Jeremy went on several business trips, and his wife, Clara, stayed home. But one day, after they talked on the phone, he realized she hadn’t hung up the phone. He heard her friend, Holly, saying some shocking things that Jeremy couldn’t believe.

“Ok, honey. Talk to you later,” Jeremy said as he pulled the phone away from his ear and looked around his hotel room in Miami. He had just spoken to his wife Clara because he had been out on this business trip for a long time, and they both missed each other dearly. They were the kind of couple everyone envied.

Furthermore, he wanted to give his wife the best life possible and worked hard at it. They had also been trying to have children for a long time to no avail, but they had not lost hope. It would happen soon, or they might have to adopt. Either way, they would become parents at some point and complete the loving family they desired.

Clara was in their hometown in Austin, Texas, and was with her friend, Holly, the night she spoke to Jeremy. After saying their goodbyes, she hung up, or so she thought. On the other end of the line, Jeremy could still hear her talking, but to Holly this time. He was about to hang up when Holly asked about him.

“How’s Jeremy doing?” Holly asked.

“Oh, he’s in Miami, so I’m sure he’s doing well. The weather must be so delightful this time of the year over there,” Clara responded, and Jeremy could hear the smile in her voice.

“Wow, Miami… I’m jealous. All those beautiful people, the sun, the beach… well, it must be amazing,” Holly continued.

“Yeah, it must be fun.”

“But wait, Clara. Don’t you get worried?” her friend questioned.

“What do you mean?” Clara questioned back.

“Well, all those beautiful people, Clara. What if Jeremy is out there… you know….”

“Holly! Are you crazy?” his wife replied indignantly.

“It’s not a crazy thought, Clara. Jeremy goes on a million business trips a year, and he’s been in Miami a lot lately, right?” Holly added suggestively.

Jeremy couldn’t believe what he heard that woman saying. She was insinuating that he was cheating on his wife. Something that Jeremy would never do in a million years.

“No, Holly. Jeremy is not cheating on me. I’m sure of it,” his wife said confidently, and Jeremy smiled.

“I wouldn’t be so sure with men,” Holly continued in a belligerent tone.

“Please, can we talk about something else?” Clara begged, and they changed the subject.

Jeremy hung up the phone right then. He didn’t want to hear anything else from that horrible woman. But he was glad that Clara defended him entirely and seemed to believe he was faithful without question.

***

When Jeremy arrived home two weeks after, he brought his wife gifts and a massive bouquet. She seemed to like them, but her attitude was off. Jeremy realized that no matter what Clara told Holly, Holly’s suspicions had bothered her. His sensitive wife had taken them to heart.

He had no idea what else that woman said when he hung up the phone. But it was time to get to the bottom of it.

“Clara, we need to talk,” Jeremy finally told his wife when they sat down for dinner.

“Oh,” she said, looking up from her plate and raising her eyebrows. “What is it?”

“Honey, I’m so sorry about this but—”

“Are you breaking up with me?” Clara interrupted and asked the shocking question.

“What? Clara, for God’s sakes! No!”

“Are you cheating on me?” she blurted now.

“NO! I wanted to say that I overheard that conversation you had with Holly! Remember the time we spoke and you were together, you forgot to hang up. She got in your head, right?” Jeremy asked, exasperated.

“Oh… you heard that? So, you’re not cheating or breaking up with me?” Clara needed to confirm.

“Of course not! You’re the love of my life!” Jeremy insisted, placing his hand on top of hers on the table.

“Well, that’s good then,” Clara breathed and smiled awkwardly. “Now, what did you want to talk about?”

“I was actually going to tell you that I overheard what Holly said. I hung up the phone when you defended me. But based on your attitude since I arrived, I figured that you might have started to believe her. And I don’t know what else she might have told you,” Jeremy explained his side, looking at her intently.

“Oh good. Well, yeah. I guess her words stuck with me. But I shouldn’t have listened. Honestly, I’m tired of her gossipy personality. I shouldn’t be hanging out with her, but she’s my oldest friend,” Clara answered.

“Yeah. But there’s actually something else I wanted to say. I think it’s time we explore adoption—”

“I’M PREGNANT!” Clara blurted something else before Jeremy could finish his sentence.

“What? REALLY?” he asked, getting up from the table and going to the other side to hug his wife.

“Yes, I didn’t know how to do it, and you looked so serious right now. I’m sorry I just said it like that, but I thought I would just… rip the band-aid,” Clara continued, looking up at her husband sweetly.

“You’re the biggest goof in the world!” Jeremy declared and kissed her passionately.

After that stunning announcement, they completely forgot about that issue and focused on getting through Clara’s pregnancy together. Jeremy finally applied for a promotion at work that wouldn’t require him to travel so much. He didn’t want to miss a moment or give Holly any more chances to fill his wife’s head with garbage.

Furthermore, when his son was born, Jeremy realized that money was not the most crucial part of making a family. It was love, being together, and creating memories that would last forever.

What can we learn from this story?

Some friends don’t have your best interest at heart. Holly suggested that Clara’s husband was cheating despite no evidence of it. She planted unnecessary seeds of doubt on Clara’s head which could have ruined her marriage if she took them to heart.
No amount of money is worth missing time with your family. Working and earning money is essential to survive, but being with your family makes life worth living.
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