I surprised my husband by coming home early from a work trip. Rather than a tender hug, I found him digging a hole, burying a big black egg, and sweating in the garden. I asked him to explain, but he ignored me. I started my own research. When I learned, my heart pounded.
Not slept for days. The Chicago business conference went on and on, coffee after coffee, presentation after presentation. I was mentally and physically spent by the third day. Nathan and I felt more like coworkers than soulmates after three years of marriage. While I traveled around giving advice to IT clients, he was often in his finance firm. We hadn’t had supper together for more than a month.
I immediately closed my laptop when my last meeting ended two hours early.
Did you miss the vice president’s keynote? As I closed my luggage, my colleague Jenna arched an eyebrow.
Yes, once. I had to recall how my hubby looked at home.
She smiled. “Is Rachel Adams putting her love above her career? really recent.
I said, looking at my phone for the next flight, “It’s past due.” “I can surprise him by catching the 6:15 back to Denver if I hustle.”
Half-joking, Jenna said, “Text me when you land.” Not all unexpected visits are romantic. Sometimes people conceal things.
She
The Rockies were dusk-painted a deep golden when I pulled into our driveway. As I got out of the car, the porch light switched on automatically, and our house appeared to be calm under a gold wash.
There was a strange feeling.
When I opened the front door, there was silence. Silence was staged, not peaceful.
“Nate?” Silently, I put my luggage by the stairs and called.
No response.
The living room was disorganized. Three urgent envelopes were among the several pieces of mail that littered the table. On the kitchen counter, a half-empty coffee mug with a thin ring of dried coffee on the lip was left.
I
I reasoned that he might be in the office. The rear entrance drew my attention. The smell of turned earth was carried home by a breeze that shifted the drapes.
I stepped outside.
I saw him in our vegetable garden, burrowing between rows of tomatoes.
Half-buried in the ground, he discovered a massive black egg.
It gleamed like obsidian and was enormous, standing at least two feet tall. In the porch light, it shimmered almost otherworldly.
Sweating, Nathan shoveled frantically while rolling up his sleeves. He muttered something about going further.
A bit more… “It must be sufficiently deep,” he stated.
My heart stopped beating.
“Nathan?”
Like I slapped him, he jerked. In the dirt, the shovel collided with a metal object.
“Rachel?!” His voice broke in panic. “Why are you in this place?”
I took a leisurely stroll to the garden. I arrived home early. I intended to take you by surprise.
He hurried to hide my view of the egg. Not anticipated to arrive just yet.
“Obviously. What is that?
It’s not much. He spoke in a clipped, defensive tone. Rachel, I mean it. Enter.
“Nothing? Why are you acting like a villain by concealing a sparkling black thing in our grass and expecting me to overlook it?
“I’ll elaborate later.”
“No, give an explanation now.”
Nathan rubbed his hair while dirt covered his temple. He looked out into the street as though someone was watching.
“Please. Have faith in me. I’m taking care of
What are you handling, Nate? I raised my voice. “From my vantage point, you’re either hiding something significant or you need assistance.”
“I’m handling it,” I said. His shout stunned us all. We exchanged amazed glances.
I murmured, “I don’t even know who you are right now.” I turned and went inside.
That night, I was unable to sleep. I lay awake in the dark while his weight made the downstairs couch groan. The back door clicked open at around three in the morning. I slipped over to the window and watched Nathan, like a security guard, scout the garden for the location of the weird egg’s grave.
I had to find out his secret.
When he departed for work the following morning, I grabbed a shovel and walked outdoors. I plunged the blade into new ground, my hands shaking.
I dug for more than twenty minutes before discovering something solid.
I located the egg. Up close, it appeared phony. It felt artificial, in contrast to shells. plastic.
I gasped as I slowly twisted it until it burst open like a massive, hollow Easter egg.
empty.
There is nothing within. Just more layers of black plastic.
“Rachel?”
I almost dropped it when I sprang. Across the fence stood Mr. Yamato, our elderly neighbor.
He went on, “Late last night, I noticed someone in your garden.” “Is everything alright?”
I mumbled, clumsily hiding the egg behind my back, “Yes—gardening.”
Despite raising an eyebrow, the dubious man nodded and walked away.
After pulling the egg into the garage, I covered it with tarp and placed it beneath the lawnmower. In order to comprehend what was going on, I sat on the concrete floor.
What was this?
Nathan was hurrying to bury it, but why?
Was he hiding it from me or from anyone else?
I drove to work in a daze. To make it through the morning, I needed some sanity.
The radio cut in.
—Breaking news this morning as local law enforcement uncovers a large-scale fraud operation involving upmarket hobbyists and antique collectors. Authorities claim that a large number of black, egg-shaped plastic containers were sold as antiquated fertility relics. Thousands or tens of thousands were paid by the victims.
With my heart pounding, I applied severe braking and stopped.
I was aware. I was aware of Nathan’s involvement.
That night, like a conversation starter, I waited with the egg on our kitchen table.
When he stepped inside, Nathan halted.
He dropped his briefcase.
I—Rachel—
“How much?” I asked.
Pallid, he collapsed on a chair. Fifteen thousand.
Feeling queasy, I closed my eyes. “You bought a plastic egg for $15,000.”
He bemoaned, “I thought it was real.” “I was introduced to a dealer by a corporate employee. allegedly a viable egg from the Tang dynasty. He predicted that the value would triple in a year.
“And you didn’t consider—oh, I’m not sure—GOOGLE IT?” My voice cracked.
His hands covered his face. I wanted to take you by surprise. I believed I could turn things around and take you on the trip to Europe we always talk about.
“The vacation we had planned? For three years? Was that money spent?
“I simply… Fixes were what I wanted. Mom’s health care expenses. The air conditioner is fixed. We’re both under stress. I thought about making a big gesture.
I cooled my anger a bit. He looked broken. incredibly well-intentioned.
I took a seat next to him. You believed that burying it would be beneficial.
I went into a panic. I was powerless when I learned of the scam. If you never found it, I figured I could spare you the disappointment.
I took his hand. You’re a fool. Antiques and Europe don’t appeal to me. We are important to me. But when times get hard, you can’t keep leaving me out.
He muttered, “This morning, I filed a police report.” “I’m not by myself. Investigations are underway into the entire ring. Maybe I’ll get my money back.
“Well,” I said, leaning back, “at least we have a good story.
Nathan let out a sigh and laughed. “That time I used a fake egg to try to save our marriage.”
I grinned. “We could plant it.” Plant it close to tomatoes. Turn it into a monument to poor choices.
“Or a reminder that trust is more important than any treasure,” he said, squeezing my palm.
We sat close and silent.
At last, he declared, “I love you.” “Even when I am foolish.”
“Good for you; I’ve always been fond of fools,” I said.
