I’m 60, on my final military deployment 7,000 miles from home. Last night, I got a text from my 15-year-old daughter. “Dad, I’m scared… It’s about Mom. She’s been bringing men over.” While I was dodging mortars, my wife was using my combat pay to fund her affairs. She thought she had two more months. She had no idea I was already planning to come home early…

Haley: She’s been bringing men over. Different ones. They stay late, sometimes overnight.

I stared at that text for probably ten minutes, the hum of the camp generator the only sound. My marriage, imploding via WhatsApp.

Me: Haley, I am so sorry you have had to see that.

Haley: I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t want to tell you while you’re over there, but it’s been going on for weeks and I don’t know what to do.

Me: Thank you for your honesty, sweetheart. This must have been incredibly hard for you to tell me. Are you mad at me?

Haley: Never. You did the right thing. How are you handling this?

Haley: I stay in my room mostly. Put headphones on. Mom thinks I don’t know.

Me: And your brother?

Haley: Cody sleeps through everything. He’s only 10.

My son, still young