My husband’s infidelity went unpunished. He convinced me it was just a one-time thing, that it didn’t mean anything, and I forgave him because of the kids. The second time he did it, I filed for divorce, and trust me, it was a nasty one and ended with him ripping off the wallpaper from the entire house.
Dan and I had been married for eight years, welcoming two children together. But it seemed that when he cheated on me, he didn’t care about our marriage nor the kids we were raising together.
“Men do that, it’s not a big deal,” he said the second time I learned he was with another woman. But there was no more space for forgiveness.
Dan demanded that we split everything in half. But he couldn’t have the house, because it was my grandmother’s and I inherited it long before I met him.
“I have the right to that house,” he yelled at me during one of the mediation sessions we’ve went through.
However, he couldn’t have it, not whole, not a part of it. It was all mine.
When it came to the kids, I received a blow way worse than learning about Dan’s infidelity.
“She can have a full custody of the kids,” he said, “I can’t take care of them.”
It was as though they didn’t mean anything to him. His own children.
“What kind of a father are you?” I asked him, fuming.
But he didn’t care. He wanted to get out of that marriage burden free. Because that’s what he though of Jack and Emma, that they were a burden.
I asked Dan to pack his things first thing in the morning, but he said he needed a week, so I agreed.
In order to spare the kids from seeing their dad leave, I took them to my mom’s.
When we finally returned home, after many questions such as “Will daddy miss us?” that I didn’t know the answer to, we came to the most shocking scene.
Dan was still there, ripping of the floral wallpaper from the living room.
“Dan, what are you doing?” I asked, confused, while my kids watched and wondered what was happening.
“I paid for these, and now I’m taking them.”
I told the kids to go to their rooms, and that’s when Jack yelled. “Mom, my dinosaur wallpaper is missing.”
My world turned upside down. “Dan, are you insane?” I asked. “You skinned your kids’ home alive?”
But he didn’t care. What’s most, he grabbed the toaster, the coffee maker, and even the toilet paper when he finally left.
The first couple of months were hard. But over time, I managed to balance between my work, my kids, and the home. I even attended a book club and met wonderful women there.
Once, over a good book and even better wine, I shared with the girls at the book club the story about the ripped wallpaper. Somehow, after that much time, I found that funny instead of unsettling.
They couldn’t believe my ex really did that.
Casey, one of them said, “But you must be joking about the toilet paper. No one’s THAT crazy.” But she was wrong, because Dan was.
Months passed by and I received a phone call from Dan. “I’m getting married,” he bragged. I really had no idea why he even called and what did he expect from me to say.
“Congrats,” I uttered before hanging up the phone.
And then, one day, I met Dan on the street. He was holding hands with a woman. When he noticed me, he went into my direction on purpose.
I froze when I saw the woman he was with was Casey from the book club.
“Hey, Nora,” she waved. “This is Dan, my fiance,” she said excitedly.
“I know who he is, Casey, we go way back,” I said.
“But how do you know each other,” Casey asked, and that when I told her Dan was my ex.
“Your ex? Like in the one who ripped your wallpaper and took your toilet paper?”
Dan turned to her and said, “Casey, it’s not what it seems like. Let me explain.”
“Explain what Dan?” Casey asked. “You told me your ex wife took your kids and moved to another country. That she wouldn’t let you see them. You are such a liar, Dan. And ripping off your kids’ wallpaper? You are a walking red flag.”
She then turned to me and said, “Nora, I had no idea,” before taking her ring off and throwing it to Dan.
I just looked at Dan and though to myself, “Well, what goes around, comes around. It looks like karma is a real bit*h.”
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Bored Daddy
Love and Peace