I was assumed to drinking wine in Santorini with my husband, celebrating a decade of marriage. Instead, he canceled our trip last-minute… to take his mother on vacation.
For a full year, I had been planning our tenth anniversary trip to Santorini.
I glanced at the screen. It was a text from my husband, Brian.
“Hey babe, change of plans. Mom’s really upset about her business. Taking her to the Bahamas for the week instead. Anniversary trip is off. We can go another time. Talk when I get back.”
I called him immediately.
“Where are you right now?” I asked.
“At the airport. Actually boarding in a few minutes,” Brian replied casually.
“Brian, we’ve been planning this trip for a year. My mother took off work to watch the kids. The hotel is non-refundable.”
“I know, I know. But Mom’s really going through it right now. She needed this, Rachel.”
“And what about what I need?”
“Don’t make this difficult. You’re always so understanding… that’s what I love about you. We’ll have other anniversaries.”
“Brian —”
“They’re calling my row. I’ve gotta go. Love you. We’ll talk when I get back.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered to the empty room.
My phone whispered again with a text from my mother:
“Just picked up the kids from school! They’re so excited for their sleepover with Grandma. We’re heading to my place now. You and Brian have the best time!”
“Thanks, Mom,” I replied.
I called the airline. Yes, Brian had canceled his ticket, but mine was still valid.
I called the hotel. The reservation was in my name, still active and waiting.
A plan began to form — reckless, bold, and exactly what I needed.
Before I could second-guess myself, I texted him:
“Crazy question. Want to go to Santorini tomorrow? All expenses paid. Long story. 🌴”
Then his reply came:
“Is this for real? Because I’ve got vacation days I need to use. 😃”
“Completely serious. My husband just ditched our anniversary trip to take his mother to the Bahamas instead. 🙄”
“He WHAT? Oh Rachel, that’s awful. Are you okay?”
“I will be. Especially if I don’t let this trip go to waste. Interested?”
Three dots. A pause. Then:
“Give me two hours to pack and get my passport. This is the most interesting offer I’ve had all year. 🤩🥳”
I smiled for the first time since Brian’s text.
“Perfect. Flight leaves at 7 a.m. I’ll email you the details.”
Twenty-four hours later, I was standing on a private balcony overlooking the azure waters of the Aegean Sea.
I clinked mine against his. “I still can’t believe I’m actually doing this.”
Liam leaned against the railing. “Can I be honest? When you texted me, I thought it was a joke.”
“That makes two of us,” I laughed. “I’m not usually this… impulsive.”
“Well, I’m glad you were. Otherwise, I’d be sitting in my apartment right now watching reruns instead of…” he gestured to the breathtaking view before us.
“Do you think he realizes what he’s missing?” Liam asked quietly.
I took a long sip of wine. “I don’t think he does. But he will.”
“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” Liam turned to face me
“Private yacht tour around the caldera. Followed by lunch at a vineyard and sunset dinner in Oia.”
“Sounds perfect,” he said with a smile that reached his eyes. “Absolutely perfect.”
By the fourth day of our trip, I had almost forgotten why I was really there.
We were hiking back from Red Beach when he stopped suddenly. “We need a picture here. The contrast between the red cliffs and the blue water is incredible.”
I handed him my phone. “Would you mind?”
“Actually,” he said. “Let’s get one together.”
Almost without thinking, I uploaded it to Instagram with the caption: “Didn’t let a little change of plans ruin the adventure! 💙🏖️💃🏻🌴”
I hesitated for just a moment before hitting “Share.”
That night over dinner, Liam raised his glass. “I’ve got to thank you, Rachel. I needed this trip more than I realized.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m glad,” I said simply. “You deserve to be happy.”
The notification came at 3 a.m. A series of texts from Brian, each one more delirious than the last:
“WHO IS THAT GUY?”
“WHY ARE YOU IN SANTORINI?”
“ANSWER YOUR PHONE RIGHT NOW.”
“RACHEL THIS ISN’T FUNNY.”
I silenced my phone and went back to sleep with a small, satisfied smile.
In the morning, there were seven missed calls and a voicemail that I didn’t bother to listen to. Instead, I texted back:
“Hey babe, change of plans. We’ll talk when I get back.”
“Can I ask you something personal?” he said.
“After this week? I think we’re past formalities.”
“Are you happy you did this? The whole revenge trip thing?”
“The look on Brian’s face when he sees those photos must be priceless,” Liam chuckled.
“I think the best part is that he’s getting exactly what he gave me!” I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. “Perfect revenge, if you ask me.”
Liam raised his wine glass. “To teaching husbands not to take their wives for granted.”
“Are you kidding? This is the most fun I’ve had in years,” he replied with a genuine smile. “Now, what time’s our flight tomorrow?”
“Seven!”
***
Brian watched him go, his jaw clamped tight. “Did you sleep with him?”
“No,” I said truthfully. “But the fact that’s your first question tells me everything I need to know about how little you trust me.”
“Trust YOU? You’re the one who went on our anniversary trip with another man!”
“After you canceled on me with a text message to take your mother instead.”
Brian ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “That was different! She needed me!”
“And I didn’t?” I set my suitcase down and crossed my arms. “That’s the problem, Brian. You didn’t even consider how I might feel. You just expected me to understand, like always.”
His anger seemed to deflate. “So what now? Are you… are you still mad?”
“I’m not mad anymore,” I said, surprising myself with the truth of it. “I’m just… done with being an afterthought in my own marriage.”
“Rachel, you’re not —”
“I am,” I cut him off. “Or at least I was. But not anymore.”
His face paled. “What does that mean?”
I picked up my suitcase. “It means next time you want to make plans — any plans — you’d better make sure I’m part of the conversation. No more last-minute texts. No more assuming I’ll just go along with whatever you decide.”
“I didn’t think —”
“Exactly. You didn’t think. But I bet you’re thinking now, aren’t you?”
“The kids are at my mother’s,” I said.
“I’m going to pick them up. And you can order takeout tonight because I’m NOT cooking. I’ve had a long flight.”
“Rachel, I’m… I’m sorry.”
“You know what I realized this week? That sometimes you have to shake things up to remind people of your value. That you can’t just hope someone will appreciate you… sometimes you have to demand it.”
I walked toward the exit, feeling his eyes on my back.
“Oh, and Brian?” I called over my shoulder.
“Next anniversary? I’m picking the destination. And you’d better not make other plans.”
