Dad, you're scaring me. What happened? I sat down next to her on the couch. Maya, your mom and I are getting divorced. Her face crumpled.
Why? What did you do? I didn't do anything, sweetheart. Your mother Your mother has been seeing another man. What do you mean seeing another man?
I mean, she's been having an affair for 6 months. Maya stared at me, processing this information. Are you sure? I have video evidence. Oh my god.
She put her head in her hands. Who is it? Someone from her work. It doesn't matter who. It does matter.
I want to know who destroyed our family. I sighed. His name is Chris Brennan. You've met him at company parties. The guy with the fancy car.
The one who always talks about his workout routine. That's him. Maya was quiet for a long time. Then she said, "I hate her. Don't say that.
She's still your mother. She's a liar and a cheater. How could she do this to us?" I don't know, honey. People make bad choices sometimes. Bad choices, Dad.
This isn't a bad choice. This is This is evil. Before I could respond, Lydia appeared at the top of the stairs. "Maya, can we talk?" "No," Maya said firmly. "I don't want to talk to you." "Please, sweetheart, let me explain." "Explain what?
How you've been lying to us for 6 months? How you brought your boyfriend into our house?" Lydia came down the stairs slowly. It's complicated, Maya. You don't understand adult relationships. I understand cheating, Mia shot back.
I understand lying. I understand that you destroyed our family because you were bored. That's not fair. Fair? Mia stood up, her voice rising.
You want to talk about fair? Is it fair that dad has to find out his wife is cheating by installing security cameras? Is it fair that I have to find out my mother is a liar? Maya, please. No, I'm going to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Hartwell.
I can't even look at you right now. Maya ran upstairs to pack a bag. Lydia turned to me with desperation in her eyes. Dave, please help me fix this. Fix this.
Lydia, you can't fix this. You broke something that can't be repaired. It was a mistake. A stupid, terrible mistake. A mistake is forgetting to pick up milk at the store.