{"id":2901,"date":"2024-12-12T08:13:17","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T08:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/?p=2901"},"modified":"2024-12-12T08:13:19","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T08:13:19","slug":"i-brought-my-husband-a-surprise-meal-at-work-and-found-out-he-had-been-dismissed-three-months-earlier-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/archives\/2901","title":{"rendered":"I Brought My Husband a Surprise Meal at Work and Found Out He Had Been Dismissed Three Months Earlier"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When I surprised my husband at work with his favorite lunch, I discovered he hadn\u2019t been employed there for months. Little did I know, this revelation would unravel the fabric of our 20-year marriage and set me on a path I never could have imagined.\n

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I packed Jonathan\u2019s favorite lunch \u2014 lasagna, garlic bread, and tiramisu. He\u2019d been working late for weeks, and I figured he could use a pick-me-up. The security guard at his office building looked at me funny when I asked for Jonathan.\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A lasagne dish in preparation\n\n\n

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\u201cMa\u2019am, Jonathan hasn\u2019t worked here in over three months,\u201d he said.\n\n

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My stomach dropped. \u201cWhat? That can\u2019t be right. He\u2019s here every day.\u201d\n\n

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The guard shook his head. \u201cSorry, but he was laid off. You might want to talk to him about it.\u201d\n\n

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I left, my cheeks burning. What the hell was going on?\n\n

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The next morning, I watched Jonathan get ready for \u201cwork\u201d as usual, but before he left, he sat down on the sofa to attend to a message on his phone.\n\n

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\u201cHow\u2019s that potential promotion coming along?\u201d I asked casually.\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A man and woman having a distracted conversation in a living room\n\n\n

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He barely looked up from his phone. \u201cOh, you know. Still working on it. Lots to do.\u201d\n\n

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I waited until his car pulled out of the driveway, then called a taxi. \u201cFollow that blue sedan,\u201d I told the driver. He gave me a weird look but didn\u2019t argue.\n\n

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We tailed Jonathan to a run-down part of town. He parked in a sketchy lot and walked to a small caf\u00e9. Through the window, I saw him sit down with an older woman.\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A taxi in motion\n\n\n

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\u201cWait here,\u201d I told the driver. I crept closer, snapping photos with my phone.\n\n

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A younger woman joined them, then another. Soon there were six women at the table with Jonathan. What was he up to?\n\n

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As they left, I approached one of the women. \u201cExcuse me, how do you know Jonathan?\u201d\n\n

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She scowled. \u201cThat jerk? He doesn\u2019t appreciate real talent. Good luck to him.\u201d\n\n

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Before I could ask more, she stomped off.\n\n

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That night, I confronted Jonathan with the photos. \u201cCare to explain?\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A man and woman having a heated discussion in a living room\n\n\n

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His face went pale. \u201cYou followed me? Rebecca, how could you?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cHow could I? How could you lie to me for months? What\u2019s going on?\u201d\n\n

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Jonathan sighed and sank into a chair. \u201cI quit my job to follow my dream. I\u2019m directing a play.\u201d\n\n

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I stared at him. \u201cA play? What about our mortgage? The kids\u2019 college funds? How can you afford to finance a play when you don\u2019t have a job?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cI used some of our savings,\u201d he admitted. \u201cAbout $50,000.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cFifty thousand dollars?\u201d I shrieked. \u201cAre you insane?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s an investment,\u201d Jonathan insisted. \u201cThis play will be my big break. I know it.\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A man sitting on a sofa, in conversation\n\n\n

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I took a deep breath. \u201cEither you cancel this play and return the money, or we\u2019re getting divorced.\u201d\n\n

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Jonathan looked at me for a long moment. \u201cI can\u2019t give up on my dream, Becca. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d\n\n

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I felt like I\u2019d been slapped. \u201cYou\u2019re sorry? That\u2019s all you have to say?\u201d\n\n

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Jonathan stood up, his hands clenched. \u201cWhat do you want me to say? That I\u2019ll go back to a soul-crushing job just to make you happy?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cI want you to be responsible!\u201d I shouted. \u201cWe have kids, Jonathan. Bills. A future to plan for!\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A woman talking angrily, seated in a living room\n\n\n

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\u201cAnd what about my future?\u201d he shot back. \u201cMy dreams? Don\u2019t those matter?\u201d\n\n

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I laughed bitterly. \u201cNot when they cost us everything we\u2019ve worked for!\u201d\n\n

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Jonathan paced the room. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand. This play\u2026 it\u2019s my chance to make something of myself.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cYou already had something,\u201d I said, my voice breaking. \u201cA family. A life. Was that not enough?\u201d\n\n

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He turned away. \u201cIt\u2019s not about that. I need to do this for me.\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A man standing disconsolately in a living room\n\n\n

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\u201cFor you,\u201d I repeated. \u201cNot for us. Not for our children.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cThey\u2019ll understand when I\u2019m successful,\u201d Jonathan insisted.\n\n

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I shook my head. \u201cAnd if you\u2019re not? What then?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cI will be,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cYou\u2019ll see.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cNo,\u201d I said, feeling a strange calm settle over me. \u201cI won\u2019t. I can\u2019t watch you throw everything away on a pipe dream.\u201d\n\n

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Jonathan\u2019s face hardened. \u201cThen I guess we\u2019re done here.\u201d\n\n

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As he stormed out, I sank onto the couch, the weight of our shattered life pressing down on me. How had we come to this?\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A downcast woman sitting on a sofa\n\n\n

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The next few months were a blur of lawyers and paperwork. I went through with it and filed for divorce, fighting to get back my half of the savings. Jonathan moved out, throwing himself into his precious play.\n\n

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Emily, our oldest, took it hard. \u201cWhy can\u2019t you forgive Dad?\u201d she asked one night.\n\n

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I sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s not about forgiveness, honey. It\u2019s about trust. Your father broke that trust.\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A woman talking to a teenage girl in a kitchen\n\n\n

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One night, Jonathan called. \u201cThe play opens next week. Will you come?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s a good idea,\u201d I said.\n\n

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\u201cPlease, Becca. It would mean a lot.\u201d\n\n

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Against my better judgment, I agreed. The theater was half-empty. Jonathan\u2019s play was\u2026 not good. Stilted dialogue and a confusing plot. It was so bad that I left at intermission.\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A thinly-resourced theater performance\n\n\n

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A week later, Jonathan showed up at the house. He looked terrible \u2014 unshaven, clothes rumpled.\n\n

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\u201cThe play flopped,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Becca. I made a huge mistake.\u201d\n\n

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I felt a twinge of pity but squashed it. \u201cI\u2019m sorry it didn\u2019t work out. But that doesn\u2019t change anything between us.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cCan\u2019t we try again?\u201d he pleaded. \u201cFor the kids?\u201d\n\n

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I shook my head. \u201cYou can see them according to the court schedule. But we\u2019re done, Jonathan. I\u2019ve moved on.\u201d\n\n

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As I closed the door, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. It hurt, but I knew I\u2019d made the right choice. Time to focus on my kids and my future without Jonathan\u2019s lies weighing me down.\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A woman standing in the doorway of a home\n\n\n

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That night, I called my sister. \u201cHey, remember that trip to Europe we always talked about? Let\u2019s do it.\u201d\n\n

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She laughed. \u201cSeriously? What about work?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d I said. \u201cLife\u2019s too short for what-ifs, you know?\u201d\n\n

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As I hung up, I smiled. For the first time in months, I felt excited about the future. Who knew what adventures lay ahead?\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A woman talking on a mobile phone, smiling\n\n\n

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The next morning, I woke up early and went for a run. The crisp air felt invigorating. As I jogged past our old favorite caf\u00e9, I saw Jonathan inside, hunched over a notebook.\n\n

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For a moment, I considered going in. But then I kept running. Some chapters were meant to stay closed.\n\n

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When I got home, Emily was already up, making breakfast. \u201cMorning, Mom,\u201d she said. \u201cWant some pancakes?\u201d\n\n

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I hugged her tight. \u201cSounds perfect, sweetie.\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A woman and teenage girl hugging in a kitchen\n\n\n

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As we ate, I broached the subject of our future. \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about making some changes. How would you feel about moving?\u201d\n\n

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Emily\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cMoving? Where?\u201d\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019m not sure yet,\u201d I admitted. \u201cBut I think a fresh start might be good for all of us.\u201d\n\n

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Michael wandered in, rubbing his eyes. \u201cWhat\u2019s this about moving?\u201d\n\n

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I explained my thoughts. To my surprise, both kids seemed open to the idea.\n\n

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\u201cCan we get a dog if we move?\u201d Michael asked.\n\n

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I laughed. \u201cWe\u2019ll see. One step at a time, okay?\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A woman laughing in a kitchen setting\n\n\n

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Later that day, I met my friend Lisa for coffee. She\u2019d been through a divorce herself a few years back.\n\n

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\u201cHow are you doing?\u201d she asked.\n\n

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I sighed. \u201cHonestly? It\u2019s hard. But also\u2026 freeing? Is that weird?\u201d\n\n

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Lisa shook her head. \u201cNot at all. It\u2019s a chance to rediscover yourself.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019m thinking of going back to school,\u201d I confessed. \u201cMaybe finish that degree I never completed.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s fantastic!\u201d Lisa exclaimed. \u201cYou\u2019d be great at it.\u201d\n\n

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\"Two\n\n

Two women enjoying coffee at a caf\u00e9\n\n\n

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As we chatted, I felt a spark of excitement growing. Maybe this wasn\u2019t an ending, but a new beginning.\n\n

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That evening, as I helped Emily with her homework, my phone buzzed. It was Jonathan.\n\n

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\u201cCan we talk?\u201d his text read.\n\n

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I hesitated, then replied: \u201cAbout the kids, yes. Anything else, no.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cFair enough,\u201d he responded. \u201cLunch tomorrow?\u201d\n\n

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We met at a neutral caf\u00e9. Jonathan looked better than the last time I\u2019d seen him.\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking a lot,\u201d he began.\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A woman and man talking over a caf\u00e9 table\n\n\n

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I held up a hand. \u201cJonathan, we\u2019re here to discuss the kids. That\u2019s all.\u201d\n\n

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He nodded, looking chastened. \u201cRight. Sorry. How are they doing?\u201d\n\n

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We talked about Emily\u2019s struggles in math and Michael\u2019s newfound interest in robotics. It felt almost normal until I remembered why we were here.\n\n

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As we were finishing up, Jonathan cleared his throat. \u201cI, uh, got a job offer. Back in finance.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s great,\u201d I said, meaning it. \u201cThe kids will be glad to hear it.\u201d\n\n

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He hesitated. \u201cIt\u2019s in Chicago.\u201d\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A seriously-looking man in conversation in a coffee shop\n\n\n

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I blinked. \u201cOh. That\u2019s\u2026 far.\u201d\n\n

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\u201cYeah,\u201d he said softly. \u201cI haven\u2019t decided yet. I wanted to talk to you first.\u201d\n\n

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I took a deep breath. \u201cYou should take it if it\u2019s what you want. We can figure out visitation.\u201d\n\n

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Jonathan nodded, looking relieved. \u201cThanks, Becca. For everything.\u201d\n\n

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As I watched him walk away, I felt sadness for what we\u2019d lost, but also hope for the future.\n\n

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\"A\n\n

A man walking away from a caf\u00e9\n\n\n

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Life rarely turns out how we expect it. But sometimes, the unexpected turns lead us exactly where we need to go.\n\n

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What would you have done? If you enjoyed this story, here\u2019s\u00a0another one\u00a0for you about a woman who wanted to surprise her husband at work with lunch, but instead found out he was on vacation. Confused and suspicious, she followed him the next day and uncovered a shocking secret at her sister\u2019s house. What she found left her questioning everything she thought she knew about my marriage and my family.\n\n

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This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.\n\n

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The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided \u201cas is,\u201d and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I surprised my husband at work with his favorite lunch, I discovered he hadn\u2019t been employed there for months. Little did I know, this revelation would unravel the fabric of our 20-year marriage and set me on a path I never could have imagined. I packed Jonathan\u2019s favorite lunch \u2014 lasagna, garlic bread, and […]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2901"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2903,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901\/revisions\/2903"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}