The Gum Wrapper Secret: Uncovering My FIL’s Shocking Message
FIL Gave Me a Pack of Gum – When I Saw What He Scribbled Inside, I Gasped
After getting married to Nick, Marissa felt at home in his family and developed a close relationship with her father-in-law, Eric. Marissa gasps as Eric gives her a mysterious note tucked within a pack of gum. Her husband’s extramarital affair becomes clear to her as she carries out Eric’s instructions.
In general, my father-in-law Eric is a man of few words and harsh expressions. He has, nevertheless, always accepted me into the family. Even when we started dating right out of high school, my husband Nick and I were constantly pleasantly surprised by Eric’s extra attention.
He would tell me, “You’re part of this family now, Marissa,” every time they welcomed me along on a family outing.
Eric had grown grumpy once during a picnic and wouldn’t talk to anyone. The family, including Nick, put his patience to the test with their incessant complaining.
My spouse was amazing, but he would complain vociferously about anything that didn’t live up to his expectations.
Nick and his cousin Nancy had grumbled about the sun highlighting their freckles at that picnic.
“What did they expect, Marissa?” While he shuffled a deck of cards for us to play with, Eric asked me.
That’s exactly how Nick and Nancy spent the remainder of the afternoon: using their phones to browse social media and shoo away bees. Eric and I passed the time while Miranda, their mother, perused the newest issue of Vogue.
That was our relationship, though, and I had faith in him.
I could tell he was being serious when he gave me the mysterious note that was wrapped in a pack of gum.
Although my father-in-law worked as a mechanic and had hands that were often filthy from oils and grease, he had a kindness about him that was frequently missed.
Things had been going great that Sunday night before the event. After spending the day with his parents, Nick and I had a long, belly-laughing family supper at their place that made you feel warm and pleased as you got ready to go home.
We lived a few hours away, so I didn’t get to see my family as often when I married Nick. Nick realised that we had to be together whenever I felt the need for family time.
“Are you sure you’re okay with spending the day here?” As I took over his mother’s kitchen to prepare our dessert, a pecan pie, Nick asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “It’s what I need today.”
My spouse abandoned me to my own ways as his mum started stuffing a chicken on the other side of me.
Nick was talking to my father-in-law about getting his car serviced for an oil change the following morning while I was working.
“Sure!” Over the TV, where live football commentary was blasting through the speakers, Eric bellowed. “Drop off your car in the morning, and I’ll slot it into my day.”
I ignored Nick’s request to his father as the day went on and we ended up watching a movie together before supper. In addition to performing our regular maintenance, Eric was constantly inspecting our vehicles.
However, I was unaware of the unfolding secret drama that would be made public the following day.
The next morning I was getting ready and packed sandwiches in addition to preparing our breakfast. Nick always left the early morning rush to me and took responsibility of our meal at the end of the day.
He butter-toasted bread and remarked, “I’ll drop my car off at Dad’s garage and get a lift to work, Marissa.” But before we head home, I need you to come get me after work so we can pick up my car. Dad promised to have it prepared by then.
I nodded and informed Nick that at the end of the day, I would be waiting outside his office. Then I did the dishes and headed to work, just like we always do.
The day went very slowly, and I gave little thought to what lay ahead. Since Eric had earned a special place in my heart over the years, I was actually looking forward to seeing him.
As the end of the day drew near, I still had an hour to spare before picking up my spouse. I decided to grab a coffee.
Nick called as I was waiting in queue to get my father-in-law a box of donuts.
He said simply, “I’m ready, you can come and get me.”
My father-in-law hugged me and shook off his dungarees in the garage before putting them back on.
Eric filled Nick in on his car-related activities and other details. I poured Eric a cup of tea to go with the donuts while they were chatting in the back room, where he had his tiny kitchenette.
Before Nick was prepared to leave for home, we spent a few minutes sitting with him.
Nick said, “It’s getting late, Dad,” and he took Eric’s keys. “Thank you for sorting it out!”
However, an odd thing happened next.
While putting on my coat, my father-in-law drew me in. In the dark light of the garage, he handed out a pack of gum that had already been opened, the silver wrappers gleaming.
With a hushed voice, he said, “Here.” “Take this, darling.”
I recall being perplexed when I took the gum. Particularly coming from him, it was a strange present. It appeared that he had been taking it around with him because a few pieces were missing.
I couldn’t quite place the weird significance of the moment.
I grinned at him and tucked it inside my coat pocket.
Nick said, “I’ll see you at home,” and got into his car to drive away.
I wondered what Eric was thinking when he gave me the pack of gum and followed my husband home. Did I have coffee breath? However, he would have acknowledged that to me and laughed about it with me.
This was not like that. There was more to this; this was my father-in-law.
I pulled the bag out at a traffic signal and discovered a handwritten note crammed inside.
Examine his trunk.
My heart was racing. My father-in-law was not a humorous or theatrical man. This had to be significant if he had written it.
Nick pulled his tie over his head and kicked off his shoes at home.
He said to me, “What do you want for dinner?” “Does pasta sound okay?”
I gave a nod.
“That sounds great!” Snatching up the hoover, I said.
Glancing at me, he questioned, “What are you doing?”
“I dropped some trail mix in my car this morning,” I told the truth. “I’m just going to clean it up before I shower.”
Without saying anything else, Nick nodded and headed into the kitchen.
Taking hold of both our keys, I pulled the hoover outside. With a gentle click, the trunk burst open to disclose its secret contents.
A child’s car seat was there, amid the typical items one finds in a trunk, such as jumper cables, a spare tyre, a few misplaced tools, and Nick’s gym bag.
It was hurled heedlessly to one side, with a jumble of toys all around it. A few miniature cars and trucks, a little teddy bear, and what appeared to be a battered picture book were all present.
My thoughts raced.
No kids lived with us. Nancy was a childless woman. None of these things were necessary for Nick at all.
My throat constricted as the scene in front of me started to register in my mind.
When I came in, Nick was chopping vegetables. Humming to himself, he walked the kitchen, still clutching onto the knife as he checked the boiling water.
All straightened up, he enquired. “If not, it’s okay, I can take the car to the car wash tomorrow.”
“Why is there a car seat in your trunk?” I questioned him.
Nick gently spun around to look at me. His face was expressionless at first, and then slowly horror crept across it.
“Let me clarify,” he muttered.
“Explain what?” I insisted. “Who have you been seeing?”
I observed my spouse falteringly for a brief moment when speaking. He was at a loss for how to respond or what to do.
Finally, he simply opened up.
“I’ve been seeing a co-worker, Pamela,” he replied. “Her son, Leo, is born. Leo has gone out with us a few times, and she is a single mother.”
I said, “Now what?” to him.
It completely stunned me. I had nothing to say, for once. I have nothing to say about it. I didn’t believe that words could adequately express my feelings.
He answered, “I don’t know what you mean,” as he combined the veggies with the spaghetti sauce.
“Nick, you’ve been involved in an affair. You have been seeing the child of another lady. And you just admitted to doing it. I was instructed to search your trunk by your father.”
Nick responded right away. He knocked a plate off the counter and turned to face me at the mention of his father.
“What?” he exclaimed.
“Yes,” I replied, acknowledging that he had let his father down.
“I am at a loss for words,” he murmured. “But I need to speak to my father.”
I don’t know how to put it, but it seems like the only thing to do is get away. I’m also offended that Nick chose to speak with Eric rather than me at first.
How would you respond?
