The Man Who Came Home With Someone Else

"That's impossible.""

Tyler said it three times.

The third time, his voice cracked.

Rebecca Collins stood beside Michael with the photograph still resting on her folder.

Vanessa looked toward the terminal doors.

I noticed because I'd spent five years learning to recognize Tyler's expressions. And I'd spent five minutes learning that Vanessa had a habit of looking for exits whenever someone asked an uncomfortable question.

"Vanessa," Tyler said slowly.

"What is this?""

She swallowed.

"Don't do this here.""

"Who is the baby?""

"It's complicated.""

"Who is the baby's father?""

Vanessa looked at him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then she said, "You already know.""

Tyler shook his head.

"No. I don't.""

Rebecca stepped forward.

"Mr. Hayes, the photograph was taken at Mercy Bay Medical Center eleven weeks ago. It was submitted as supporting documentation for a family medical leave request.""

Tyler frowned.

"Why would my photograph be in a medical leave request?""

"Because you submitted it.""

Silence.

I looked at my husband.

"Tyler?""

He ran a hand through his hair.

"That doesn't make sense.""

Rebecca opened the folder again.

"On September twelfth, you requested three days of emergency leave. You stated that your wife had delivered prematurely and that you needed to return home.""

My arms tightened around the babies.

"That was the week I delivered Piper and Poppy.""

Tyler stared at Rebecca.

"I never requested leave.""

Michael's expression hardened.

"We have the paperwork.""

"I never signed anything.""

Rebecca placed another sheet on the folder.

"Your electronic authorization was submitted through your company account.""

Tyler looked at Vanessa.

She lowered her eyes.

I suddenly understood why she'd stopped holding his arm.

"She did it," I whispered.

Vanessa looked up sharply.

"Excuse me?""

"You used his account.""

"Don't accuse me of anything.""

Rebecca's voice remained calm.

"Vanessa, we have the access records.""

Vanessa laughed, but it sounded forced.

"You're making a huge mistake.""

Michael folded his arms.

"Then explain why your employee access card was used in the executive administration office at 2:13 a.m. on September twelfth.""

Vanessa said nothing.

Tyler stepped away from her.

"You told me you worked in guest relations.""

"I did.""

"Then why were you in administration?""

"Tyler, please.""

"Why?""

She glanced at Rebecca.

Then she looked at me.

"Because I was trying to protect someone.""

I felt a chill move through me.

"Who?""

Vanessa's lips trembled.

Before she could answer, Rebecca turned another page.

"The baby in this photograph is a boy named Noah. His mother is listed as Vanessa Reed. His father is listed as Tyler Hayes.""

I heard the words.

I understood the words.

But my mind refused to put them together.

Tyler took a step backward.

"No.""

Vanessa closed her eyes.

"Tyler—"

"You're telling me that's my son?""

She didn't answer.

He looked at me.

"Emily, I swear—"

I shook my head.

"Don't.""

"Listen to me.""

"No. Not yet.""

Poppy started crying.

I rocked her gently, trying to keep my voice steady.

"How old is he?""

Rebecca answered.

"Eleven weeks.""

The terminal seemed to tilt beneath my feet.

Eleven weeks.

My daughters were twelve weeks old.

The baby in the photograph had been born almost at the same time.

I stared at Tyler.

"You were having another baby while I was having ours?""

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Vanessa suddenly spoke.

"You're acting like this is all his fault.""

I turned toward her.

"Are you serious?""

"He told me his marriage was over.""

Tyler looked at her.

"Vanessa, stop.""

"No. I'm tired of protecting you.""

She pointed toward me.

"You think I knew you were still together? He told me you were separated. He said the pregnancy was complicated, and you were staying with your parents.""

I stared at her.

"I was living in our house.""

Vanessa's face changed.

"What?""

"I sent him pictures of my growing belly every week. He watched our daughters being born. He told me he loved me.""

Vanessa looked at Tyler.

"You said she knew.""

Tyler rubbed his forehead.

"I said stop.""

Rebecca closed the folder.

"That's enough. We have an internal investigation underway. Neither of you should make further statements without speaking to the company's legal department.""

Tyler barely seemed to hear her.

He was staring at the photograph.

"Is he healthy?""

Vanessa looked at him.

"What?""

"The baby. Is he healthy?""

Her expression softened for half a second.

"He's fine.""

"Have you been taking him to appointments?""

"Yes.""

"Does he—"

"Tyler," Michael interrupted.

"This is not the place.""

Tyler turned on him.

"He's my son!""

Michael's voice became sharper.

"Then perhaps you should have considered that before creating a situation in which two families were being lied to.""

The words hung in the air.

I looked at Rebecca.

"Why did you bring this here?""

She glanced at the twins.

"Because we received a complaint from another employee, and your husband's name appeared repeatedly in the evidence. When we learned you were coming to the terminal, Michael insisted we meet you before Tyler left.""

"Why me?""

Rebecca hesitated.

"Because there is a financial matter involving your family.""

My stomach tightened.

"What financial matter?""

Tyler immediately interrupted.

"Emily, don't listen to this.""

Rebecca ignored him.

"During the last four months, approximately eighty-six thousand dollars was transferred from a company hospitality account into a private account associated with Vanessa.""

Vanessa's mouth opened.

"That's not true.""

Rebecca removed another document.

"The transfers were approved using Tyler's credentials.""

Tyler looked horrified.

"I didn't transfer any money.""

Michael turned toward him.

"Your access credentials were used.""

"I said I didn't do it!""

Rebecca looked at me.

"Some of that money was subsequently transferred into an account under your name, Emily.""

My heart stopped.

"What?""

Tyler's face went white.

I shook my head.

"I don't have any account with the company.""

"That's what we need to establish.""

Vanessa suddenly laughed.

A short, bitter sound.

"Well, isn't this convenient?""

Rebecca looked at her.

"Explain.""

Vanessa stepped closer.

"Tyler told me Emily had access to his accounts. He said she handled the household finances.""

I stared at my husband.

"Tyler?""

He looked away.

And that was when I remembered something.

Three months earlier, while I was recovering from the delivery, Tyler had called and asked me to sign several digital documents.

He'd said they were routine tax and insurance forms.

I'd signed them while holding Piper in one arm and trying to feed Poppy with the other.

I hadn't read every page.

"Did you use my signature?"" I whispered.

Tyler finally looked at me.

"Emily, I can explain.""

"Did you?""

"Those documents were for work.""

"Did you put my name on something?""

He reached toward me.

I stepped backward.

Rebecca immediately moved between us.

"Mr. Hayes, don't approach her.""

For the first time, I realized this wasn't simply an affair.

Something much larger was happening.

And my name was somewhere inside it.

Michael handed me his business card.

"Emily, I want you to speak with an attorney before signing anything else. Do not transfer money, do not approve new documents, and preserve every message you've received from Tyler.""

Tyler shook his head.

"Michael, you're destroying my life.""

Michael looked at him.

"No, Tyler. We're trying to understand what you did with it.""

Vanessa suddenly grabbed her suitcase.

"I'm leaving.""

Rebecca stepped sideways.

"Please stay. We aren't finished.""

"I have nothing to say.""

"You may have quite a lot to say when the police review the financial records.""

Vanessa's eyes widened.

"Police?""

Tyler stared at her.

"What did you do?""

She looked at him with open anger.

"What did I do? You promised me everything!""

I felt Poppy's tiny fingers close around my necklace.

I looked down at her.

Then at Piper.

My girls deserved better than this.

I turned toward the exit.

Tyler followed.

"Emily, wait.""

I kept walking.

"Please. We need to talk.""

I stopped beside the automatic doors.

"About what?""

"About us.""

I looked at him.

"There is no us.""

He glanced at the babies.

"They need their father.""

I let out a breath.

"They needed you three months ago.""

"Don't punish me by keeping them away.""

I stared at him.

"Tyler, I drove here believing I was bringing our daughters to meet their father. You looked at me and asked why I was there. Then you told me about the other women. You haven't even asked to hold them.""

His face crumpled.

"Can I hold Piper?""

I looked at the sleeping baby against my shoulder.

For a second, the old version of me wanted to say yes.

The woman who had spent five years believing love could fix anything wanted to hand him his daughter.

But the mother standing in front of him knew better.

"Not today.""

I walked outside.

The Florida heat hit my face.

A few seconds later, my phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number appeared.

*Emily, you need to know something about the money Tyler put in your name. He didn't do it alone. And if you want to protect your daughters, you need to meet me tonight.*

Below it was a name.

*Daniel Hayes.*

Tyler's younger brother.