Concerned about her husband’s suspicious behavior for some weeks, a loving wife arranges for a caring cab driver to follow the man, whatever the cost and wherever it leads.

But everything is not as it seems when she eventually uncovers the truth and exposes a long-hidden secret.

Jessica and Jason sat silently across each other at the dinner table, picking at the lasagne Jessica had half-heartedly prepared.

True to his form over the past few weeks, Jason had arrived home late from the office with the now oft-repeated excuse that his team was working overtime on the Simmons project.

“This is nice,” Jason remarked nervously and unconvincingly about the dinner.

“Is it?” Jessica replied sarcastically. “I’m so glad you like it. I slaved away at it all afternoon.”

“Is something bothering you?” Jason asked his wife of thirty years, whom he loved dearly.

“I don’t know, Jason, you tell me. Is there something wrong?”

“Look, honey, I’m sorry I’ve been working late. This project is crucial to our business right now. If we lose the account, we’ll go out of business. We’re busting a gut to ensure we get this one right.”

“Oh, is that it then? Whatever you say, Jason. Do what you must. Who am I to stand in the way of your business.”

Jason grimaced at the animosity in his wife’s tone and feared that what he was about to say next would send her through the roof. “Uh, babe,” he said, “I know you’re going to kill me, but unfortunately I have to go back to work now, it’s just—”

Before he could finish his excuse, Jessica sprang to her feet, angrily seized her half-empty dinner plate and the lasagne dish, and stamped off into the kitchen without a word.

“Oh dear,” Jason whispered to himself. “This is bad.” He stood up, shouldered the jacket on the back of his chair, picked up the laptop bag at his feet, and exited the front door as quietly as possible.

Jessica was ready. As soon as she heard the front door close, she made the call she’d been planning when the time came: “Where are you?” she asked the person on the other end of the line. “Okay, good. I’m coming out through the back gate now.

Wrapping herself in a dark maroon shawl, Jessica shoved quickly through the backyard and out onto the street. The yellow taxi cab was exactly where she had asked it to be: on the curb right in front of the back gate.

Jessica jumped in. “Go around the block to the front of the house, fast,” she instructed the driver, who nodded and stepped on the gas. They swung around, making a quick right and then another.

“There up ahead,” Jessica said, “the black Audi, follow that car.”

The driver nodded. “Yes, madam,” he said.

“Not too close,” Jessica said. “He mustn’t know he’s being followed.”

The driver nodded and said nothing.

“Sir, what’s your name?” Jessica asked.

“I am Musa,” the driver replied.

“Musa, how much will it cost for you to drive me everywhere that car in front goes?”

“Madam,” Musa said, pointing towards the dashboard, “the meter is running. Whatever that says is what you pay.”

“Okay,” Jessica said. “I’ll pay you five hundred dollars on top of the meter if you keep driving me for as long as it takes for me to figure out what the man in that car is up to.”

“Suits me, madam,” Musa said, carefully navigating a stop signal and following the Audi left onto a main street.

“If you don’t mind me asking, madam, who is this person we are following? I don’t want any trouble.”

“There won’t be any trouble, Musa. The driver is my husband. He’s a mild-mannered accountant.”

“Why are we following him, madam?”

Jessica was silent momentarily, unsure whether to take this taxi driver into her confidence. She studied his reflection in the rear-view mirror. He had kind eyes, soft features, and was cleanly shaven.

“I think he is having an affair,” Jessica said. “He has been behaving oddly for at least the past two weeks and says he’s working late. We’ve been married for thirty years, and I know when he’s lying. I’ve called his office several times, and the receptionist told me he wasn’t in. He’s never had to work late nights like this before. No, something is going on, and I will get to the bottom of it.”

“I understand, madam. I can understand how much this is hurting you,” Musa said.

“Are you you married?” Jessica asked.

Musa nodded. “Ten years now,” he said. “My wife and I are from Nigeria.”

“How long have you lived in this country?” Jessica asked.

“Twelve years now, we are full citizens,” Musa replied.

“Glad to hear it,” Jessica replied.

Musa had been driving carefully, staying a few cars behind Jason, weaving deftly through the early evening traffic. The cab began to slow, and Jessica looked to see where they were. She recognized the building up ahead.

“Oh,” she said. She was surprised. “This is his office building. Maybe he’s telling the truth after all.”

“What would you like me to do, madam?” Musa asked.

“Keep on going slowly,” Jessica instructed, “then make a U-turn and pull up on the opposite side of the street. Let’s see what he does.”

Musa did as he was told. Jessica watched through the rear window and saw Jason’s car disappear into the building’s underground parking lot. The two of them sat silently in the taxi cab and watched the office block solemnly.

After some time, Musa asked: “Why do you suspect your husband of an affair, madam?”

“Well, it’s not just the excuse of working late,” Jessica replied. “And the look in his eyes when he lies to me. My best friend saw him during lunchtime a week ago in his favorite cafe, not far from here. He was there with a much younger woman, having coffee.”

“Perhaps a coworker?” Musa suggested.

“Yes, perhaps,” Jessica replied. “Looks like he was telling the truth about coming to the office now. But still, something doesn’t feel right. Let’s wait a while longer.”

“No problem,” Musa said.

Half an hour later, after no action, Jessica was about to call it a night, satisfied that her husband had told the truth—when suddenly the black Audi came barreling out of the underground parking exit.

Sitting alongside Jason in the passenger seat was an attractive young, blonde woman elegantly dressed in a black coat. Jessica sank her head into her hands in despair. Her friend had been right. Jessica’s suspicions were confirmed.

Maybe tears will come later, Jessica thought. All she could feel right then was anger. “Follow them, please,” she asked Musa. He had seen Jason’s car and was already accelerating in pursuit.

Jason was driving fast. Does he know we’re following him? Jessica thought. Yellow cabs are everywhere in this city. This was why she’d decided on this method of surveilling him—of course, she couldn’t follow him in her car. He’d know right away it was her, and besides, she wasn’t a good driver.

But Musa was. He kept the cab hot on the Audi’s heels away from the office block. They were heading for the park, a short drive away. Jason pulled his car into a space adjacent to the park, and Musa followed suit a few spots back.

Jessica and Musa watched Jason and the young woman exit the car. They were talking earnestly. The young woman stepped close to Jason, and he held out an arm.

She linked her arm through his, and the two walked arm-in-arm, heads bowed close together, along a path, entered the park, and disappeared among trees lit by electric light.

“I’ve seen enough,” Jessica said sadly. “Please take me home, Musa.”

“Yes, madam,” Musa said sympathetically. “I’m sorry this trouble has befallen you.”

Jessica nodded and closed her eyes as the tears sprang unbidden. She reached into her handbag for a tissue and cried quietly as Musa steered her home.

He glanced in the rearview mirror when they were nearly at Jessica’s home. “Are you okay, madam?” he asked.

Jessica shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t think so.”

The taxi driver sighed. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know this must be difficult for you.”

Jessica nodded. “It is,” she said. “But I’m glad I found out the truth.”

Musa pulled the cab up to Jessica’s house. Jessica exited the taxi, paid the tab on the meter, and handed over the extra cash as promised.

“Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome,” he said. “I hope you feel better soon.”

Jessica walked up to the front door and turned the key. She went inside and closed the door behind her.

Jessica stood in the foyer, staring at the blank wall. She felt lost and alone. She didn’t know what to do next.

But she knew one thing for sure. She had to confront Jason. She had to find out why he had betrayed her like this. Jessica took a deep breath and walked upstairs to the bedroom.

She lay awake with many questions and worries coursing through her mind: Maybe the young woman was simply a coworker—Jason had picked her up at his office. But why had they gone for a walk in the park, arm-in-arm? Should she confront him? How would she explain that she had seen them because she had followed them?

She heard Jason come home a short while after she went to bed. He’s home already? That must be a good sign, she thought. She pretended to be asleep when he came into the bedroom. I’ll deal with it in the morning, she decided.

***

The breakfast table encounter between Jessica and her husband the next morning was almost a repeat performance of dinner. Jason was nervous and shifty. He tried to make small talk, but Jessica ignored it.

“What time did you get home last night?” she asked.

“Around nine,” Jason replied, which was correct—Jessica had glanced at the clock on her side table when she heard him come in. “We made good progress last night on the project; it went quicker than I thought it would.”

“Good progress?” Jessica echoed with a sharp edge in her voice.

Jason pretended not to catch her tone. “Yes,” she said. “But tonight could be a very late one. We have a presentation to the Simmons board tomorrow. Don’t worry about dinner; I’ll order pizzas or something for the office.”

So, that settles it, Jessica thought. He’s going to go out with that woman again tonight. “Very well,” she said coldly. “And I won’t wait up, same as last night. Don’t wake me when you come home.”

“Okay, Jess,” Jason said. “I’m sorry about this. I promise I’ll make it up to you when the project ends. I know this is a difficult time, but I promise it’ll work out for the best.”

Jessica simply looked at him without saying anything. The shiftiness in his eyes gave him away yet again.

Since Jason had become CFO at the company where he worked, Jessica had been able to quit her job and follow her passion for food photography. She had a few steady clients to keep her busy some days, and for the rest, she was finally writing the novel that had lived in her head for so many years.

She opened up her laptop at the kitchen counter soon after Jason had left and tried to carry on writing. But she couldn’t focus at all.

The questions continued: Maybe it’s my fault; am I no longer attractive to my husband? Is he not satisfied with our love-making anymore? They had indeed slowed down on that front, but that was natural, wasn’t it, in such a long marriage?

Jessica closed her laptop and sat pondering what to do. She reached for her phone and dialed Musa’s number. “Musa,” she said when he answered, “can you meet me again tonight? Same time and place?”

Musa was waiting in his cab when Jessica stepped out the back gate. After greeting each other warmly, Jessica outlined her plan.

“I’m taking a chance tonight, Musa,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I need conclusive proof before I do something I might regret. Let’s go to his office building and wait there. He said he would be working late again.”

Musa agreed, and they made their way to Jason’s office block and took up station in the cab with a good view of the front entrance. “This might be a long wait,” Jessica said. “I’ll pay you the extra, same as yesterday.”

“No problem, madam, I am at your service,” Musa replied. They settled into silence but didn’t have to wait long. Soon, Jason and the blonde woman walked out of the building. They turned right and continued together on foot.

“Follow them, please, Musa,” Jessica said. Musa pulled the taxi out of the parking space and crawled down the street a few steps behind the pedestrian couple. No sooner had they set off than a horn barked at the slow-moving cab.

Jason looked sharply in their direction. Jessica turned her head away quickly. “Did he see me?” she asked Musa. “Do you think he saw me? Is he still looking this way?”

“I think he didn’t see you. No, he’s looking away again. But I think they will see us if we keep up like this. Maybe I should speed up?” Musa suggested. The driver in the car behind them leaned heavily again on the horn as if to answer that question.

“Okay, go ahead,” Jessica said, “but stop and let them catch up. I want to see where they are going.

Musa did as instructed, pulling the cab over a few hundred feet ahead. Jessica lay down on the back seat to avoid being seen when Jason and the woman drew alongside. They were deep in conversation and paid no need to the taxi cab, walking on.

Jessica sat up again and watched them trundle on down the busy street. Just as they were about to disappear from view, they stopped, and Jason motioned with a hand toward the building alongside them. Jessica knew it: Luigi’s was their favorite Italian restaurant.

“He’s taking her out to dinner at Luigi’s,” Jessica said sadly. “So, this is it then.”

“Looks that way, madam. What do you want to do?” Musa asked.

Jessica sat silently for some time, thinking it through. “I want to be sure, Musa. Maybe they are just discussing work over dinner,” she said, and added, “Are you hungry?”

“Madam?” Musa asked, confused.

“How about I buy you dinner?” Jessica asked. She reached into her handbag for her purse, took out a fifty-dollar note, and handed it to Musa. “Dinner’s on me. Go into that restaurant where they are, take a table as close as you can to them, order dinner, and then come back and tell me how they behave towards each other.”

“Madam, are you sure that’s a good idea?” Musa asked.

“I’m not sure at all! I feel like I’m losing my mind,” Jessica said. “But I have to do something!”

“All right, madam, I’ll help you, don’t worry,” Musa said. He took the fifty-dollar note and crossed the street to the restaurant. Jessica watched him enter. Not two minutes later, she saw him walk out again.

He walked back to the cab, climbed back into the driver’s seat, turned around, and handed Jessica her cash back. “They wouldn’t give me a seat,” he said. “The manager said I didn’t have a reservation.”

“What!” Jessica exclaimed. “That is totally unacceptable. Jason and I eat there often without a reservation. I’m going in myself.”

Jessica popped the door open and marched down the street into the restaurant. She was met by the maître d’, a small, friendly man named Dimitri, who greeted her with a worried look on his face.

He glanced over to where Jason and his companion were seated at a table at the window. “Um, er, hello, ma’am,” he stammered, “will you be joining us for dinner this evening?”

“Dimitri, that man who was just here alone, asking for a table, did you tell him he needs to have a reservation and can’t be seated?” Jessica asked angrily.

“Um, ma’am, yes, sorry, is he your guest? I am so sorry! As you can see, the restaurant is full, but I would be happy to find a space for you both. Will you be joining your husband?” he added nervously.

“No, I will not be joining my husband!” Jessica replied rather more loudly than she intended, raising looks from some of the diners, including Jason. He looked up from his plate of pasta and went pale with shock.

Jessica stood her ground at the entrance and stared at Jason defiantly. He stood up and approached his very angry wife.

“Jess, what are you doing here?” he asked nervously.

“What am I doing here?” Jessica challenged back. “What am I doing here, you ask? The question is, what are you doing here? You told me you were working late and having pizzas at the office. And I find you here with another woman! Who is that woman with you, Jason?”

“Jess, I can explain everything, everything. Please. Why don’t you join us, please,” he put a hand on Jessica’s shoulder, but she brushed it off brusquely. “Dimitri, please set up a place for my wife at the table,” Jason asked the maître d’.

“Don’t bother, Dmitri, this won’t take long,” Jessica said, shooting a look at the young woman at the table who was watching the scene with interest.

Jessica walked over calmly, not looking at Jason. She sat down and examined the woman across from her. She was about twenty in Jessica’s estimation, very pretty, with hazel-colored eyes and a lovely, freckled nose. Jessica saw the likeness immediately.

“Jessica,” Jason said formally, “I’d like you to meet Skylar. My daughter.”

Jessica said nothing. She looked one to the other, from Jason to Skylar and back again, taking this all in. It was unmistakable: Skylar was a younger, prettier female carbon copy of her husband.

“I know this must be a terrible shock to you,” Jason said. “It must be such a big surprise. I promise you, I was going to tell you all about it and introduce you in good time. I—” he waved a hand at Skylar, “we just needed some time to come to terms with this ourselves.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jessica,” Skylar said gently. “Jason has told me so much about you already, and I feel like I know you.”

“I don’t know you, Skylar,” Jessica said. “This is unbelievable. Why did you never tell me you have a daughter?”

Jason’s face twisted in pain. “I never knew,” he said, “I, I—” he broke off again. “I’m so ashamed.” He hung his head and couldn’t say more.

“Skylar, how old are you?” Jessica asked.

“I’m twenty-one,” she replied.

Jessica did the math in her head instantly. “Twenty-one,” she repeated, “that means—” she broke off and looked at Jason. “That means we were already married when she was born,” she said.

Jason looked up, shaking his head. “Jess, I am so, so sorry you had to find out like this.”

“Who is your mother, Skylar?” Jessica asked, ignoring Jason.

“Her name is Muriel,” she replied. “We live in the next state. I insisted that she reveal to me one day who my father was, and I tracked him down. That day is finally here. Jason has let me intern at his work so we can spend time together and see if we can make this work. I want to get to know my father and have him in my life.”

“It was at that national work conference, Jess,” Jason explained. “Twenty-one years ago. I am so sorry you had to find out like this. It was a one-night stand with a woman I met there. I swear, just that one night.”

Jessica said nothing as she processed this information. “How many times have you cheated on me?” she asked Jason.

“I swear on my life, it was just that one time. I’ve been so ashamed of myself ever since, but now I must face it. And make it up to both of you. Skylar, I am not ashamed of you. You are my flesh and blood; I will do right by you. Jessica, I’ll do whatever you want me to do to make this right.”

Jessica shook her head. “This is too much for me to take in right now,” she said. “I don’t know what happens now. I just don’t know.”

Dmitri came over to the table, topped up the empty wine glasses in front of Jason and Skylar, and placed one for Jessica. “Ma’am?” he offered, showing her the bottle of red wine in his hand.

“No, thank you,” Jessica said distractedly, deep in thought.

“Would you like to place your dinner order now, ma’am?” Dmitri asked.

“I’ll have what he’s having,” Jessica said, pointing at Jason’s plate.

“Certainly, ma’am,” Dmitri said and started walking away.

“Dmitri,” Jessica clarified, “I meant that literally; please bring it to me in a take-away box.”

“Ah, okay, I see, sure,” Dmitri said and removed the barely touched plate in front of Jason. “I’ll see to it right away.”

“We’ll talk about it when you get home, Jason. But I can’t be here right now. You can sleep in the spare room tonight,” Jessica said. “Skylar,” she continued, “I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other, but please excuse me right now.”

“Of course,” Skylar said. “I’m sorry, too. I hope we can be friends.”

Jessica nodded and stood up. She met Dmitri halfway across the floor with the takeaway box. “Dmitri, I will be back to discuss what happened with my friend you didn’t find a seat for. I’d hate to think that this restaurant discriminates against anyone for any reason,” she said.

Dimitri hung his head in shame. “Madam, you have my word. From now on, I will make space for everyone and anyone,” he said.

Jessica nodded. “Good,” she said.

Climbing back into the cab, Jessica reached over the seat and handed Musa the takeaway box. “I promised you dinner, Musa,” she said. “Sorry about the presentation, but here it is. And if you ever go back to that restaurant, they will give you the best seat in the house.”

“Thank you, madam,” Musa said. “Back home then?”

“Back home,” Jessica confirmed.

***

That night, Jessica decided to wait up for Jason. He came home not much later than she did. She padded down the stairs in slippers and a dressing gown, put the kettle on, and sat down at the kitchen table. Jason sat opposite her.

“I knew you’d find out eventually,” Jason began. “I just didn’t want to hurt you at the time, and then years passed, and I somehow thought I had gotten away with it. Jess, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about this.”

“I feel like you’ve been lying to me all these years. A lie by omission. When did you find out about Skylar?” Jessica asked.

“About a month ago,” Jason replied. “Out of the blue, I received an email from her telling me her story. I hadn’t heard a word from her mother since that night at the conference. It was such a terrible mistake. Too much to drink, a hotel room within stumbling distance from the conference venue, temptation.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Skylar sooner?” Jessica asked. “We could have had it out then. Instead, you lied to me about working late and then went sneaking around with a young woman whom I thought you were having an affair with. Have you any idea how much this hurts!”

“I know. I should have come clean about everything a long time ago. I was afraid. I was afraid that you would leave me. I was afraid that you couldn’t forgive me,” Jason said.

“I can’t believe you kept this from me. We’re supposed to be a team. We’re supposed to share everything with each other.”

“I know. I made so many mistakes here. I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t know if I can do this, Jason. I don’t know if I can come back from this,” Jessica finished saying. She left the table and took herself to bed.

Jason spent two weeks in that spare room before the couple could come to some agreement on a way forward: they would seek counseling together and individually with a therapist.

Jessica sat across from the therapist, her heart heavy with betrayal. She couldn’t believe that Jason had kept his affair and daughter a secret from her for so long.

“I feel like I’ve been living a lie,” she said.

The therapist nodded sympathetically. “It’s understandable that you’re feeling that way. It’s a lot to process.”

“I just don’t understand why he didn’t tell me,” Jessica said. “We’ve been married for thirty years. We’re supposed to be a team.”

“Jason probably thought that you would leave him if he told you about Skylar,” the therapist said. “But that’s no excuse. He should have trusted you enough to be honest with you.”

Jessica sighed. “I know. But it’s still hard to forgive him.”

“It’s going to take time,” the therapist said. “But if you’re both willing to work at it, you can rebuild trust.”

Jason spoke up. “I want to rebuild trust, Jessica. I love you, and I want to stay married to you.”

Jessica looked at Jason for a long moment. She could see the sincerity in his eyes.

“I love you too, Jason,” she said. “But I need to see that you can be honest with me from now on.”

Jason nodded. “I promise.”

The therapist smiled. “That’s a good start. Now, let’s talk about Skylar.”

Jessica’s heart skipped a beat. “What about her?”

“Jason is excited to get to know her,” the therapist said. “And he wants to make up for lost time.”

Jessica swallowed hard. “I’m happy for Jason,” she said. “But I’m also scared. I don’t know what it’s going to be like to have her in our lives. And there’s something more.”

Jessica lapsed into silence.

“It’s okay, Jessica,” the therapist encouraged. “This is the time to say what you want to say.”

“All these years, Jason and I could never have children. We went for fertility testing. I was the one at fault. The doctors said I would never have children. We tried everything: fertility treatment, IVF, everything, and it didn’t work. I felt like a failure as a woman. I’ve kept that pain hidden all this time. Now, to hear of Jason’s betrayal makes it all the more painful. It makes me feel like a failure as a wife.”

“It’s so good that you got this off your chest, Jessica,” the therapist said. “Now we can begin to work on those thoughts you’ve had about yourself. We can help you see that those judgments of yourself are false.”

“Yes,” Jason said. “Oh, love, I have never, ever, not once, thought of you as a failure. Not as a woman, not as a wife, and I never will.”

“You don’t have to forgive Jason for his indiscretion; that is entirely up to you,” the therapist said. But you are going to have to make an adjustment. It’s important to know that Skylar is part of your extended family now. She has the right to know her father and to have a relationship with him.”

Jessica nodded. “I know.”

“Jason needs to learn how to balance his relationship with Skylar with his relationship with you,” the therapist said. “And you need to be willing to give him that space.”

Jessica took a deep breath. “I’m willing to try. I don’t know if I can forgive him, though. I’m willing to try, however. I will try.”

“That’s all anyone can ask,” the therapist said.

The therapist spent the rest of the session helping Jessica and Jason to develop a plan for moving forward. They agreed to communicate openly and honestly with each other and to give each other time to heal.

It was going to be a long and winding road, but Jessica was determined to make it work. She loved Jason, and she wanted to stay married to him. And she knew that it was important for Skylar to have a relationship with her father.

Jessica and Jason left the therapist’s office with a renewed sense of hope. They knew that it would take time to rebuild their relationship, but they were committed to making it work. They were determined to create a new normal for their family and to give Skylar the love and support she deserved.

If only it were that easy, however. It took two months before the barrier inside Jessica’s heart began to dissolve, and she felt she could trust Jason again. His over-time excuses had ceased since that night at the restaurant, and he had been spending time with Skylar with Jessica’s blessing.

She still could not bring herself to see Skylar. Until one morning, she thought of Musa and their adventure together. She rang his number. “Musa! Yes, same time, same place. This time, though, instead of me coming out, I’d like you to come in for a proper dinner. Please bring your wife,” she said.

And so Jason, Jessica, Skylar, Musa, and Debbie—Musa’s wife—found themselves around the dining table the following evening over roast lamb.

“So, Musa,” Jason said jokingly after all the introductions had been made. “How did my wife manage to get you to chase me all over town?”

“Well, same as anybody can get somebody to do something: cold, hard cash,” Musa replied with a smile.

They all laughed. “She could have taken an Uber,” Jason said, winking at Jessica, “it’s cheaper.”

“Don’t even mention that word in our presence!” Debbie said. “Uber is a dirty word in our household.” They all laughed again at that.

“No Uber driver would have done what Musa did for me, irrational as it was,” Jessica said.

“Well, I was happy to help, Jessica; you seemed determined to follow through on your plan, no matter what. Mine is not the most glamorous job in the world, but it keeps me busy. And I’ve met all sorts of interesting people, such as you all.”

“I’m sure you have. Have you ever had any other dramas?” Jason asked.

“A few, but nothing too serious,” Musa replied. “One time, I had a passenger who was drunk and belligerent. He kept trying to grab the wheel, so I had to pull over and call the police. But other than that, it’s been a pretty smooth ride. Excuse the pun.”

“I think it’s cool that you get to meet so many different people, Musa,” Skylar said.

“Thanks, Skylar. It’s definitely one of the perks of the job,” Musa said.

“So, what’s your favorite part of the city?” Jason asked.

“That’s tough to say,” Musa replied. “I like different parts for different reasons. I like the downtown area for the excitement and the energy. But I also like the quieter neighborhoods, where you can get to know your neighbors.”

“I like the mix of the old and the new in this city. There’s so much history, but there’s also so much innovation happening,” Jessica said.

“I love the diversity of the city. There are people from all over the world living here,” Skylar added.

“Skylar is thinking of staying on longer. She’s doing excellent work for us at the company. We’re thinking of keeping her on,” Jason said.

“Skylar,” Jessica said. “I would like to welcome you to our home and especially to our family. You are welcome here anytime you want. If you need a place to stay, consider this your home.”

“Thank you so much, Jessica, that means the world to me. I’m so grateful,” Skylar said

“I’m so glad that you’re in our lives, Skye,” Jason said.

“Thanks, Dad,” said Skylar.

Musa raised his glass. “To family and friends, old and new,” he said.

“To family and friends,” echoed the others, clinking their glasses together and taking a drink.

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