Meredith was a 32-year-old mother and a wife. Her husband, Dave, and Meredith had lived through some problems in their lives after a discovery.
Meredith’s phone got ranged one day, “Hello?” She answered.
“Meredith, it’s Jeff from the office. I hate to do this to you on a weekend, but we’ve hit a snag with the Anderson project. We need you here, ASAP. It’s all hands on deck today,” Jeff said.
“Okay, Jeff, give me an hour. I’ll be there.” Meredith said.
She turned to her husband, who was sleeping on the couch, since he was working at odd hours in his new mysterious job.
“He’s working at some part-time gig,” she said to her mother, Camilla. “But won’t tell me where.”
“Meredith, that’s unsettling. A marriage should have no secrets, especially about something as basic as where one works. Have you pressed him for details?”
“I have, Mom. But every time I try to bring it up, he just changes the subject or makes it seem like it’s not a big deal. But it is to me. It feels like he’s hiding something, and it’s worrying me.”
“Darling, it’s not just about finding out what he’s hiding. It’s about trusting each other and being open. Let him know that his secrecy is hurting that trust,” Camilla said.
She then returned to present, and called her mother. “Mom, can you watch the kids today? I’ve been called into work unexpectedly,” she asked.
“Of course, darling. I’ll be right over,” Camilla said.
Two hours later, she received a phone call which would change her life. “You have to divorce him immediately!” Camilla said.
“What are you talking about?!” Meredith asked.
Dave’s voice was on the background. “Put the phone down, crazy lady! It’s not what you think.”
“Shut up, Dave!” Camilla said. “Listen, Meredith, I found women’s underwear in his pocket — women’s underwear! He’s been lying to you all this time!”
When Meredith returned back home, she found Dave in the living room, lost in his own thoughts. “We need to talk. Outside, now,” she said.
“Mom, start from the beginning. How did you find this?”
“Meredith, when you told me about Dave’s secretive job, I started worrying. Today, I decided to…to look through his things. I didn’t expect to find anything, but then I found…this,” Camilla said, as she showed the underwear.
“Dave, is this true?”
“Yes, but it’s not what you think, Meredith. I can explain. Please,” Dave said.
“Explain, then. Why would you keep this from me?”
“Meredith, there’s something I should’ve told you a long time ago,” Dave started, “I didn’t want to upset you… I took a part-time job as a security guard at an adult nightclub. It pays well, and with our third child on the way, I thought it was the best option.”
As Meredith was shocked, “And the underwear?” She asked.
“That was an accident. It’s not uncommon for…items to be left behind at the club. I picked it up, intending to deal with it later, and forgot. It was never meant to cause any of this.”
“Dave, I understand we’re in a tough spot financially, especially with the baby on the way. I know we need the money. But what hurts is the secrecy,” Meredith said. “If you had just been honest with me from the start, we could have faced this together. I would have understood. Why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me?”
“I… I was afraid. I thought you’d be upset or disappointed in me. I wanted to protect you from the stress, but I see now I made a mistake. I should have been upfront with you. I’m sorry for not giving you the chance to support us as a team.”
“How could both of you betray my trust like this?” Meredith said to her secretive husband and privacy invader mother. “This is our marriage, our family. We should be able to discuss anything, no matter the subject.”
As they started to apologize, “I need time,” Meredith said.
As few days passed in silence, Dave and Camilla appeared on Meredith’s doorstep. “We’re so sorry, Meredith. Can we talk?” They said with flowers and a pie.
“I overstepped, dear. I hope we can move past this and learn from it.” Camilla said.
After their talk, they solved their problems. “Let’s work on being better, for us and our children,” Meredith said.
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