I Went to Surprise My Husband at Work – But His Colleague Asked Me with Tears in His Eyes, ‘He Hasn’t Told You Anything, Has He?’
***
Ben arrived before Olive finished dinner.
She looked between us.
“He thought he was fixing something.”
“Are you guys mad at each other?”
“We’re upset,” I said. “But it’s adult stuff.”
Ben nodded.
“Your mom’s right.”
Olive returned to her school project, and Ben barely touched his food.
After she went to bed, he followed me into the bedroom.
“Are you guys mad at each other?”
“Can we talk?”
“Yes. But we’re not repeating the hospital conversation, Ben. Show me the offer.”
He handed me the folder.
I read the salary, start
“Tomorrow, I look at what this move costs me: my clients, Olive’s school, our support system. Then I’ll decide whether Oregon deserves a conversation.”
For once, Ben didn’t try to steer the outcome.
“Okay, Chels.”
He nodded.
“Good. Because my life is part of this discussion.”
***
By noon, I called him.
“I want the full offer: hours, call schedule, relocation timeline, everything that affects Olive and me.”
“Chelsea, I was trying to make this easier.”
