I had no idea that Sam, my husband, would plan a surprise trip that would cause our marriage to fall apart. But that’s exactly what happened when he took me and the kids away for a week. I felt uneasy the whole time.
At first, I thought that his strange behaviour and forced smiles were signs that he was cheating on me. I could only think of the worst things that could happen, but the truth was much more complicated.
Sam’s suggestion was strange because he didn’t usually do big things. His tense body language and avoidant eye contact made my doubts grow. What was he trying to hide if he sent us away?
As the kids slept, my worries came back to the surface. The days at the hotel were a blur of chaos. Something felt wrong, and I couldn’t shake it.
I got a babysitter for the fifth night and went home, ready to face the truth. What I found was something I could never have imagined.
Helen, my wife’s mother, had taken over our house, which was full of bags and Helen was drinking tea from my favourite mug. I couldn’t stand how smug and arrogant she was.
Sam came out of the kitchen with a look of guilt on his face. His inability to look at me or give me a clear answer said a lot.
Something inside me snapped when I heard Helen’s mean comments about me and our kids. I knew that Sam would always put his mother’s acceptance ahead of my health.
The last straw was when he agreed with Helen’s mean words. I knew right then that our marriage was over.
The next morning, I lied to Sam about going to a different hotel and kissed him on the face. He didn’t know it, but I was already making plans for our new life together, without him.
I went to the bank and a lawyer to make sure our future was safe. After Helen and Sam went shopping, the moving truck was gone, and Sam’s things were already packed.
There was a note on the empty house that said, “You can now live with your mother.” After two weeks, Sam’s urgent call only made me more determined.
The deal was sealed when our neighbour made a harmless comment about Helen’s new home. I laughed because I knew I had made the right choice.
Alison asked, “When are we going home?” as I put our kids to bed in our new flat.
I told her, “Baby, we’re home now,” and smoothed her hair.
Phillip put down his tablet and said, “Grandma Helen is mean.”
From the mouths of babies.
After years of being stuck in a bad relationship, I felt lighter for the first time in years. The other woman isn’t always a lover; sometimes she made your partner who they are.
And sometimes it’s best to end both relationships.
