» Vicky, honestly, nothing truly terrible happened! Men do silly things sometimesthey get carried away, cant help themselves. Be the bigger person, love. Are you really going to let some girl waltz in and think shes won? Fight for your family!» Her mother-in-laws voice was all sugar and coaxing.
That Saturday morning, Vicky dropped her son off at her parents placeDenny would stay with them a while. Back home, she hauled cardboard boxes from the balcony and got to packing. Starting with the nursery, she folded clothes, tucked away toys, sealed boxes with tape, and scribbled labels. Soon, only the furniture remainedthings she wasnt taking with her.
Around noon, her phone buzzed. Mother-in-law again.
«Hello, Margaret.»
«Afternoon, dear. Jeremys told me everything. I know youre upset, but must you rush? Take a breath, sleep on it. Must the family fall apart over this?»
«*Im* not tearing it apartJeremy did,» Vicky said flatly.
«Darling, Im not excusing him! But couldnt you forgive him just this once?»
«*Just this once*? Hes been seeing his colleague for *six months*, Margaret. Lying to me daily. And you want me towhatshrug it off? No.»
«Vicky, *please* think. Youre robbing Denny of his father. Jeremy adores that boy!»
«Denny can see his dad whenever he likes. I wont stop them. But Im done living with your son. Now, if youll excuse meIve boxes to pack.»
She stuffed the last two cartons, then moved to the bedroom, tossing clothes into suitcases.
Margaret showed up an hour later, convinced a face-to-face chat would change Vickys mind. The conversation went in circles:
«Vicky, *honestly*, its not the end of the world! Men strayit happens! Be wise. That girl will *gloat* if you step aside!»
«Margaret, Jeremy isnt some *trophy* Ill scrap over. Should I challenge her to a duel? A boxing match? Blame *her*? If not Jessica, itd be Emily or Chloe next.»
«Between us, Jeremys fatherGod rest himwasnt always faithful either. But *I* chose wisdom. Kept our family intact. Thirty-five years married next monthcoral anniversary.»
«And this *wisdom* involved what, exactly?» Vicky smirked.
«No scenes. More tenderness. His favourite meals, listening to his day. I even *changed my hair*, lost weight, met him at the door smiling. Sometimes I *knew* hed just come from *her*, and all I wanted was to whack him with a frying pan. But I *smiled*. And lookhe stayed. Our son had a father, Denny has a grandad.»
«Margaret, youre *remarkable*. I couldnt do it. My gag reflex is too strong. What youre suggesting? Its like eating from a bin.»
Margaret flushed, stood abruptly, and stormed out.
Vicky kept packing. She knew this wasnt the endJeremy and Margaret would nag her nerves raw. Hence the hurry.
Next day, her dad arrived. They loaded boxes into a van and left. En route, Vicky asked him to stop by Margaretsto drop off the flat keys.
«You wont *believe*,» Vicky told her mate Lucy the next day, «Margaret spent an hour begging me to forgive Jeremys *little slip-up* and not divorce him.»
«Whatd she say?» Lucy sipped her tea.
«The classics: Denny needs his dad, All men cheat, Women must be wiser. Then shared how *she* won her husband back.»
«And howd *that* go?»
«I wont repeat it. Just*dont ever try it*.»
«Youve filed already?»
«Friday,» Vicky said.
«Thank *God*. That walking midlife crisis needed booting. Watching him ponce about was *painful*.»
«*Painful*? You *knew* about Jessica?» Vicky froze.
«Not *knew* *suspected*,» Lucy admitted guiltily.
«Were *friends*. You didnt *tell* me?» Vicky stood to leave.
«*Wait*! Hear me out. I had no *proof*. Saw what you sawjust connected dots. Remember the office party? Jessica glued to Jeremy? Or how she *always* swapped last-minute to go on trips with him? Im in *accounts*I *process* those forms. But if Id been wrong, youd hate me. Remember Sarah Cooper?»
«Told a friend shed seen her husband with another womaneven showed a *photo* of them hugging. Huge row. They made up, and *Sarah* got branded a jealous homewrecker. She quit the firm. So *no*, I wasnt risking it. If Id had ironclad proof, Id have told you. Nowwheres *your* next chapter?»
«Flats in Margarets name, so were at Mum and Dads. But Grans old place is freetenants left last month. Two bedrooms, not three, but enough. Sorting nursery transferMums pal works at the local one. Divorce next, then child support.»
«Jeremys okay with it?»
«Says he doesnt *want* divorce, wont happen again. Too late. Once was enough. Begged me not to file for supportpromised hed pay voluntarily.»
«And you said?»
«No chance. I want it *official*. Then he threatened to take Denny: *My* flats nicer, *my* salarys bigger. I just counted his business trips last year*eight*. Saved that for court. If he pushes for custody, Ill ask who minds Denny when hes in Glasgow. Plus, Ive got a job *and* a flat. Hell lose.»
Jeremy *did* petition for custody:
«My ex cant provide our son the *standard he deserves*,» he declared.
Margaret chimed in, wailing that Vicky was *hiding* Denny:
«They left our flat, pulled him from nursery! We thought theyd stay with her parents, but they *vanished* after a week! Neighbors *confirm* it. Wheres that child? He should be in nursery, not some *dodgy* hideout!»
Vicky calmly explained they lived in *her* two-bed flat, Denny attended the local nursery, and Jeremys *eight business trips* rather hampered parenting.
Predictably, they lost.
Vicky, avoiding Jeremy post-divorce, found a new jobshe was good at her work; it wasnt hard.
Soon, Lucy brought gossip:
«Jessica quit. *Gone*.»
«Why?» Vicky blinked.
«The office witches made her life hell. She lasted a month, realized the gravy train had left, and bolted to London. So your ex is *quite* alone now.»
«Not my circus, not my monkeys,» Vicky said.
And she meant it. After all, some wells are so spat in, youd sooner die of thirst than drink.
Thoughts? Did Vicky do right? Comments below.
