When Edward decided to greet his wife, Louise, at the airport with one of their silly tradition signs, he never imagined it would terrify her. What started as a lighthearted joke quickly spiraled into panic when Louise’s reaction revealed a deeply buried secret from her past—one that could shake the foundation of their marriage.
Every couple has its little traditions, right? Some have a special “our song,” others use quirky pet names only they understand. For Louise and me, it was airport signs.
The tradition began years back when she returned from a trip and I waited with a big, cheesy board that read, “WELCOME HOME, MY LOVE.” She laughed so hard that she asked me to do it again next time. Since then, it became our thing.
Sometimes the signs were romantic; other times, totally ridiculous. I once held one that said, “FREE HUGS FROM A LOYAL HUSBAND,” and she nearly doubled over from laughing in front of the entire terminal.
So, when she went to Chicago for a week-long work conference, I wanted to top myself.
The night before she came home, I’d been watching a horror movie, and an idea struck me. I made a sign that read: “I KNOW WHAT YOU DID. COMING HOME WAS A HUGE MISTAKE.”
I thought she’d roll her eyes, mutter her usual “Oh, Eddie,” and then kiss me anyway. I had no clue what kind of storm that joke was about to set off.
The next day, I stood proudly in the crowded terminal, holding my “masterpiece.” My heart leapt when I finally saw her walking out of the gate, tired but beautiful. She spotted the sign—and the color instantly drained from her face.
Her eyes locked on mine, wide with sheer terror. Then, without a word, she spun around and ran.
I was frozen for a second, the sign slipping from my hands. By the time I lunged forward, she was already halfway down the terminal.
“Louise!” I shouted, trying to push through the crowd. But she didn’t slow, didn’t look back. Security stopped me before I could chase her further, insisting I calm down.
Panicked, I pulled out my phone and called her. No answer. Again and again, straight to voicemail. What on earth had just happened? Why would she bolt like that?
Sitting on a bench, breathless, I racked my brain. Then it hit me—her mother. Julie would know what was going on.
When she answered, I blurted, “Please tell me Louise is with you. She ran away at the airport!”
Julie’s voice was laced with worry. “No, she isn’t. Edward… what did you do?”
“I don’t know!” I practically shouted. “I held a sign saying I knew what she did, and that coming home was a mistake. It was supposed to be funny, but she panicked and ran.”
There was a long pause, then a sigh heavy enough to crush me. “Edward… she thinks you discovered her surgery.”
“Surgery?” I repeated blankly. “What are you talking about?”
Julie hesitated, then explained. “Louise wasn’t always the way you know her. After college, she had a series of surgeries to change her appearance. Back then, she was in love with you, but you didn’t even notice her. After she changed, she made sure to cross paths with you again.”
I nearly dropped the phone. Louise and I had been at the same college? She’d altered her appearance to be with me?
“It sounds insane, I know,” Julie added gently. “But it wasn’t just about you. Louise was born with a cleft palate. She always struggled with self-image. Meeting you gave her the push, but she’d always dreamed of feeling… normal.”
I sat stunned, the weight of it pressing down on me. My stupid little prank had ripped open something raw and painful she’d kept hidden for years.
I drove home like a man possessed, checking my phone every five seconds for a message that never came. When I finally burst through our front door, I shouted her name. Nothing. The silence was suffocating.
Upstairs, I caught the sound of muffled sobs from our bedroom. My chest tightened as I pushed the door open.
Louise was curled up on the bed, clutching her phone like it was a lifeline, trembling as she cried. The sight broke me.
I stood there, unsure, then quietly sat beside her. “Louise,” I whispered, “I am so, so sorry. I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t know.”
She turned slowly, her tear-streaked face full of pain. “I was terrified you’d find out. Every day, I thought, ‘What if today’s the day he learns the truth?’ I thought… if you knew, you’d stop loving me.”
I reached for her hand. “Louise, listen to me. I don’t love you because of how you look. I love your kindness, your stubborn hope, the way you light up a room with your laughter. That’s what matters. That’s who you are to me.”
Her tears fell harder, but this time, there was something else in her eyes—hope. Slowly, she leaned into my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her.
“I thought you’d hate me,” she whispered.
“Never,” I promised, my voice steady. “You’re my wife. My partner. My forever. Nothing changes that.”
Her lips curved into the faintest, trembling smile.
The next morning, I wanted to prove my words weren’t empty. I brought her breakfast in bed, setting the tray down with one of our signature signs propped up beside the plate.
It read: “I LOVE YOU FOR YOU.”
Louise clutched the sign to her chest, her eyes filling again—this time with tears of relief. “I love you too, Eddie,” she whispered.
And in that moment, I knew our love had survived the storm. We were going to be okay.