З життя
Husband Cared for His Sick Mother While His Wife Worked—Until She Spotted Him Buying Flowers for Another Woman
Valerie couldnt remember the last time shed felt this relaxed. Her business trip had been postponed by a few hours, and without offering any explanations, she switched off her phone and stretched out on the bed. Just that morning, shed returned from her mother-in-laws cottage in the countryside, where shed spent two days without a moments restscrubbing, cleaning, cookingall under the constant nagging of her husband, Robert, and his mother.
According to her mother-in-law, Valerie had “trapped” Robert, didnt earn enough (as if her salary alone was supposed to feed the entire household), and generally fell short in every possible way. Robert, ever the dutiful son, chimed in, suggesting she could “find something extra” since she got home from work “early” and barely had to lift a finger.
“Look how she mops the floor,” the old woman tutted. “Takes her ages. Couldve done the laundry instead.”
Valerie snapped. “If you lot cleaned it once a week, it wouldnt be this filthy.”
Big mistake. The lecture that followed couldve powered a small village. Valerie closed her eyes and calmly suggested, “I did offer to move you to London. Robert and I couldve looked after you properly, and he wouldnt have had to quit his job.”
Robert exploded. “So now Im supposed to work myself to the bone *and* play nursemaid? Youve got a heart of stone, you have.”
Valerie didnt wait for the encore. She walked out to the bench by the gate, where her neighbour, Tanya, found her wiping tears.
“Val, love, whats happened?” Tanya asked. Theyd been friends since before the wedding, back when Valerie still had a spark in her eye.
“Just the usual,” Valerie sighed.
“Honestly, I dont get why you put up with it. Roberts always there, but youre not really living together. Whats the point?”
Valerie shrugged. “We didnt choose this. His mums poorly. Once shes better, hell move back to the city.”
Tanya snorted. “Shell outlive us all, that one. I reckon shes faking half of it. You used to have fire in you. What happened?”
“Dunno. Just tired.”
When her boss called to postpone the trip till noon the next day, Valerie nearly cheered. Extra pay, fewer calls from Robert and his mumbliss. That evening, the house was oddly peaceful. Robert slept in the spare room (“Mumll worry”), and Valerie, too exhausted to argue, passed out instantly.
At 2 a.m., her mother-in-laws voice pierced the dark. “Are you deaf? Ive been calling!”
Valerie blinked groggily. “Whats wrong?”
“My tablets. Fetch them.”
The womans sofa was *farther* from the medicine cabinet than Roberts room. But Valerie got up. By 5 a.m., shed barely slept. At 6:30, she dragged herself to the train station, exhausted before the day began. When the trip was delayed again, she nearly wept with relief. Phone off, face buried in the pillowbliss.
An hour before departure, her per diem landed in her account. For the first time, she didnt send it to Robert. Something had shifted.
At the station café, she spotted himby the flower stall. Her stomach dropped. *Hes supposed to be caring for his “dying” mother.* She watched as he bought a bouquet, then ducked into a cab. Heart pounding, she hailed one herself.
“Follow that car. Ill double your fare.”
The drivertoo handsome for taxi workraised an eyebrow but complied. Through the window, she saw Robert kiss a woman, hand her the flowers, then vanish into her flat. Valeries vision blurred.
The driver smirked. “Might not be what you think.”
Only then did she notice his designer watch.
“This isnt *actually* a taxi, is it?”
He laughed. “Nah. Just dropping Dad at the station. Saw you panicking and thought, Why not?”
At a riverside café, Valerie sipped coffee as the sun set. “Gorgeous,” she murmured.
“Found this spot after my divorce,” the driverAlexsaid. “Wife ran off with my best mate.”
Valerie choked. “Thats *exactly* what I was going to say!”
Alex grinned. “Great minds.”
Two days later, Robert called as she packed for another trip.
“Val, wheres the money? They paid you, right?”
“Its for expenses, Rob.”
“So youre not sending it?”
“Correct. Also, get your stuff out of *my* flat. The one *my* parents bought.”
Silence. Then, sputtering: “How am I supposed to live?”
“Get a job. Like normal people.”
“How? Mums ill!”
“Not too ill for you to buy flowers for your girlfriend *with my money*.”
She hung up.
Alex texted her goodnight. Little things.
On her next trip, Robert ambushed her at the door.
“We need to talk.”
“No, we dont.”
He grabbed her arm. “Youre not dumping me. So what if I had a bit on the side? Im a manits natural!”
Valerie yanked free. “Let go!”
Alex materialised. Robert paled.
“New boyfriend, eh? Fine. Ill divorce you!”
Valerie smiled. “Perfect. Saves me the paperwork.”
As they drove off, Alex laughed. “Hes still standing there, mouth open.”
“Ex,” Valerie corrected. “Now explain why youre *really* here.”
“You mentioned your trip. I came to drive you.”
“Thats *200 miles*!”
He stopped the car, popped the boot, and handed her white roses. “Forgot these. Planned this whole grand gesture and nearly botched it.”
Valerie stared. Then laughed. It was better than shed dreamed.
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