Suzy and I have been friends since high school. We complement each other perfectly and the only subject that we had ever really disagreed on was boyfriends. Hers in particular. Ever since she started noticing guys, she has been attracted to the “bad boys” and the worst of her boyfriends was Jeff. He drank too much and used recreational drugs; he had no respect for authority and had been arrested on more than one occasion.
Despite warnings from everyone, Suzy began dating him. When Suzy found out she was pregnant we were all surprised when Jeff proposed. It was the first time any of us had seen him do anything like taking responsibility.
Suzy was ecstatic. She loved Jeff and knew that all he needed was a stable family life. I wish she had been right. Having a daughter didn’t change Jeff. Neither did having a son. And over the years he got worse.
Suzy knew I didn’t like Jeff and many times she said how much she appreciated that I at least tried to be friendly to him when her other friends had distanced themselves. I couldn’t desert my friend and I knew she needed all the support and help I could offer.
I stood by her over the years – through the times he threw her out of their house, the times he cheated on her or tormented her emotionally, and the times when he hit her or left her. And during the times when he begged her to come back.
While Jeff worked in a high paying job, he refused to contribute to any household or family bills. Suzy worked a full time job cleaning, took in ironing and worked several nights a week at a bakery in order to pay the mortgage and feed her three children. And she still kept the house in order and prepared three meals a day for Jeff.
Working three jobs and looking after a family of young children was taking its toll on Suzy. She was taking high dosage anti-depressants and she wasn’t eating properly. She had several fainting spells and was on the point of exhaustion. The only thing that was going to save her was to get out of the marriage. Yet despite the drinking and the drugs she wouldn’t leave him. She knew Jeff had had affairs but had always blamed herself, saying that he only had them when she had left him or when she was away. Knowing he had cheated on her wasn’t enough.
So I formulated a plan. A week before his birthday, I invited Suzy and her children over for a play date. I also rang and booked a stripper-gram who promised to give the birthday boy all the “extras”.
While the children played happily together Suzy and I chatted. Then I asked to borrow a cookbook from her so I could make a special dish for my husband. I convinced her to go home and get it, knowing what she would find.
She was a mess when she came back. Her timing had been perfect, walking in on Jeff and the stripper in the most compromised of positions.
As devastated as she was, it was just what she needed. She left Jeff then and demanded a divorce.
Since then Suzy has met and married a lovely man who adores her children. I’ve never told her that I paid for the stripper but when I see how happy and at peace she is now, I know it was $300 well spent.
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