Why is she so eager to accuse me?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
The following afternoon, Veronica called me into the living room. She was sitting elegantly on the sofa, watching me carefully.
“Anna, I was thinking of taking Thea out for a walk this afternoon. Why don’t you stay here and prepare dinner?”
I hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t find a reason to object.
“Sure, Veronica,” I replied, trying to sound cheerful.
“Great. Thea loves the playground, so we’ll be there if you need us.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I headed to the kitchen, watching from the window as Veronica and Thea walked down the path to the playground. I busied myself with chopping vegetables.
“It’s just a walk,” I told myself. “Everything will be fine.”
Half an hour later, I heard the front door open and close.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Max’s voice echoed through the house, “I’m home!”
I wiped my hands on a towel and walked out to greet him.
“Hi, Max. How was your day?”
“Busy as always,” he replied, glancing around. “Where’s Thea?”
“Veronica took her to the playground. They should be back soon.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“The playground? By themselves?”
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his coat and headed out the door.
I stood there, a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“Please let everything be alright,” I whispered.
It felt like an eternity before Max returned, holding a very upset Thea by the hand. Her clothes were dirty, and she had a scrape on her knee.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Max, what happened?” I asked, rushing over.
Max’s face was a storm of anger.
“I found Thea playing alone at the playground. Veronica was nowhere in sight!”
“I didn’t know, Max. I swear I thought Veronica was with her the whole time.”
Veronica was listening to our conversation at the doorway.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Max, I just went to the store for a minute. I was sure Thea’s playing with Anna.”
Max turned to me, his anger misdirected.
“Anna, you should have been with her. This is unacceptable.”
“But, Max…” I started, but he cut me off.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“No excuses, Anna. Pack your things. You’re fired.”
Tears filled my eyes as I nodded, too shocked to argue. I headed upstairs to pack.
This can’t be happening. How did everything go so wrong?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
As I walked down the stairs with my suitcase, Veronica stood in the hallway, a smug look on her face.
She had orchestrated this whole thing, and I had fallen right into her trap. I kept walking, trying to ignore the satisfaction in her eyes.
I saw Thea running towards me, tears streaming down her face. “Anna, please don’t go! Please!”
I knelt to her level, my own eyes filling with tears.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t want to leave either, Thea, but I have to.”
Thea turned to her father, who was standing in the doorway.
“Daddy, please let Anna stay! Veronica never plays with me. She’s always with her friend when you’re not here. I want to stay with Anna!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Max frowned. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
Thea wiped her eyes.
“Veronica has a friend who comes over a lot. They play in her room while I watch cartoons. She even has pictures of him on her phone.”
Max’s face darkened. “Is this true, Thea?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, Daddy. Yesterday at the playground, Veronica left me alone while she went to talk to him.”
Max looked stunned. He turned to Veronica, who had just walked in. “Veronica, is this true?”
Veronica’s face twisted with anger. “This is ridiculous! She’s just a child. What does she know?”
“Thea wouldn’t lie about this. Why didn’t you tell me about this ‘friend’?”
Veronica lost her temper.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Because you’re never around, Max! You’re always at work. I have no life, no one to talk to. And you spend all your free time with Thea, ignoring me completely!”
“That doesn’t justify your actions. You put Thea in danger and lied to me.”
Veronica glared at me. “This is all your fault, Anna. You turned them against me.”
I was trying to stay calm. “Veronica, all I’ve ever wanted is to take care of Thea. She needs love and attention.”
Max raised his hand.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I’ve heard enough. Your actions are unjustifiable, Veronica. You put Thea in danger, and I can’t forgive that. You should leave.”
Veronica looked shocked.
“You’re kicking me out? For her?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. I held Thea close as she sobbed into my shoulder. Max approached us, his eyes softening.
“Anna, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see what was happening. Please, stay and help us through this.”
“Of course, Max. I’ll always be here for Thea.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
In the days that followed, I stayed on as Thea’s nanny. Max began to spend more time with his daughter.
We spent our days playing games, having picnics in the garden, and enjoying family dinners. It felt like we were becoming a real family.
Sometimes, as I watched Max and Thea together, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if we truly were one. Those thoughts crept into my mind more often than I’d like to admit.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
One evening, as I was tucking Thea into bed, Max knocked on the doorframe.
“Anna, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Of course, Max,” I said, giving Thea a final kiss on the forehead before stepping out into the hallway.
Max looked a bit nervous, which was unusual for him.
“I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tomorrow. Just the two of us.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“Yes, I am. We’ve been through a lot, and I’d like to spend some time with you outside of the house.”
I agreed, feeling a flutter of excitement. As I headed to my room to prepare for the next day, I couldn’t help but smile.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Prue arrived at my Mom’s wedding and found a note under her plate. “Help me!” The handwriting was the same as on the invitation. It wasn’t Mom’s, so… it must be Colin’s! Prue followed him and saw something that soon turned the family party into a big scandal. Read the full story here.
Leave a Reply