Allison decides to hold onto her youthful side as she drives a taxi during her spare time. But one day, her friend\u2019s husband is her passenger. As she takes the man to his destination, he asks for a detour, revealing a side of him she didn\u2019t know. Next, Allison has to decide whether to be good at her job and protect her friend or help show her the truth.<\/p>\n
Driving a taxi at 65 years old wasn\u2019t part of my retirement plan, but it became my passion. I had been a writer for a women\u2019s column for the better part of my career, and since retirement dawned, I only wrote a few articles per month.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust something to keep the old clogs working,\u201d my editor, Elena, said when I told her that retirement was knocking on my door. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to commit to it, Allison. It can be a freelance role, if that\u2019s what you\u2019d like. But just write for us every so often.\u201d<\/p>\n
I agreed, what else did I have to do with my time anyway?<\/p>\n
But then, the open road, the hum of the engine, and the stories of my passengers kept me going.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, why?\u201d my son, Darren, asked me. \u201cLike really? Driving people around?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll understand the need to do something freeing when you\u2019re older, son,\u201d I told him. \u201cLet me do this while I still can. And what\u2019s better than enjoying what I do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Yesterday was one of those days that I\u2019ll never forget because it reminded me how foul people can be.<\/p>\n
The previous day, one of my regulars, Jane, called me. She was a lively 55-year-old woman, and over the years, we had become friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Allison,\u201d she said on the phone. \u201cI need a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it involves those croquettes with the peas that you\u2019re trying to get me to eat, it\u2019s a hard pass,\u201d I chuckled. \u201cWhat do you need?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMike is leaving on a trip tomorrow, and he needs a ride to the airport. I\u2019m going to be babysitting the grandbaby, so I don\u2019t want to disturb her routine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure thing,\u201d I replied, always happy to help.<\/p>\n
The next morning, I pulled up to their house and waited. Moments later, Jane ran out, the baby in her arms as she waved to me, signaling that Mike would be out soon.<\/p>\n
Eventually, Mike trudged down their front steps, his suitcase trailing behind him as he slid into the back seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning,\u201d I said, trying to be polite.<\/p>\n
I knew about Mike, but we had only met once at their Christmas party years ago. I doubted that he even remembered me. He had always struck me as someone who didn\u2019t bother about the next person unless they added value to his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very closed off,\u201d Jane said at the party, pouring me a glass of eggnog. \u201cBut he\u2019s a sweetheart once he lets you in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStraight to the airport?\u201d I asked, adjusting the rearview mirror as Mike settled himself down.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but first, a quick stop to pick someone up,\u201d he replied. \u201cI\u2019ll direct you. You can just add it to the route, and I\u2019ll pay you at the airport.\u201d<\/p>\n
It seemed odd, but I thought nothing of it. It was probably a colleague. Jane hadn\u2019t mentioned why Mike was going away.<\/p>\n
But as I drove to the address that Mike had provided, my stomach twisted. There, on the curb, was a young and beautiful woman who beamed as the car slowed down.<\/p>\n
Mike got out of the car, a sudden energy to his previously quiet demeanor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, honey,\u201d he said, pulling her into an embrace.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally, you got rid of your old hag!\u201d the woman sneered, allowing Mike to kiss her all over her face. \u201cAt least we\u2019re going to get one weekend free of her. Remind me one more time, why aren\u2019t you leaving her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike chuckled and picked up her suitcase.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the house is in the oldie\u2019s name, Nicole,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I need to be smart about this. If one of us is unfaithful, then the other leaves with everything. But if we decide to mutually end our marriage, then everything gets divided.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you\u2019ve told me this before,\u201d she said, sliding into the car. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oldie? Hag? My friend was vibrant and fit. She didn\u2019t deserve this. Fury bubbled inside me.<\/p>\n
How could I let this man get away with this? Could I really let it slide and drive him to the airport?<\/p>\n
Was there any possible way that I could keep this from Jane?<\/p>\n
I struggled with my thoughts, but in the end, my conscience was fueled by the continuation of their vile conversation in the backseat. Not to mention the fact that Mike continued to grab Nicole at every chance he got.<\/p>\n
I put the radio on, hoping that the music and them being engrossed in each other would dull their senses to reality.<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later, Mike looked up and realized where we were. Back to the place where we had started this whole saga.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Why are we here?\u201d Mike shouted from the back seat.<\/p>\n
I hooted as he spoke; my car alerted Jane to come outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t you ask me to drive you home?\u201d I replied, feigning innocence. \u201cYou kept mentioning the house. Seems like I was mistaken.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that moment, Jane stepped out of the house, confusion on her face. She saw Mike and the woman, and her expression shifted to shock and then anger.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is going on here?\u201d Jane demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cJane, it\u2019s not what it looks like. Nicole is coming on the trip, too. I did her a favor by fetching her, right, Allison?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, really?\u201d Jane\u2019s voice trembled with fury. \u201cThat\u2019s not what it looks like. It looks like you were cheating on me with this woman!\u201d<\/p>\n
Nicole smirked from her seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, now you know,\u201d she said. \u201cMike\u2019s been with me for a few months now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jane\u2019s eyes blazed as she turned her attention back to Mike.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter everything we\u2019ve been through, you go ahead and do this?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cJane, I can explain,\u201d Mike pleaded.<\/p>\n
\u201cSave it,\u201d Jane cut him off coldly. \u201cGet out of my friend\u2019s car and find your own way out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned to me, leaning against the car window.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Al,\u201d she said. \u201cThank you for showing me the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnytime, Jane,\u201d I said. \u201cYou deserve better.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned back to Mike.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you gone by the end of the day. If you choose to go on your trip, then I will call the kids and ask them to move your things out for you. Don\u2019t forget, because of your infidelity, darling, you will get absolutely nothing from me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJane,\u201d Mike pleaded again. \u201cLet\u2019s talk about this. This little thing isn\u2019t serious. Nicole and I aren\u2019t anything serious. It was just a little bit of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Jane interrupted, her tone final. \u201cStop talking. It\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n
As I drove away, Jane waved at me, a sad smile on her face.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t expect such a routine job to turn into an episode that would expose my friend\u2019s husband for cheating on her with a younger woman. But I was glad that I hadn\u2019t turned a blind eye to the truth. Jane needed to know, and I was grateful that I was the one who helped her find out.<\/p>\n
Now, I\u2019m sitting at the kitchen table, a bowl of soup next to me as I draft my article for the column. I planned on writing about men and cheating right under our noses. Always clearly disguised under the pretense of business trips or going to visit an ill relative.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s always the same.<\/p>\n
What would you have done?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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