Thirty-eight

In the morning, we take the kids to school together. After the girls dash to their classes, I corner Annie’s mum, knowing we are in El’s line of sight. She flashes me a smile I am forced to reciprocate, I shove my hands into my jacket as my insides knot from trying too hard to stop from cackling. This will be fun.

With Ed back to work, I don’t have to resume early. I can start the day at ten, rest assured Ed will handle everything in my absence. Buy me more time to annoy Wifey who froze the moment she saw both of us. 

“I didn’t get your name,” I tell her.

Her blue eyes crinkle with delight, her mouth moves in the shape of an O. “Elena.”

The missing band on her ring finger doesn’t escape me. I take another step back to create a reasonable distance between us. I might be an ass but I don’t want my wife to be too upset. “Mrs Elena, thank–”

“Oh, stop it.” She