THE SECRET IN THE SHADOW

The clock had barely struck midnight when the Smith household stirred with excitement. The quiet hum of the refrigerator and the faint rustling of trees outside was interrupted by Grace's high-pitched shriek.

“Babe! Babe!” Grace's voice cut through the living room where Thomas sat, half-absorbed in a crime thriller movie.

“What’s going on, Honey? What happened?” Thomas jumped, alarmed by the sudden urgency in his wife's voice. The remote slipped from his hand as he turned towards her.

Grace stood at the entrance to the living room, her eyes sparkling with joy, waving a piece of paper in the air like a victory flag. “You won’t believe what just dropped in our mailbox!” Her voice escalated into an ecstatic scream, her excitement barely contained.

“Shhh! Honey, you’ll wake the kids!” Thomas whispered urgently, glancing towards the stairs where their children were sound asleep.

Grace, lowering her voice but still trembling with excitement, moved closer. “We just got an invitation to the most prestigious and famous world concert!” she whispered, the words barely audible yet brimming with energy.

Thomas's eyes widened, and a broad grin spread across his face. “No way! No way!” he exclaimed, his excitement matching hers.

“Yes, babe,” Grace confirmed, her own smile mirroring his.

“This is incredible! The kids will be over the moon!” Thomas said, already envisioning the look on their children's faces when they broke the news. “Call Austin to prepare the car; we need to start getting ready. Here,” he reached for his wallet, pulling out his ATM card, “Take this, get yourself a nice outfit and grab whatever else we need for the event.”

Grace took the card, staring at it for a moment before looking back up at him with a soft smile. “Honey?” she hesitated.

“Yes, my love?” Thomas gazed back at her, puzzled by the sudden change in her demeanor.

“Your ATM?” she questioned, her tone laced with concern.

Thomas’s brow furrowed slightly. “Yes, is there a problem?” he asked, searching her face for any sign of what might be wrong.

Grace moved closer to him, her eyes reflecting a mix of love and worry. “No, my love, it’s just… I feel like you spend a lot when it comes to family functions.” Her voice was gentle, almost apologetic.

Thomas chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. “I know. But with a beautiful wife like you and amazing kids, why wouldn’t I?” he said, his tone teasing yet sincere.

Grace blushed, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. “Oh, stop it, Thomas. You’re making me blush,” she said, averting her gaze slightly.

Thomas tilted her chin up gently, looking deep into her eyes. “I’m glad I can. I love you, Grace, with everything I have,” he said, his voice dropping to a tender whisper.

Grace sighed, leaning into his embrace. “I know, Thomas. Is that the same way you feel about our children?” she asked, her voice tinged with a subtle tension.

Thomas stiffened slightly, sensing the shift in her tone. “This is about Landon, isn’t it?” he asked, his grip on her loosening slightly.

“Yes,” Grace whispered, her gaze dropping to the floor.

Thomas exhaled softly, running a hand through his hair. “I love our children dearly, Grace. I would do anything to make sure they’re happy,” he said, his voice earnest.

“And Landon?” Grace pressed, her eyes searching his face for an answer.

Thomas’s face clouded with a mix of emotions. “I care about him, but he always seems to hate me. I get so upset and disrespected. For goodness’ sake, Grace, I’m his father,” he said, his voice heavy with frustration.

Grace reached out, gently touching his arm. “I know, but what if it’s because of the past?” she asked softly, her words laced with concern.

“The past? What are you talking about?” Thomas asked, confusion flickering across his face as they both sat down on the bed.

“Tom, do you remember what you told me when I had a problem before I married you?” Grace asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thomas nodded slowly. “Yes, I do,” he replied.

“What was it?” Grace pressed, her eyes locked onto his.

Thomas took a deep breath. “I told you that no matter what, I would always be there to fight for our love, even if it meant giving up my life for you,” he said, his voice steady as he gently caressed her face.

Grace’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “Exactly, Tom,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she began to cry softly.

“Hey, shh… don’t cry,” Thomas whispered, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“Please, Tom, don’t hurt me or the kids. We’ve faced so much together in the past, and we can’t afford to let the secret we’ve been hiding for so long be exposed,” she said, her voice trembling with fear.

Thomas's expression turned solemn as he hugged her tightly. “I promise, honey, nobody will ever find out about our secret. Not even our kids,” he murmured, placing a soft kiss on her head.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Landon stirred in his bed. He had been restless throughout the night, his thoughts tangled with the memory of his last encounter with his father. The words exchanged had left a bitter taste in his mouth, fueling the belief that his father didn’t love him as he had hoped.

The clock read 6:00 AM, and the first rays of sunlight were just beginning to peek through the curtains. Unable to shake off the uneasy feeling, Landon got out of bed and quietly made his way downstairs. The house was still, the only sound the faint creak of the wooden floorboards beneath his feet.

He headed straight to the kitchen, his mind set on getting a glass of water to calm his nerves. The cool liquid soothed his throat, but not the turmoil in his heart. As he turned to head back to his room, something caught his attention.

The light was on in his parents’ room.

Landon frowned, his curiosity piqued. Why were they up so early? And what were they whispering about?

His feet moved almost of their own accord, carrying him towards their room. The closer he got, the more distinct the murmurs became. He strained to hear, pressing his ear against the door.

“I promise, honey, nobody will ever find out about our secret. Not even our kids,” his father’s voice came through, clear and resolute.

Landon’s heart skipped a beat, his mind racing. A secret? What secret could they possibly be hiding?

His hands began to tremble, and in his shock, he lost his grip on the glass he had been holding. It slipped from his grasp, shattering against the floor with a loud crash.

Inside the room, Thomas jerked upright at the sound, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Who’s there?” he barked, his voice taking on a menacing edge.

Landon’s breath caught in his throat as panic set in. What had he just stumbled upon? And what would happen if they found out he had overheard?

***

A/N