The Hidden Message
Tara Scott was thrilled to introduce her husband and best friend to her favorite coffee shop. She thought it would be their first time there. But the moment they walked in, a barista's intense gaze unsettled her.
Trying to shake off the feeling, Tara focused on enjoying the day—until she spotted the note. In an instant, her excitement crumbled, replaced by a wave of devastation that left her questioning everything.
A Coffee Date
That morning, Tara was excited about her little coffee date with her best friend and husband. She had been talking nonstop about the new café. She asked her best friend, Clara, to meet them at the café, and just after 8 a.m., she and her husband left their house.
“Where is this place?” her husband, Luke, asked as he got behind the steering wheel of his car. But when she told him, something changed.
His Behavior Changed
“It’s that new little café that opened right next to your gym,” Tara said innocently, but her husband’s behavior changed immediately. As she glanced at him, she noticed the way the color drained from his face.
“Wait, what?” he asked, seemingly stunned. Tara thought this was strange, but she didn’t suspect anything at first. Was he just not keen to go anymore?
Confusion
“Why do you seem so surprised?” she laughed, confused by her husband’s shift in demeanor. But he shook it off. Luke smiled before glancing at his wife.
“Oh, I just haven’t noticed a new café in the area. I was a little confused,” he said. Tara accepted his answer and changed the topic as they made the ten-minute drive to the small café.
Something Wasn’t Right
As soon as they stopped on the street outside the café, Tara spotted Clara leaning against her car. She waved and approached them. Luke seemed stiffer than usual as he slid out of the driver’s seat and awkwardly greeted Clara.
Something about him just seemed weird. Tara decided not to bring too much attention to it and quickly led them toward the entrance. But as soon as they stepped in, she noticed something.
She Was Staring
As soon as they stepped through the doors, she noticed the woman behind the counter staring directly at them. But her eyes were not on Tara. Instead, they followed Luke’s every move.
Tara thought this was bizarre but chose to ignore it. She knew her husband was an attractive man, and she didn’t blame the woman for staring. They quickly ordered their drinks and took a seat.
A Message
As they sat around a table, discussing the busy week that was now behind them, Tara couldn’t help but notice her husband’s wandering eyes. Every now and again, he would glance at the counter behind her, right where the barista from earlier stood.
But just a minute later, their coffees were brought out to them, and that was when Tara saw the heartbreaking note on her husband’s cup.
Her Other Half
Tara and Luke Scott had been together since college. While he was pursuing an engineering degree, she was studying languages. They met on campus in their hometown, Indianapolis, Indiana, and although they weren’t that much alike, they got on well.
Luke was a hardworking and determined individual, while Tara always seemed to have her head in the clouds. It was something he loved about her.
A Happy Life
The day they got married was one of the best days of their lives, and they couldn’t wait to start their lives together. They bought a home in the suburbs and decorated it just how they had always wanted to.
Slowly but surely, they matured together. Tara worked for a few years, but when her husband got a big promotion, he saw no need for her to continue working.
A Stay-At-Home Wife
Tara had always dreamed of being a stay-at-home wife who could cook and clean all day, and Luke strived to give her what she wanted. The first few years of their relationship were nothing short of perfection.
They were each other’s best friends and partners in crime. But it wasn’t until they were in their early to mid-thirties that something suddenly changed. Suddenly, Luke seemed distant.
Small Changes
At first, the changes in his behavior were subtle. He would go to bed earlier than usual or spend an extra hour at the gym. It was so subtle that Tara had no idea something was wrong.
She went about her time, unaware that her husband was changing before her eyes. But just a few weeks after these changes began occurring, something worrying started happening, and Tara finally noticed.
In His Office
Luke had always been rather strict about keeping his work and home lives separate. Although he had an office at home, he never really used it. But then, suddenly, something changed.
He would come home from work, eat dinner, and then lock himself in his office for hours. Some nights, he would only come to bed once his wife was fast asleep. But unfortunately for Tara, it didn’t stop there.
He Seemed Unhappy
From that point forward, her husband seemed to grow more distant by the day. At first, he was snappy and easily agitated. But it got to the point where he held a stern frown wherever he went.
Long gone were the days when they would speak for hours on end. Tara would try to have friendly conversations with him, but he would always appear disinterested or annoyed when she would try to talk to him.
Someone To Talk To
It became difficult for her to deal with alone, so she decided to invite her best friend, Clara, over for coffee one afternoon. Clara showed up at 1 p.m., and Luke wouldn’t be home for a few more hours.
Tara just needed someone to talk to. She prepared a nice pot of coffee before the two of them headed to the living room, where they could sit comfortably and talk.
She Was Worried
As soon as Clara sat down beside her with a worried look on her face, she asked Tara what was going on. “I can tell that something is wrong. Did he do or say something?” Clara asked, already somehow knowing that Luke was the problem.
Tara tried to hold it together, but as soon as her friend asked that question, the tears began pouring. Just then, she realized how tough it had been on her.
Drifting Away
“Something has changed. I can feel it. He’s drifting away, and I feel like there is nothing I can do to stop him,” Tara said. “We’ve barely really spoken in weeks, and he is spending all of his time in his office, refusing to come out. What if he’s going to leave me?” she cried.
But Clara quickly pulled her in for a hug, rubbing her back supportively as she heard the genuine pain behind her friend’s voice.
Questions
“Has something happened? Did the two of you have some kind of fight?” Clara asked, trying to understand why he would just change like that. But Tara shook her head.
“No, everything was fine, and when I looked away, things had changed. I’m losing my mind,” she sniffed. “I’ve been sitting in this house for weeks, wondering what I’m supposed to do to fix this,” she shrugged. But Clara had another question.
Talk To Him
“Have you spoken to him about it?” she asked, but Tara shook her head. “You should. It’s the only way to find out what’s bothering him.” Tara agreed. “I know. It’s just been so hard. I’ve wanted to ask him, but I keep getting scared that he’ll say something I don’t want to hear,” she explained.
“I know it’s hard, but talk to him. Maybe it won’t be as bad as you expect it to be,” she said with a kind smile. But she had one more suggestion.
A Suggestion
“As for sitting at home all day, worrying about this, I want you to find a nice little spot you can go to whenever you feel this way. It can be a café or a bar, whatever you want. But you need to get out of the house more. It will be healthy for you,” Clara said.
Tara knew she was right. “I will speak to him tonight, and in the morning, I will look online and find a nice place to destress,” she said, trying to smile.
Following Her Advice
That was exactly what she did. That night, when her husband got home, she stopped him before he could disappear into his office.
“I just want to know if you’re okay. You’ve been so distant lately, and I’m worried that I’ve done something to upset you,” she said. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she tried her best to remain strong and talk the matter out with her husband.
He Was Confused
But he seemed confused by his question, almost like he hadn’t noticed any changes in his own behavior. “Oh, no, honey. You did nothing wrong,” he said, sounding unsure.
“I guess I’m just a little stressed with work at the moment.” Although Tara was unsure of what he had said, she decided to take his word for it. Maybe he was just distant because of stress.
Distracting Herself
That night, in an attempt to distract herself from her husband, she looked up a few cafés around town and eventually found something nice. Based on the photos, it seemed to be cozy and rather quiet.
She could grab a coffee and perhaps read a book for a few hours there. She decided to take her friend’s advice and went to the little café the very next morning. To her surprise, it was right by her husband’s gym.
The Café
That morning, as she walked into the café, she spotted a young, blonde woman behind the counter with a friendly smile. “Could I just get a tall cappuccino?” Tara requested with a friendly smile, unaware of the secrets this woman would eventually reveal.
With a coffee in hand, she took a seat in the back corner of the café and read one of her favorite books for books on end.
Hours Flew By
The hours passed without Tara even noticing. Never before had she felt so relaxed and at ease than at that café. It wasn’t until her phone rang that she was snapped back to reality.
She quickly grabbed it, seeing Clara’s name on the screen. “Hey, I just wanted to see how you were feeling today,” Clara said. She had always been the sweetest, most caring woman in the world.
A Phone Call
“I am amazing,” Tara responded, unable to suppress the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. She decided to tell Clara everything that had happened. “He said everything is fine. But I just found this amazing café close to his gym, and the coffee is to die for. I need to bring you and Luke here!” she insisted.
“Well, I am available this weekend if you and Luke want to go for a little coffee run,” Clara suggested. But Tara had no idea what she was getting herself into.
Making Plans
That night, when her husband got home from work, Tara suggested a little coffee date, and to her surprise, he agreed with a smile. “Where do you and Clara want to get coffee?” he asked, tucking into the roast she had prepared for dinner.
“It’s a surprise. I went there today, and I loved it. I’m going back tomorrow. I think you would like it,” she winked. If only she knew.
No Questions Asked
Luke didn’t ask any further questions. He simply accepted that his wife wanted it to be a surprise. That week continued as usual. Tara went to the café every single day that week, reading her book and drinking many cups of coffee.
She felt at peace while she was there. She forgot all about the house and her husband. She truly got to relax while she was there.
A Good Week
During that time, she could tell that Luke was trying to make a conscious effort to be more involved whenever he was home. He would still spend an extra hour at the gym every day, but she assumed he had just started some new routine.
Overall, life seemed to look up during that week. But it was that Saturday morning that everything came crashing down around her.
A Good Idea
That morning, everything seemed right in the world. Clara and Luke had always gotten along, and she looked forward to their time together.
Clara had agreed to meet them at the café, and they left their home just after 8 a.m., ready for a nice time out. But as soon as they got into the car and Tara told Luke where they were going, his face fell. Suddenly, he seemed worried.
He Seemed Nervous
“Why do you seem so surprised?” she laughed, confused by her husband’s shift in demeanor. But he shook it off. Luke smiled before glancing at his wife.
“Oh, I just haven’t noticed a new café in the area. I was a little confused,” he said. Tara accepted his answer and changed the topic as they made the ten-minute drive to the small café.
The First Meeting
As soon as they stopped on the street outside the café, Tara spotted Clara leaning against her car. She waved and approached them. Luke seemed stiffer than usual as he slid out of the driver’s seat and awkwardly greeted Clara.
Something about him just seemed weird. Tara decided not to bring too much attention to it and quickly led them toward the entrance. But as soon as they stepped in, she noticed something. Luke had no clue what he was getting himself into.
She Was Staring
As soon as they stepped through the doors, she noticed the woman behind the counter staring directly at them. But her eyes were not on Tara. Instead, they followed Luke’s every move. Tara thought this was bizarre but chose to ignore it.
She knew her husband was an attractive man, and she didn’t blame the woman for staring. They quickly ordered their drinks and took a seat. But she had no idea what the waitress was going to do next.
Hiding Behind His Menu
The three of them sat down. Clara and Tara were speaking while Luke held a menu up to his face, almost like he was trying to hide behind it. When Tara glanced at him, she noticed the thin layer of sweat above his upper lip. Was he nervous?
Tara glanced around the room, trying to see who he could possibly be hiding from. But then she saw the barista who was still staring at him. Tara realized that the woman couldn’t take her eyes off Luke.
She Noticed
Tara thought this was strange. Why was the woman still staring, and why was he seemingly trying to hide from her gaze? Her eyes flickered between Luke and the young barista, but she didn’t say anything.
She told herself that it was no big deal. “How was the week? Were you busy at work?” she asked Clara, but something strange was about to happen. She tapped her long, fake nails on the wooden table in a sensual way.
The Coffees
As they sat around a table, discussing the busy week that was now behind them, Tara couldn’t help but notice her husband’s wandering eyes. Every now and again, he would glance at the counter behind her, right where the barista from earlier stood.
But just a minute later, their coffees were brought out to them by the same barista. “Here you go,” she said, her eyes on Luke. She smiled showing a set of pearly whites as she bent down to leave the cup.
The Writing
She placed Luke’s cup down in front of him, and as she did, Tara spotted some kind of writing on the side. She reached for her own cup, trying to see if they all had writing on them, but they didn’t.
Had the barista written him a note? Tara grinned at the idea. She wondered if the barista was shooting her shot, unaware that they were married. Had she known better, she would have stopped the barista right there and then.
An Admirer
“Looks like you have a secret admirer over there, honey,” she told her husband. She tried not to laugh out loud as she motioned toward the barista. The woman was once again standing behind the counter, staring.
Luke glanced at her for a second, frowning. “I’m sorry. That’s really weird. Maybe we should go somewhere else,” he suggested, but just then, Tara noticed something. He didn’t realize that his wife was watching him from behind.
Something Was Wrong
From where Clara was sitting, she could see his cup a little better than Tara. She had a look of concern plastered across her face. Her eyes slowly trailed toward Tara, staring at her like she was trying to tell her something with just her eyes alone.
Tara was confused until her friend motioned toward the cup. Luke noticed the exchange, his eyes growing wide when he realized what she had seen. The ladies were on to him.
A Bad Feeling
Suddenly, an overwhelming feeling washed over Tara. She couldn’t help but feel like something was seriously wrong. Her husband was hiding something from her; she could feel it in her bones.
Without asking, she reached for his cup. He didn’t even try to stop her as she turned the cup around and read the terrible words. Her husband knew he couldn’t hide it any longer. He was caught red-handed.
Reading The Cup
Tears burned behind her eyes as she stared at the words. “Hi, baby. I missed you,” the words read. She saw red. “Do you know that woman?” she asked, trying to process what was happening.
She had an idea, but she hoped she was wrong. “Are you having an affair?” she asked, watching as his face twisted in sadness. He knew he couldn’t hide it any longer. He didn’t realize that he had just set himself up for disaster.
An Affair
Luke was caught out. “I am so sorry,” he said in a voice just above a whisper. Clara gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Tears sprung from Tara’s eyes as she stared at her husband in bewilderment. How on earth could something like this happen?
She needed the answers immediately. “I need you to tell me the truth. What is going on here?” she asked, her heart breaking. The innocent wife had no idea what her husband did behind her back.
Telling The Truth
Luke sighed to himself as tears welled up behind his own eyes. He couldn’t believe that this would be how his wife would learn the truth. Not wanting to hurt her any more than he already had, he decided to tell her the truth. But his heart broke with every word.
“I met her at the gym, and we just hit it off. One thing led to another, and we started seeing each other. Then I learned that she worked here.” Tara stared at him, her eyes wide in shock, her world was crashing down.
Breaking Her Heart
Shame was written across his face as he stared at the woman whose heart he had just broken into millions of pieces. She couldn’t believe it. Was that why he had been acting strange for so long?
Was that why he spent an extra hour at the gym? She couldn’t take it. She pushed her chair out, and so did Clara. They stormed out, leaving him sitting alone in that coffee shop. In the blink of an eye, their affair was exposed in public.
They Left
The dishonored wife was in tears. “Please, can I go home with you?” Tara asked her best friend, and she was more than welcome to have her. They got into her car and sped off.
But as they left, Tara looked in the mirror, noticing her husband watching as they drove away. That day, he decided to call again and again. He sent many texts, asking her if they could talk and work through it, but she didn’t respond. It was all his fault.
It Was Over
She had always told him that if he ever cheated, she would walk out on him in the blink of an eye. She was going to stick to that. She stayed with Clara, and when Monday rolled around, she filed for divorce.
Luke begged her not to, but it was too late. She wanted nothing more to do with the man who would do something like that to her. She could never forgive him. But it was going to be an ugly divorce, she had more money than he did.
The Divorce Is Finalized
Luke sat alone in his small, sparsely furnished apartment, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall. The apartment, much smaller than the house he had shared with Tara, felt like a prison. The walls seemed to close in on him as he remembered the look of betrayal in Tara’s eyes when she found out.
He stared blankly at the empty bottles of beer scattered around him, a testament to his failed attempts to drown out the misery that had become his constant companion. Tara was gone. The divorce had been finalized last week, leaving Luke with nothing but regret and a hollow ache where his heart used to be.
Finally Over
The sad ex-husband stared at the cracked ceiling. The past few months had been a whirlwind of regret and sorrow. His divorce left an emptiness that gnawed at him relentlessly. His mistake, the affair with a waitress named Jenna, had cost him everything he held dear.
Tara was gone, and his job as a marketing executive had slipped through his fingers. He was stuck and his bank balance was steadily depleting. The legal fees had cost him an arm and a leg and it would take months for him to financially recover.
Nothing Left To Say
He had made a colossal mistake, one that he replayed over and over in his mind. Cheating on Tara with a waitress named Jenna was the worst decision of his life. At the time, he had convinced himself it was a fleeting escape from the stresses of marriage and work.
Now, he saw it for what it was: a moment of weakness that had cost him everything. Luke could kick himself. “Why did I do it?” he muttered to himself, his voice breaking the silence. “What was I thinking?”
A Bad Impression
She had given him a chance to come clean, to make amends, but he had been too cowardly to admit the truth. By the time he finally confessed, it was too late. Luke’s job had been the next casualty. As a marketing manager at a reputable firm, he had once taken pride in his work.
But after the affair became public knowledge, his colleagues looked at him differently. The respect he had earned over the years vanished, replaced by whispers and judgmental glances. Eventually, his performance suffered, and he was let go.
Jenna Says No
With no job and no family to turn to, Luke felt completely adrift. He tried calling Jenna, hoping to find some semblance of comfort in her company, but she wanted nothing to do with him. Their brief fling had ended as abruptly as it had started, leaving him feeling even more isolated. “Hey, Jenna, it’s Luke,” he had said nervously when she answered the phone. “Can we talk?”
“Luke, I told you it was a mistake. I don’t want to see you again,” she replied curtly before hanging up. Luke threw the phone across the room in frustration, watching as it bounced off the wall and landed on the floor with a thud. He buried his face in his hands, feeling the weight of his mistakes pressing down on him.
On The Streets
Days turned into weeks, and Luke struggled to find a new job. He sent out countless resumes and attended interviews, but nothing seemed to pan out. His confidence, once a defining trait, was shattered.
Each rejection felt like another nail in the coffin of his old life. He tried to contact his old friends but everybody had moved on and didn’t have time for him anymore. He was on his own now and he had no clue where life was going to take him.
Overheard Conversation
One evening, Luke decided to visit a local bar, hoping the change of scenery might help him forget his troubles, if only for a little while. The bar was dimly lit, with a few patrons scattered around, nursing their drinks. He ordered a whiskey and took a seat at the corner, trying to blend into the shadows.
When he overheard some men talking about a new mall opening just outside town, he had decided to move to a smaller place out of town. Now, he was reduced to working as a waiter at a small diner just to scrape by.
Karma Is Payback
The irony of working in the same industry where his downfall began was not lost on him. He laughed when he got the job. Each day at the diner felt like an eternity. The constant clatter of dishes and the endless stream of orders was a far cry from the bustling office environment he once thrived in.
But Luke knew he had no one to blame but himself. Jenna, the waitress he had cheated with, had made it clear she wanted nothing more to do with him. But he kept begging her to date him, he lost her, too.
The Humble Waiter
One particularly slow afternoon, Luke was wiping down tables when the doorbell chimed, signaling a new customer. He glanced up and felt his heart stop. It was her scent that he picked up on first.
His ex-wife, Tara walked in, looking radiant and composed. She was not alone. A tall, handsome man with an easy smile was by her side, his arm draped casually over her shoulder. He knew then that Tara had moved on.
An Odd Meeting
Tara's eyes widened in shock when she saw Luke. For a moment, neither of them moved. Luke's heart sank further as he noticed the glint of a diamond ring on her finger. The silence between them was deafening.
Finally, Tara approached her expression a mix of surprise and pity. "Luke? What are you doing here?" she asked softly. Luke forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil inside. "I work here," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just trying to make ends meet."
The New Guy
The man beside Tara extended his hand with a polite smile. "Hi, I'm David. Tara's fiancé." Luke shook David's hand, feeling a pang of jealousy and regret. "Nice to meet you, David. Tara always deserved someone like you." David looked at Tara with a smile, then back at Luke.
"Thanks, man. Life can be unexpected, huh?" Luke nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yeah, it can be." Tara's gaze softened as she looked at Luke. "I'm really sorry, Luke. I didn't know things had gotten this bad for you." "It's okay," Luke lied. "I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it."
Better For Tara
The conversation was interrupted by a customer's call for service. Luke excused himself and went back to work, his mind a chaotic mess of emotions. Throughout the day, he couldn't shake the image of Tara and David, happy and in love. It was a stark reminder of what he had lost.
As he served tables, Luke kept glancing at Tara. She seemed genuinely happy, her laughter ringing through the diner like a melody he could no longer enjoy. David was attentive, always making her smile. Luke felt like an outsider, peering into a life that was no longer his. He was the loser.
The Wrong Barista
When their meal was finished, Tara and David prepared to leave. Tara walked up to Luke one last time. "I hope things get better for you, Luke," she said, her voice filled with genuine concern. "Thanks, Tara," Luke replied, forcing another smile.
"I hope you and David have a wonderful life together." Tara gave him a weak smile. Luke knew that she was just being nice; she was nice. It was all his fault for cheating on her. Now he had to deal with it.
All Because Of Coffee
As the door closed behind them, Luke felt a crushing sense of finality. Would he ever see her again? Tara had moved on, and he was left to pick up the pieces of his shattered life.
His heart went cold as he realized that he would never ever get Tara back. The regret was a constant weight on his shoulders, a reminder of the happiness he had thrown away. Now he was the one who was at a loss.
The Throuple
Days turned into weeks, and Luke tried to focus on his work, but the encounter with Tara had left a deep scar. Every time the diner door opened, he half-expected to see her walk in again, but she never did. He threw himself into his job, hoping the routine would numb the pain.
But Luke was about to get the surprise of his life when Clara walked into the restaurant. She wanted to tell him the truth about what happened in their “Throuple.” It turned out that Luke was being played all along.