Ida was preparing dinner when suddenly the phone rang. Ida was a little worried. Nick was still not home, although he should have been back a few hours ago.
Picking up the phone, the girl exhaled heavily and answered:
-Yes, I’m listening to you.
The other party was silent for a while, and then said:
-Are you Ida?
-Yes, I am.
-I know that your husband is not at home now.
Ida became even more excited. “Who is this woman and why is she talking about her husband,” she thought.
-What? What about my Nick?” she asked.
-No, don’t worry, your Nick is fine. He is with his mistress now. So if he is delayed, do not worry – he will have fun and come home, – the stranger said and hung up.
Ida even sat down from such news. Half an hour later, she heard the key turning in the door.
It was Nick. The man shouted from the threshold:
-“Woman, where are you? Come, meet your husband,” and held out a bouquet of roses.
Going out into the corridor, Ida tried to pretend that she knew nothing and took the roses. She was confused and said:
-Thank you. What’s the occasion?
-Just because, I remembered that I haven’t given you flowers for a long time, – the man replied with a smile. -Okay, I’m going to the bathroom, you don’t have to heat the dinner, I’m very tired. When I come out of the bath, I’ll explain everything. Put the kettle on, I want some coffee.
Ida went to the kitchen to put the kettle on, still thinking about that call…
Finally her husband came out of the bath.
-“Can you imagine, today the car broke down, I had to drag it to the nearest tire shop. And the phone was dead, so I couldn’t call you. I had to wait in line…
-And while you were waiting, couldn’t you ask someone for a phone and call? – Ida asked with surprise.
-But I was somehow uncomfortable taking a phone from another person. Why are you talking to me in such a tone? I’m actually tired, and I want to rest, but instead, I listen to incomprehensible claims.
-A woman called me today and said you were having fun with your mistress. You were seen. What can you say to that?
Nick sat down from what he heard, and immediately became indignant:
-What? Do you believe it? And who was it anyway?
-“I do not know who this stranger is, but she said exactly that. What is it? Are you really cheating on me? Tell me the truth, I don’t like to be lied to.
-Ida, it’s not cheating at all. I’ll explain everything. Yes, I meet a woman, she always meets me well dressed, neatly made up and with a smile. It’s something like a vacation… But I’m not cheating on you!
The woman could not hold back her tears. She brushed them away and said:
-How is this not betrayal? It is treason in its purest form. And that you do not rest at home, that you decided to run to another? Don’t you feel like a man at home?
-At home? At home I am a husband and father, not a man. And these are two completely different things.
And how can I be a man at home when you are constantly wearing slippers and a bathrobe, or a T-shirt and pants. Children are constantly screaming and do not let you watch TV in peace. And you are constantly babbling that you would like to make repairs, or the tap to be fixed, or something else.
How will I feel like a man in all this? And this is not a betrayal. If I left my family and left you, it would be a betrayal. Family is work, and when you work hard, you need to rest!
-Wow, you’re talking. Is that your excuse, or do you really think so?” Ida could not believe her ears.
-You know, in today’s world, all men have mistresses. And it’s normal, and you have to accept it. But I will never leave my family. And stop fighting about it.
– It turns out that I don’t know you at all – the woman said sadly – We have lived together for many years. And how will you feel if I start resting with men?
Nick took anger:
-Just try, I will not live with you for a day then. You are a woman and should know your place!
The conversation began to turn into a quarrel.
-“And where is my place?” the wife asked.
-In the kitchen, with the children and next to your husband, – Nick said.
Ida did not answer her husband, went to the window and cried. She realized that next to her was not a native person, but a stranger.
The next morning Ida sent her children to school and went to her mother’s house. Crossing the threshold of her parents’ house, Ida immediately rushed to her mother. Her mother hugged her and realized something was wrong.
They went to the kitchen. Ida told her that her husband had a mistress and retold her the whole yesterday’s conversation.
-What are you going to do with all this? -Mum asked.
-“I don’t know what happened to the Nick I married. After all, this is a completely different and strange person for me. I don’t know how I will tell my children everything if I divorce him.
The mother shared her life story. After all, Ida’s father was the same as Nick, he was always hiding everything from everyone. And she endured everything, did not say anything about her father, although he did even worse than Ida’s husband.
And when Ida’s father became weak, her mother decided to pay him back and constantly reminded him of what he had done. All the tears were cried, but there was no pity for him.
After my mother told her story, she added:
-Why should you endure all this and live with it. It is better to leave now, because there will be no normal life afterwards. Of course, it is up to you and only you. If you want to save your family, you will have to endure, and do you need it? After all, you have your children, I will help you as much as I can, the apartment is yours. Why do you need such a man?
-Mom, I could not even imagine that you and dad were like this…
-All this time, I’ve been hiding it. It was very hard for me to keep it inside. So, my daughter, you need to think it over and decide whether you need such a life.
After talking with her mother, Ida felt a little lighter at heart. They sat a little longer and Ida went home. The woman gathered all her husband’s things and put them in the hallway. When Nick returned home, he was very surprised.
-Do you even understand what you are doing? We have a family, children!
-You betrayed our family, not me.
-I will go and I will not stay alone, but who will need you, and with two children?!
-Get out, I don’t want to know you anymore! -Ida said.
-What will you tell the children?
-The truth!
And Ida resolutely closed the door in front of him. She had decided everything for herself…
