You & me
A READER writes: “My heart goes out to the lady whose 40-year marriage is about to crumble because of her husband’s infidelity. My husband has spent much of his working life involved with women in his employ.
“I know when he is interested in one because he starts talking about her all the time, comparing her to the other staff. He does this particularly when we are out having a special dinner together.
“Then, of course, he starts to hide his cellphone or to rush to it every time it pings. Next is the expensive gift phase. This happens at the same time as his frequent disappearances to “pick up something” from the shop or from work. He pretends he doesn’t hear me when I ask him where he is going, or he gets angry and accuses me of jealousy or overly-suspicious behaviour.
“Both techniques save him from a direct lie. I stay because I like my life, of which he has become a progressively smaller part. I love our children. How do I stay?
“I am polite and kind to him, always, but I spend my time with better people: family, friends and mentors. Am I happy? Yes. He may be a killjoy, but he has not been able to extinguish my inner joy.” (Edited)