In the end, nothing truly terrible happened, Vicky! Men have their momentsthey stray, they falter. Be wiser than this. Will you really let some girl take your husband from you? Shell think shes won! Fight for your family! pleaded the mother-in-law.
On Saturday morning, Vicky took her son to her parents, arranging for Daniel to stay with them awhile.
Returning home, Victoria fetched cardboard boxes from the balcony and began packing. First, the nursery. She folded clothes, packed toys and books, sealed the boxes with tape, and labeled them. Soon, only the furniture remainedthings she had no intention of taking.
Around noon, the phone rang. Vicky glanced at the screenher mother-in-law.
«Good afternoon, Margaret.»
«Hello, Vicky. William told me everything. I know youre hurt, but must you act so hastily? Wait, cool your head. Think. Must you break up the family so quickly?»
«Its not me destroying this family. Its William,» Vicky replied.
«Vicky, Im not excusing him! But perhaps, for a first offense, you might forgive him?»
«What first offense? Your sons been seeing his colleague for half a year, lying to me. And you say forgive him? No.»
«Please, Vicky, reconsider. Youre taking Daniels father from him. William adores his son!»
«Margaret, William can see Daniel whenever he likes. I wont stop him. But I refuse to stay married to him. Now, if youll excuse meIm packing.»
Vicky sealed the last two boxes and moved to the bedroom, filling suitcases with her clothes.
Her mother-in-law arrived an hour later, convinced a face-to-face plea might sway her daughter-in-law. The conversation circled back:
«Vicky, really, nothing catastrophic happened! Men slip upthey lose their way. Be the bigger person. Will you surrender your husband to some girl? Shell think shes beaten you! Fight for your marriage!»
«Margaret, William isnt some trophy to fight over. Should I challenge this Jane to a duel? A boxing match? Whats she got to do with it? If it werent Jane, itd be Emily or Christina.»
«Let me tell you somethingWilliams father, Edward, wasnt perfect in his youth either. But I was wiser than you. I kept our family together. Thirty-five years now. Well soon celebrate our coral anniversary.»
«And what was this wisdom of yours?» Vicky smirked.
«No scenes. No tantrums. I became sweeter, cooked his favorite meals, took interest in his affairs. I even changed my hair, lost weight, greeted him with smiles after work. Sometimes I knew hed just come from her, and all I wanted was to clobber him with a frying pan. But I endured. And lookI kept my husband. My son grew up with a father, and now my grandson has a grandfather.»
«Margaret, youre remarkable. I could never do that. Sadly, Ive too much self-respect. What youre suggesting is like asking me to eat from a rubbish bin.»
The mother-in-law flushed, stood abruptly, and stormed out without a word.
Vicky resumed packing, knowing this wasnt the endWilliam and Margaret would pester her further. She hurried to leave.
The next day, her father arrived. They loaded the boxes and suitcases into a van and drove off. On the way, Vicky asked him to stop at Margarets to return the flat keys.
«Can you believe it?» Vicky told her friend the next day. «Margaret spent an hour begging me to forgive Williams little slip and not file for divorce.»
«What arguments did she use?» asked Margaret.
«The usual. Youre robbing your child of a father. All men stray. Women must be wiser. Then she shared how she won her husband back.»
«How?»
«I wont repeat it. Trust me, its madness. Youd never do it.»
«Have you filed?»
«Yes, last Friday.»
«Finally free of that Casanova. It was painful watching that swine,» Margaret said.
«Painful? You knew about this Jane?» Vicky bristled.
«Not for certain, but I suspected,» Margaret admitted guiltily.
«Were supposed to be friends. Why didnt you tell me?»
«Wait! First, I had no proof. I saw what you sawjust drew different conclusions. Remember the office party? How Jane hovered around William? How often she arranged trips to coincide with his? I suspected, but I couldnt accuse him without certainty. What if I was wrong? Remember Sarah Bell?»
«The one who told a friend shed seen her husband with another woman? Showed a photo of them embracing?»
«Exactly. They reconciled, and Sarah was blamed for trying to ruin their marriage out of envy. She quit the firm. Dont be angry. If Id had ironclad proof, Id have told you. So, where will you live now?»
«The flat was Margarets, so Daniel and I left. Were at my parents for now, but next week well move into Grans old place. Its only two bedrooms, but enough for us. Ill sort the nurserythe old ones too far, but Mums friend promised to help transfer him to the one nearby. Once divorced, Ill file for maintenance.»
«Does William agree?»
«He says he doesnt want a divorce, that hes learned his lesson. But once was enough. He begged me not to file for maintenance, promised to pay voluntarily.»
«And you?»
«I refused. I dont want to see him. Let it be official. He threatened to take DanielMy flats better, my salarys higher. I didnt arguejust counted his business trips last year. Eight. Saved it for court. If he tries to take Daniel, Ill ask wholl care for him when hes away. Ive a job and a home. Hell lose.»
William did file for custody, claiming Vicky couldnt provide for Daniel. Margaret accused her of hiding the child»She vanished after a week at her parents! Where is he? In some shady place?»
Vicky clarified: they lived in her two-bedroom flat, Daniel attended the local nursery. She noted Williams frequent travels would hinder his parenting. In the end, neither he nor Margaret succeeded.
Vicky found new worka skilled professional, it wasnt hard. Soon, Margaret brought news:
«Jane quit. Left town.»
«Why?»
«The office women made it clear she wasnt welcome. She lingered a month, realized the game was up, and fled to London. So your ex is alone now.»
«That doesnt trouble me,» Vicky said.
And she meant it. For in that well from which shed now drink, no amount of spit could change the taste.
What would you say? Did Victoria do right? Share your thoughts.
