I Surprised My Husband With Tickets To Rome. When He Opened His Wallet, I Found A Set Of Tickets Already There—With Someone Else’s Name

At 7 a.m., I set two glossy tickets on the kitchen table and told Mark to pack light. It was our first real break in years, a simple European getaway I’d saved for quietly. He smiled, reached for his wallet to grab his ID, and that’s when a second set of tickets slid out. My name wasn’t on them. My hands went cold, but my voice stayed steady, like a reporter reading copy. I asked who they were for, and he blinked like he needed more time. Before he answered, Lisa texted me: I need to tell you something about Mark today—don’t get on that plane.

I queued the printer before sunrise and watched the pages slide out crisp and warm. Two Rome tickets showed our names, dates, and the morning flight I’d hunted for on deal alerts. I aligned the edges, smoothed a curl, and slid them into a red envelope from the junk drawer. The envelope felt sturdy enough to survive breakfast excitement. I hid it under a dish towel on the counter and checked the clock. The apartment stayed quiet except for the printer cooling.