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I Returned from a Business Trip and Discovered My Son’s Sketch Featuring His ‘New Mommy’ – The Woman Depicted Was Familiar from the Cafe

Let me share how a simple drawing turned my world upside down. I’m Harper, and it all started when I stumbled upon a picture my son drew, featuring himself and someone I didn’t recognize. What followed was a series of events that changed my life forever.

I’ve never been good at being away from my family. Working one week a month in a different city was supposed to be a great career move, but I find myself missing my husband Shawn and my son Marcus more than I ever thought possible.

Every time I step off that plane and see their smiling faces waiting for me, it feels like coming home after a long, exhausting journey. This time was no different.

I returned home late Friday night and was welcomed with hugs and kisses. Shawn had made my favorite lasagna, and Marcus had a new drawing to show me. My heart swelled with love and contentment. Little did I know, that was about to change.

Saturday morning, I decided to do some cleaning. With a cup of coffee in one hand and my hair tied up in a messy bun, I made my way to Marcus’ room.

It was a typical eight-year-old’s room: toys scattered everywhere, crayons on the floor, and stacks of papers with his various drawings. I started picking up and smiling at the doodles of dinosaurs, rockets, and family portraits. Then I saw it.

A drawing titled “Me and my new Mommy.” My heart stopped. NEW MOMMY? My hands shook as I stared at the picture. It was Marcus, smiling brightly, holding hands with a woman who was definitely not me. She had blonde hair and wore big, red earrings.

“No way… Shawn wouldn’t… would he?” I muttered to myself, feeling my eyes sting with tears. I slumped onto Marcus’ bed, clutching the picture. The thought of Shawn cheating on me and introducing our son to another woman felt like a punch to the gut.

I was about to spiral into a full-blown panic when I noticed something else in the picture. There, in Marcus’ innocent handwriting, was the name of our favorite family cafe: “At Jack’s.”

I had to know the truth. There was no way I could sit on this information. I wiped my tears and took a deep breath. I needed a plan.

“Hey Shawn,” I called out, trying to keep my voice steady as I walked into the living room where he was reading. “How about we go out for brunch tomorrow? Maybe At Jack’s?”

Shawn looked up from his book, a smile spreading across his face. “Sounds great, Harper. It’s been a while since we went there together.”

The next day, we headed to the cafe. Marcus was excited, chattering about pancakes and syrup. On the other hand, I felt like I was walking towards my doom. My mind raced with thoughts of confronting this mysterious “new mommy” and what it would mean for our family.

We arrived at the cafe, and I scanned the room, my heart pounding. We sat at our usual table, and I tried to act normal, though my mind was anything but. I kept glancing around, hoping I was wrong. And then, I saw her.

The woman from Marcus’ drawing. She had the same blonde hair and those distinctive red earrings. She was a waitress, carrying a tray of coffee cups, and she noticed us almost immediately. My stomach twisted into knots. She walked over to our table, a warm smile on her face.

“Good morning! What can I get for you folks today?” she asked cheerily.

I took a deep breath and looked at Marcus, who was eagerly flipping through the menu. “Honey, is that your ‘new mommy?’” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Marcus looked up, his eyes wide. “Yes, that’s Jessica!”

Shawn’s face turned crimson. “How did you…”

Jessica smiled even broader, kneeling to Marcus’ level. “Tell her, Marcus. She needs to know what you feel.”

“What do you mean?” Shawn asked, looking genuinely confused.

“Oh, stop, as if you don’t know,” I snapped, pulling out the picture from my purse. “About this.”

Shawn looked bewildered as I handed him the drawing. “It’s Marcus’.”

He took the picture, his brow furrowing. “Again, please. What’s happening?”

I felt a wave of frustration and hurt wash over me. “I found this yesterday while cleaning Marcus’ room. I saw the name of this cafe and had to know what was going on. Marcus called her his ‘new mommy.’”

“But it’s nonsense,” Shawn said, shaking his head. He turned to Marcus, trying to keep his voice calm. “Marcus, buddy, tell your mom.”

Marcus looked up at me, his big brown eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and honesty. He pointed to Jessica, the waitress. “I wish she were my mommy.”

My heart sank. “But why, honey?”

Marcus glanced at Jessica, who gave him an encouraging nod. “You’re missing all the time. But Jessica is so kind to me. She brings me pancakes with funny faces on them. She likes my drawings.”

Jessica knelt beside Marcus, her face soft and understanding. “He showed me this picture. What did I tell you, Marcus?”

“To speak to Mom and tell her what I feel,” Marcus replied, his voice small but sincere.

At that moment, I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. They streamed down my face as I realized how much my little boy needed me. He needed his mom, not just physically, but emotionally. I was always gone, always working, and he found comfort in someone else because I wasn’t there.

I knelt and pulled Marcus into a tight hug, feeling his small arms wrap around me. “I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t know you felt this way. I promise I’ll do better.”

Shawn put a hand on my shoulder, his voice softening. “Harper, you’re a great mom. We just need to figure out a way to make this work.”

I nodded, still holding Marcus close. “I’ll talk to my boss. I’ll quit these trips if I have to. You’re more important than my job, Marcus. I promise I’ll be here for you.”

Jessica stood up, giving us some space. “I’m sorry if I overstepped. I just wanted Marcus to feel happy and safe while he was here.”

I wiped my tears and managed a small smile. “Thank you, Jessica. You’ve been really kind to him. I appreciate it.”

As we finished our brunch, the tension slowly melted away. We talked and laughed, and I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I needed to be there for my family, no matter what.

When we got home, I immediately called my boss. It wasn’t an easy conversation, but I explained that I needed to stop the business trips. My boss was surprisingly understanding, and we worked out a new arrangement that allowed me to stay home more.

That evening, as I tucked Marcus into bed, he looked up at me with a sleepy smile. “Are you really going to be home more, Mommy?”

I kissed his forehead, my heart swelling with love. “Yes, sweetheart. I’m going to be here with you every day. No more long trips.”

He hugged me tightly. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too, Marcus. More than anything in the world.”

Shawn joined us, sitting on the edge of the bed and wrapping his arms around both of us. “We’re a team, remember? We’ll figure everything out together.”

As I lay in bed that night, Shawn’s arms around me, I felt a deep sense of peace. Our family was stronger than ever, and I knew we could face anything as long as we were together. The drawing that had once filled me with fear now reminded me of the importance of being present.

And from that day on, I made a promise to myself to always put my family first. Because no job, no matter how important, could ever compare to the love we shared.

I Planned a Surprise Party for My Husband, but When He Walked In, Everyone Fell Silent

I Planned a Surprise Party for My Husband, but When He Walked In, Everyone Fell Silent

When Maria planned a surprise party for her husband’s 40th birthday, she didn’t expect to find strangers walking through the door instead of him. The shocking mix-up, involving an unexpected Airbnb booking, turned into an unforgettable night filled with laughter and unexpected guests.

Maria invites everyone to a surprise birthday party | Source: Midjourney

My husband’s 40th birthday was coming up, and I wanted to throw him a surprise party. To prepare for it, I told him I would be out of town on his birthday. We agreed to celebrate on another day instead.

On the evening before the big day, I pretended to pack my bags and leave for the airport. In reality, I stayed overnight at my friend Karen’s house.

Maria at Karen’s house | Source: Midjourney

“Are you sure this will work?” Karen asked, raising an eyebrow as I stuffed clothes into my suitcase.

“Absolutely,” I replied. “Tom thinks I’m going to visit my sister.”

Karen chuckled. “You’re a sneaky one, Maria.”

Jim arrived at his brother’s house | Source: Midjourney

The next day, I got up early to make sure everything was perfect. Tom always came home from work around 6 pm, so I invited all of his friends and family over at 5. That way, we’d have time to decorate before he arrived.

By 4:45, people started arriving. His brother, Jim, was first.

“Hey, Maria! Need any help?” Jim asked, carrying a box of decorations.

A box with decorations | Source: Pexels

“Sure, Jim. Can you start hanging these streamers?” I handed him a bundle of blue and gold streamers.

Next came Tom’s best friend, Dave, with his wife, Lisa.

“Wow, you’ve really outdone yourself, Maria,” Lisa said, admiring the decorations.

Hand with balloons | Source: Pexels

“Thanks, Lisa! Can you guys help with the balloons?” I handed them a bag of balloons.

Everyone pitched in. By 5:30, the living room looked amazing. Blue and gold streamers hung from the ceiling, and balloons were everywhere. A big banner that read “Happy 40th, Tom!” stretched across the wall.

Guests gathering in the kitchen | Source: Pexels

At 5:45 p.m., I gathered everyone in the kitchen.

“Okay, everyone, Tom will be here soon. Let’s turn off the lights and hide,” I said, feeling the excitement build.

We all found spots behind the kitchen counter and other hiding places. My heart was racing as we waited in the dark. I held my breath when I heard the key turn in the lock.

Lights off with an open door | Source: Unsplash

The door opened, and I heard footsteps. But then I heard a woman’s voice.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” the voice said.

My heart dropped. Who was she? For a moment, I thought Tom was cheating on me.

The lights flicked on, and the whole room gasped.

Couple with suitcases | Source: Midjourney

Standing in the doorway was a young couple, looking just as shocked as we were. The woman had a suitcase in her hand, and the man was holding a set of keys.

“Who are you?” I blurted out, stepping forward.

The woman’s eyes widened. “Who are we? Who are you?” she exclaimed.

Shocked woman | Source: Pexels

Jim stepped out from behind the counter. “We’re here for a surprise party. Who are you guys?”

The man looked around, bewildered. “We rented this house on Airbnb. We were supposed to stay here for a few days.”

I felt the color drain from my face. “Airbnb? This is our house!”

Woman covers her mouth with a hand | Source: Pexels

Dave scratched his head. “Tom must have listed it after Maria said she was going out of town.”

The woman looked at me sympathetically. “Oh my gosh, we had no idea. We’re so sorry. We’ll leave right away.”

“No, no, it’s okay,” I said quickly, trying to keep the situation calm. “Let’s just figure this out.”

Woman comforts her friend | Source: Pexels

The young couple, still looking confused, stepped inside and closed the door. Everyone was murmuring, trying to piece together what was happening.

Karen came over to me. “Maria, what’s going on?”

“I have no idea,” I whispered back. “Tom must have put the house on Airbnb when I told him I’d be out of town.”

Sad woman with her head in her hands | Source: Pexels

Tom’s sister, Susan, walked up to the couple. “Hey, why don’t we all sit down and talk this through?”

We all moved to the living room, the decorations and party supplies now feeling strangely out of place. The young couple introduced themselves as Jake and Emily.

“We’re really sorry about this,” Jake said. “We thought the house was empty.”

People talking over dinner | Source: Unsplash

Emily nodded. “Yeah, we didn’t mean to crash your party.”

I forced a smile. “It’s not your fault. This is just a big misunderstanding.”

I pulled out my phone and called Tom. He answered on the second ring.

“Hey, honey! I thought you’d be on your flight by now,” he said cheerfully.

Happy man talks on the phone | Source: Pexels

“Tom,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “did you list our house on Airbnb?”

There was a pause. “Uh, yeah. I figured since you were going to be out of town, we could make a little extra money.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “Tom, I’m not out of town. I was planning a surprise party for you. And now we’ve got a house full of guests and a couple who thought they rented our place.”

Shocked man on the phone | Source: Pexels

Tom’s silence was palpable. “Oh no, Maria, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

I looked at Jake and Emily, who were sitting awkwardly on the couch. “What do we do now?”

Tom sighed. “I’m on my way home. We’ll sort this out.”

I hung up and turned to everyone. “Tom’s coming home. We’ll figure this out when he gets here.”

Maria tells her guests everything will be alright | Source: Midjourney

Jake stood up. “We can find another place to stay. We don’t want to ruin your party.”

Lisa shook her head. “No, stay. We’ve got plenty of food and drinks. Join us.”

Emily smiled hesitantly. “Are you sure?”

Girls having fun at a party | Source: Unsplash

“Absolutely,” I said. “The more, the merrier.”

Tom arrived about fifteen minutes later, looking sheepish. He walked in and immediately apologized to everyone.

“I’m really sorry about this,” he said. “I was just trying to save up some money for a vacation for Maria and me.”

House party | Source: Pexels

Susan laughed. “Well, you certainly surprised us, Tom.”

Jake and Emily ended up staying, and the party went on. They were great sports about the whole situation, and soon everyone was laughing and having a good time.

Golden birthday party | Source: Pexels

“Cheers to unexpected guests and surprise parties,” Dave toasted, raising his glass.

“Cheers!” we all echoed, clinking our glasses together.

Couple holding sparklers | Source: Pexels

As the night went on, I couldn’t help but smile. Despite the chaos, it turned out to be a night we would never forget. And as for the vacation, Tom and I would definitely be taking one, with a story to tell for years to come.