Nothing Terrible Happened in the End! Well, It Happens to Men – Got Carried Away, Couldn’t Stop in Time

Vicky, honestly, nothing terrible happened! Men do this sort of thinggot carried away, couldnt stop in time. Be the bigger person. Are you really going to step aside for some girl? Shell think shes won! Fight for your family! her mother-in-law pleaded.

On Saturday morning, Vicky dropped her son off at her parents place. Shed arranged for Dennis to stay with them for a while.

Back home, Victoria fetched cardboard boxes from the balcony and started packing. She began in the nursery.

She folded clothes, packed toys and books, sealed the boxes with tape, and labelled them. Soon, the room would be stripped bare except for the furniture, which she had no intention of taking with her.

Around noon, her phone rang. Vicky glanced at the screenher mother-in-law.

Hello, Margaret.

Good afternoon, Vicky. Edward told me everything. I know youre hurt. But perhaps you shouldnt rush into this? Take some time, cool off, think it over. Do you really want to break up the family?

Im not the one breaking it upEdward is, Vicky replied.

Vicky, Im not excusing him! But maybe, just this once, you could forgive him?

What do you mean, just this once? Your sons been seeing his colleague for six months, lying to me. And youre saying forgive him? No, Victoria said firmly.

Vicky, please, think again. Youre taking Dennis away from his father. And Eddie adores his son!

Margaret, Edward can still see Dennis. I wont stand in his way. But I refuse to stay married to your son. Lets leave it at thatIm packing, and I dont have time for this.

She taped up the last two boxes, moved to the bedroom, and started filling suitcases with her clothes.

Her mother-in-law showed up an hour later. Margaret had convinced herself she could talk her daughter-in-law out of ending the marriage face-to-face.

The conversation went in circles:

Vicky, honestly, nothing awful happened! Men strayits just how they are. Be wise. Are you really going to let some girl take your husband? Shell think shes beaten you! Fight for your family!

Margaret, Edward isnt some trophy to fight over. Should I challenge this Jane to a duel? A boxing match? What does she even have to do with it? If it wasnt Jane, itd be Ellie or Christina.

You know, Ill let you in on a secretEdwards father, George, wasnt perfect in his youth either. But I was wiser than you. I saved our marriage. And lookweve been together nearly thirty-five years. Soon well celebrate our coral anniversary.

And what was this wisdom of yours? Vicky smirked.

I didnt make scenes. I was more affectionate, cooked his favourite meals, took an interest in his work. I even worked on myselfchanged my hair, lost weight, met him with a smile when he came home.

Sometimes I *knew* hed just come from that woman, and I wanted to grab a frying pan and smack him over the head. But I bit my tongue and smiled. And lookI kept my husband. My son grew up with a father, and my grandson has a grandfather.

You know, Margaret, youre an extraordinary woman. I could never do that. Sadly, I have too much self-respect. What youre suggesting is like eating from a rubbish bin.

Her mother-in-law flared up, stood abruptly, and stormed out without a word.

Vicky kept packing. She knew this wasnt the endEdward and Margaret would still make her life difficult. Thats why she was in such a hurry to leave.

The next day, her father came to help. They quickly loaded the boxes and suitcases into a van and drove off.

On the way, Vicky asked him to stop by her in-laws to drop off the keys to the flat.

Can you believe it? she told her friend the next day. Yesterday, Margaret spent an hour begging me to forgive Edwards little slip and not file for divorce.

What arguments did she use? Emily asked.

The usual. Youre depriving your child of a father, all men cheat, women have to be wiser. Then she shared how *she* won her husband back.

How?

I wont even repeat it. Trust me, its madness. You wouldnt do it.

Have you filed yet?

Yes, on Friday, Victoria said.

Good riddance to that Casanova. It was painful watching that two-timing fool.

What do you mean, painful? Did you know about him and Jane? Vicky bristled.

Not for certain, but I suspected, Emily admitted guiltily.

Why didnt you tell me? I thought we were friends. Vicky stood to leave.

Wait! Hear me out. First, I didnt *know* anything. I saw the same things you didjust drew different conclusions. Remember the office party?

Think about how Jane hovered around Edward. You saw that, didnt you? How many times did she angle to go on trips with him?

You work in HRdidnt you wonder how Jane always ended up replacing whoever was supposed to travel with him? I suspected, but I didnt say anything because I wasnt sure.

You couldve at least hinted.

And if Id been wrong? What would you have thought of me? That I wanted to split you up? Remember Sarah?

She told a friend shed seen her husband with another womaneven showed her a photo of them hugging. There was a huge row, but they made up, and Sarah was blamed for trying to wreck a happy marriage out of jealousy.

She quit not long after. So dont be mad. If Id had proof, Id have told you. Where are you going to live now?

The flats in Margarets name, so weve moved out. For now, were staying with my parents.

But in a week, well fix up my grans place. My parents rented it out, but the tenants left a month ago. Its only two bedrooms, but its enough for me and Dennis.

Ill sort out nurseryhis old ones too far, but Mums friend promised to help get him into the one near us. Once were divorced, Ill file for maintenance. Thats it.

Is Edward agreeing to the divorce? Emily asked.

Says he doesnt want one, that hes learned his lesson. But once was enough for me. He begged me not to file for maintenance, said hed pay voluntarily.

And?

No. I dont want to deal with him. Itll all be official. He even threatened to take Dennis: Ive got a better flat, a higher salary.

I didnt arguejust counted how many business trips he took last year. Eight.

What did he say to that?

I saved that for court. If he tries to get custody, Ill ask wholl look after Dennis when hes away. Besides, Ive got a job and a home. He wont win.

Edward did file for custody, demanding Dennis live with him:

My ex-wife cant provide our son with the standard of living he deserves, he declared.

Margaret claimed her former daughter-in-law was hiding the child:

She moved out, took the boy from nursery. We thought theyd stay with Vickys parents, but they vanished after a week.

Neighbours confirmed it. Where is she keeping him? A child should be in nursery, not hidden in some shady place!

Vicky had to explain they were living in her two-bedroom flat, that Dennis attended nursery nearby, and that Edwards frequent travel made him an unfit primary carer.

In the end, neither Margaret nor Edward got their way.

Vicky didnt want to see Edward after the divorce and soon found another jobshe was good at what she did, so it wasnt hard.

Not long after, Emily brought news:

Jane quit and left.

Why? Vicky frowned.

The women at work made her life hell. She hung around for a month, realised there was nothing left for her here, and went to London. So your ex is on his own now.

Well, thats not my problem anymore, Vicky said.

And she meant it. Some wells are so poisoned, no amount of thirst could make you drink from them.

What would you have done? Was Vicky right? Share your thoughts.