«Honestly, Vicky, nothing terrible actually happened! Men do this sometimesthey get carried away, can’t help themselves. Be the bigger person. Are you really going to just hand your husband over to some girl? Shell think shes won! Fight for your family!» pleaded her mother-in-law.
On Saturday morning, Vicky dropped her son off at her parents’. Shed arranged for Daniel to stay with them for a while.
Back home, Victoria pulled out cardboard boxes from the balcony and started packing. She began in the nurseryfolding clothes, packing toys and books, sealing the boxes with tape, and labelling them. Soon, the room would be left with just the furniture she wasnt taking.
Around noon, her phone rangmother-in-law again.
«Hello, Margaret.»
«Afternoon, love. Jeremy told me everything. I know youre upset, but maybe dont rush into anything? Cool off a bit, think it over. Is it worth tearing the family apart?»
«Im not the one tearing it apartJeremy did that,» Vicky replied.
«Love, Im not excusing him! But maybe give him another chance? First offence and all…»
«What first offence? Your sons been seeing his coworker for six months, lying to me. And youre saying forgive him? No.»
«Just think about it, Vicky. Youre taking Daniels father away from him. And Jeremy adores the boy!»
«Margaret, Jeremy can still see Daniel. I wont stop him. But I wont stay married to him. Lets leave it at thatIm busy packing.»
An hour later, Margaret showed up unannounced, convinced she could change Vickys mind. The conversation went in circles.
«Honestly, its not the end of the world! Men slip up sometimesit happens. Be wise. Dont let some girl steal your husband! Fight for your family!»
«Margaret, Jeremy isnt some trophy I need to wrestle over. Should I challenge this Jane to a duel? Whats she got to do with it? If it wasnt her, itd be someone else.»
«Let me tell you somethingJeremys father, Richard, had his flings too. But I was wiser. I held the family together. Thirty-five years this Octobercoral anniversary.»
«And your wisdom was…?» Vicky smirked.
«I didnt make scenes. I was sweeter, cooked his favourites, took interest in his work, fixed myself upnew hair, lost weight, greeted him with a smile. Sometimes I knew hed just seen *her*, and all I wanted was to smack him with a frying pan. But I smiled. And I kept my husband. My son had a father, and now my grandson has a grandfather.»
«Youre an incredible woman, Margaret. I couldnt do that. My self-respect wont let me eat from a garbage bin.»
Margaret stormed out without another word.
Vicky kept packing. She knew Jeremy and Margaret werent donebut shed be gone before they could bother her again.
The next day, her dad helped load everything into a van. On the way, she stopped by Margarets to drop off the keys.
«You wont believe it,» Vicky told her friend Emily later, «Margaret spent an hour begging me to forgive Jeremys little slip and not divorce him.»
«Whatd she say?»
«The usualyoure robbing your child of a father, all men cheat, women must be wiser. Then she shared how *she* won her husband back.»
«How?»
«I wont repeat it. Justnever do that.»
«Filed the papers yet?»
«Last Friday,» Vicky said.
«Finally free of that Casanova. Couldnt stand watching that two-timing prat,» Emily muttered.
«Couldnt stand watching? You *knew* about Jane?»
«Not for sure! But I suspected,» Emily admitted.
«And you didnt tell me? I thought we were friends!»
«Waitlisten! I didnt *know*. I just saw what you saw and drew different conclusions. Remember the office party? How Jane clung to Jeremy? Or how she always happened to swap shifts for his business trips? I suspected, but what if I was wrong? Youd think I was stirring drama. Remember Sarah Bell? Told a friend she saw her husband with another womanphoto and all. They made up, and *Sarah* got blamed for breaking up a happy marriage. She quit the firm after that. So dont be mad. If Id had proof, Id have told you. Where are you staying?»
«Parents place for now. Nans old flats freetenants moved out last month. Just two bedrooms, but its enough. Sorting nursery transferstoo far to the old one. Mums friends helping. Once divorced, Ill file for child support.»
«Jeremy agree to that?»
«Says he doesnt want divorce, swears hes changed. But once was enough. Offered to pay support voluntarilybut no. I want it official. He threatened to take Danielbetter flat, higher salary.»
«I just tallied his business trips last year*eight*. Saved it for court. If he tries for custody, Ill ask wholl mind Daniel when hes away. Ive got a job, a flat. Hell lose.»
Jeremy did file for custody, claiming Vicky couldnt provide for Daniel. Margaret accused her of hiding the boy.
Vicky proved they lived in her two-bed flat, Daniel attended a local nursery, and Jeremys travel made him an unfit primary carer.
She found a new jobgood specialists always do. Soon, Emily brought news:
«Jane quit. Left town.»
«Why?»
«The office ladies made her life hell. Realised the game was up and bolted for London. So your ex is alone now.»
«Doesnt bother me,» Vicky said.
And she meant it. Because some wells are too poisoned to drink from twice.
Sowhat would you have done? Did Vicky do the right thing? Share your thoughts below.
