New 1489

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.

My Friend Excluded Me from His Wedding, and His Reason Left Me Speechless

The open bar was a hit. Everyone was mingling, drinks in hand, and laughter filled the room. The waiters placed two bottles of wine on each table, along with bread and butter.

“This wine is fantastic,” Bob said, pouring himself another glass. “Have you tried it, Mike?”

“Not yet, but I will,” I replied, reaching for my glass.

Soon, the buffet was announced. The emcee explained that tables would be called up a few at a time, starting with family.

“That makes sense,” Sarah said. “Family first.”

We watched as the first few tables were called. The buffet looked incredible, with a variety of dishes. However, I noticed something concerning.

“Those plates are piled high,” I whispered to Sarah. “I hope there’s enough for everyone.”

“Yeah, me too,” she replied, frowning.

Time passed, and more tables were called. Family members returned for seconds, their plates even fuller than before. My stomach grumbled as we waited.

“Finally!” I said when our table was called.

But when we reached the buffet, it was almost empty. We managed to scrape together a few scraps and returned to our seats, feeling disappointed.

“This is all that’s left?” Jane asked, looking at her nearly empty plate.

“Afraid so,” I said. “I can’t believe they ran out of food.”

Everyone at our table was visibly upset. The mood had shifted from joy to frustration.

“This is ridiculous!” Bob said. “I’m still hungry.”

“Me too,” Sarah added. “What are we supposed to do now?”

We sat there, picking at our meager portions. The conversations around us became hushed and tense.

“Someone should have planned better,” Jane muttered. “This is a wedding, for goodness’ sake.”

Tom, the groom, walked over with a concerned look on his face.

“Hey, Mike, is everything okay?” he asked.

“Not really, Tom,” I replied. “There’s no food left. We’re all still hungry.”

Tom’s face fell. “I’m so sorry. I thought there would be enough for everyone.”

“It’s not your fault,” Sarah said kindly. “We’ll figure something out.”

After Tom left, we continued to chat, trying to make the best of the situation.

“Wouldn’t it be funny if we just ordered pizza?” Bob joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“That’s not a bad idea,” I said, half-serious. “I’m starving.”

“Let’s do it,” Jane said, her eyes lighting up. “We can all pitch in.”

Everyone agreed, and we quickly pooled our money. I called a nearby pizza place and ordered four large pizzas and some wings.

“Thirty minutes,” the delivery guy said. “We’ll be right there.”

“Perfect,” I replied, feeling a bit of relief.

We waited, our anticipation growing. The mood at our table started to improve as we imagined the pizza arriving.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this!” Sarah laughed. “This is going to be a story to tell!”

Finally, the pizzas arrived. I met the delivery guy outside and carried the boxes in, feeling the eyes of other guests on me.

“Did you really order pizza?” one of them asked, surprised.

“Yep,” I said, grinning. “Help yourselves if you didn’t get enough food.”

As we started eating, the atmosphere at our table transformed. We shared the pizzas with nearby tables that had also missed out on the buffet, and everyone was grateful.

“This is the best idea ever!” Bob said, biting into a slice. “Thanks, Mike!”

“No problem,” I replied, feeling a sense of camaraderie. However, I didn’t notice the other tables looking at us with clear disapproval.

I tried to enjoy my pizza, but I couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was coming. Just then, a tall man in a suit, who I recognized as Linda’s father, approached our table.

“Excuse me,” he said, his voice stern. “Where did you get that pizza?”

I looked up at him and sighed. “We ordered it. There wasn’t enough food left at the buffet, and we were all still hungry.”

He glanced at the nearly empty pizza boxes, his eyes narrowing. “You didn’t get enough food?”

“No,” I replied, trying to stay calm. “By the time we got to the buffet, there was hardly anything left.”

Linda’s father frowned. “There are two slices left. May I have one?”

I looked at him, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief. “Honestly, sir, no. Your family ate most of the buffet food. We had to order this just to get something in our stomachs.”

His face turned red. “You’re refusing to share?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “We barely got to eat anything, and we’re still hungry.”

He stood there for a moment, clearly angry. Then he turned and walked back to his table, muttering under his breath. The tension in the room was palpable. I could see the bride, Linda, glaring at us from across the room. The family at their table was whispering and shooting daggers our way.

“This isn’t good,” Jane said quietly. “I think we’re in trouble.”

Tom came back over, looking distressed. “Mike, I’m sorry, but you and Sarah need to leave.”

“What? Why?” I asked, feeling a surge of anger.

“Linda is really upset,” Tom explained. “Her father is furious. They think you disrespected them by ordering pizza and not sharing.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Tom, we were starving. We didn’t mean any disrespect.”

“I know,” he said, looking genuinely sorry. “But it’s causing too much tension. Please, just go. We’ll talk later.”

Feeling frustrated and hurt, I nodded. “Alright, we’ll leave.”

Sarah and I gathered our things and left the reception. We called a cab and went home, the evening ending on a sour note.

A few days later, Tom called me. “Mike, can we talk?”

“Sure,” I said, still feeling a bit annoyed. “What’s up?”

“I want to apologize,” Tom began. “I had a long talk with Linda and her family. They realize now that there wasn’t enough food for everyone. Linda is furious with her family for taking so much and leaving the other guests with nothing.”

“I appreciate that, Tom,” I said, feeling a bit relieved. “It was a tough situation for everyone.”

“Yeah, it was,” Tom agreed. “Linda’s father feels terrible about what happened. He wants to make it up to everyone.”

“Really? How?” I asked, curious.

“He’s planning an ‘After Wedding Shindig’,” Tom explained. “He’s going to invite everyone who was at the wedding, plus a few more. There will be plenty of food and entertainment. He wants to make sure no one goes hungry this time.”

“That sounds great,” I said, genuinely pleased. “When is it?”

“Mid-August,” Tom replied. “He’s pulling in favors and going all out. There’ll be food, drinks, music, and even some fun activities like axe throwing and a bonfire.”

“Wow, that sounds amazing,” I said, smiling. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too,” Tom said. “I hope this helps smooth things over.”

“I think it will,” I agreed.

As I hung up the phone, I felt a sense of relief. The situation had been awkward and tense, but it seemed like things were moving in a positive direction.

Reflecting on the whole ordeal, I realized how unexpected and strange it had all been. A simple lack of food had caused so much drama, but in the end, it brought about a solution that promised to be even more fun than the original event.