When my daughter casually mentioned inviting someone I’d never heard of

to her birthday party, I had no idea how much my life was about to change.

That simple conversation marked the start of an unexpected revelation.

My husband, Jake, and I have been together for ten years and married for seven.

He’s always been kind, hardworking, and a little scatterbrained at times,

but I’ve never had any reason to doubt him. However, recently, things have

taken a turn. Earlier this year, Jake lost his job, and while he’s been searching

for a new one, I’ve taken on extra hours to keep things running smoothly.

It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve managed. Our five-year-old daughter, Ellie,

has loved the extra time with her dad. To her, Jake is a superhero.

Life seemed perfectly normal—until Ellie unknowingly shattered that illusion.

One evening, as we were finalizing her birthday guest list, she asked a question

that stopped me in my tracks. “Mommy, can I invite the pretty lady who comes to visit Daddy when you’re at work?”….