For twelve years, my husband, Tom, went on annual island vacations with his family, leaving our kids and me behind. “My mom doesn’t want in-laws on the trip, Layla,” he said. But when I saw photos from last year’s vacation, I noticed Tom’s brother and sister-in-law were there. Confused and hurt, I needed answers.

I called Sadie, my brother-in-law’s wife. She revealed they thought I couldn’t come because of childcare issues. Realizing the lie, I confronted my mother-in-law, Denise, who was equally shocked. “My husband and sons go on vacation every year, but they’ve never taken me with,” she said.

Determined to uncover the truth, Denise and I flew to the resort where the family was vacationing. There, we found her husband with another woman and Tom with someone else. “You’ve been lying to me for twelve years!” I told Tom.

Denise and I decided to leave our husbands. “We cannot be with them,” I told her. We supported each other through the fallout, with Denise becoming a constant presence in my life and an active grandmother to my kids. “At least we know the truth now,” we agreed.