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She Thought Her Husband Had a Big Appetite—Turns Out His Sister Was Stealing Food from Their Fridge
So, picture thisIm standing in front of my fridge, door wide open, absolutely baffled where all the foods vanished to. I mean, Id only just done a big shop and cooked the night before and everythings more or less gone. For ages, I honestly thought it was Ben, my husband, who was eating us out of house and home. Heaven knows, every time I brought it up, wed end up snapping at each other. Not exactly news, considering hes been out of work for nearly two months now while Im slogging away just to put food in the cupboards that magically disappears.
Honestly, Id got so used to having toast and a weak cup of instant in the eveningscouldnt face a proper cook after work most nights, and Ben, well, he always seemed to think Id already eaten. If only. So, anyway, one morning hes shouting from the lounge, Im off to Mums tomorrow, we need to help Tom out! Not that I was listening properly, I felt so grotty as it was. Woke up that morning with a raging temperature, so I just curled up with some paracetamol and called in sick.
Next thing I know, Im trying to nap but theres this racket coming from the kitchenclattering pans, the fridge door going every two seconds, someone humming, totally oblivious. I drag myself up to have a look, and who do I find? Only Bens sister, Emily, someone I barely even talk to if I can help it.
Emilys always acting like Bens her personal piggy bank, meant to pitch in for her lot as well as our own. More than once, Id noticed our weekly budget taking a nosedive, and Ben being all mysterious about where the money goes. So theres Emily, rummaging through the groceries Id just bought, loading everything into Tupperware.
I go, Morning, Emily! and she nearly jumps out of her skin. Shouldnt you be at work? she asks. Off sick, actually. Does Ben know youre here swiping food? She looks away and mutters, He left me the key. Thats when the penny drops for me. So its not Ben with the bottomless appetiteits you helping yourself behind our backs. She puffs up and snaps, Hes my brother, Ive every right to grab food for my kids. Ive got two mouths to feed! Well, Bens not earning and not buying any of this, so I dont much fancy feeding two families without even being told, I say.
We go back and forth and she gets all stroppy, What, you want me to apologise for taking a bit of sausage? For goodness sake, its not like Im robbing Buckingham Palace! Hand over the keys or I swear Ill ring the police. You seem to forget, Bens got no real claim to this flat.
She flings the keys at me, all dramatic, Youd call the police over a cheap pack of sausages? Honestly, you are unbelievable! Ill tell Ben what youre really like. I just close the door on her and think, whats the point? Soon enough, hell probably move on anyway.
I cried, Im not going to lie. Its been humiliating, being made out to be the fool in my own home all this time. No one would believe whats actually gone onmy own sister-in-law literally nicking our shopping and leaving nothing but stale bread behind, and my own husband covering for her, pretending hes scoffed it all.
But honestly, Im not that surprised. The whole lot of them are the samehis mum, her kids, always popping over and thinking whats mine is theirs. I sat there for ages, just turning it all over in my head, until I finally picked up the phone and told Ben straight: Im filing for divorce.
He tried to backpedal: Let me come home and well talk, dont shut me out like this. But I stood firm, Theres nothing left to say, Ben. I see things clearer now.
People like that dont change, and Im just gutted to have lost so much time on the wrong crowd. By then, he wasnt even familiar to me anymore. Truth is, I should have put my foot down ages ago.
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