“Want my husband? He’s all yours!” said the wife with a smile, directed at the stranger whod turned up at her door.
“Hold on a sec, Emily! Someones at the door. Ill call you back once I find out who it is,” said Charlotte reluctantly, ending the call with her childhood friend. Emily had been recounting, in hilarious detail, her mother-in-laws birthday party, and Charlotte had been laughing like she was watching a stand-up show.
Charlotte headed to the door, peeked through the peephole, and froze. Shed expected a neighbourstrangers didnt just wander into their secure building. But there stood a young woman with an odd look about her, someone Charlotte had never seen before.
She decided not to open the doorbetter safe than sorry, especially with all the scammers about these days. Charlotte had a firm rule: no chatting with strangers. Con artists preyed on the gullible, but she wasnt one of them.
She lifted her phone to resume her call with Emily, but the doorbell rang again. The woman outside was persistent, convinced someone was home and determined to get an answer.
Charlotte was aloneher husband, James, had gone to help a mate with some garden work. She turned back to the door and looked through the peephole again, studying the stranger more carefully.
Something about her seemed off, almost pitiful, but Charlotte didnt feel threatened.
“Whats the worst that could happen if I open the door and tell her to leave? Then I can get back to my peaceful weekend,” she thought. “Probably lost or trying to sell me some nonsense.”
Resolved, Charlotte opened the door. The woman in the hallway straightened up immediately, fussing with her hair before speaking.
“Hello! Youre Charlotte, right?” she asked, fiddling with her scarf. “Well, of course you arewhy even ask?”
“Interesting,” Charlotte mused. “Scammers are getting bold these days. She even knows my name.”
“Who are you and what do you want? Youve been standing here for five minutes. I didnt invite you, so say your piece or leave,” Charlotte said firmly.
“Is James home?” the stranger asked, catching Charlotte off guard.
“Well, this is new,” Charlotte thought, suspicious. “She knows my husbands name too. Definitely prepared.”
“Youre here for James?” Charlotte asked, though shed meant to say something entirely different.
“No, I came to speak to you. But if James is here, itll be harder for me,” the woman replied with unsettling casualness.
“Harder for you? Whats going on?” Charlotte wondered, curiosity rising.
“Hes not home. What do you want?”
“Maybe we should step inside. Its odd discussing these things in the hallway,” the woman suggested, growing bolder.
“Not a chance. I dont know you, and I dont let strangers into my house. Say what you need to say, and make it quick,” Charlotte shot back.
“Do you really want to talk about the intimate details of my relationship with James out here, where the neighbours can hear?” the woman said, smirking.
“What? What relationship?” Charlotte exclaimed, louder than shed meant to.
“Charlotte, love, everything alright? Why the shouting?” asked Mrs. Thompson, the neighbour from across the hall, whod just stepped out of the lift.
“Oh, hello, Mrs. Thompson! All good here. Lovely weather, isnt it?” Charlotte tried to deflect.
“Looks like rain later,” Mrs. Thompson replied, though she didnt seem in a hurry to go inside, eyeing the scene with interest.
“Come in,” Charlotte muttered, reluctantly gesturing for the woman to enter.
Once inside, the woman glanced around the flat with interest, her eyes lingering on various objects.
“Youve got five minutes. Talk,” Charlotte said, blocking her from going further into the living room. “This isnt a museum.”
“My names Sophie,” the woman began, removing her scarf and coat. “James and I are in love.”
“Oh, how original. Couldnt come up with something fresher?” Charlotte cut in, smirking.
“Whats unoriginal about it? People fall in loveit happens. Youre not the first wife whose husbands moved on,” Sophie retorted confidently, trying to step past Charlotte.
“And youre sure he doesnt love me anymore and loves you instead?” Charlotte asked, still smiling.
“Absolutely! Otherwise, I wouldnt be here,” Sophie said boldly.
“Well, heres the thingmy husband doesnt love anyone. He doesnt know how. So youre mistaken, love,” Charlotte said calmly.
Sophie opened her mouth to argue, but just then, the door opened, and James walked in
James walked in, looking baffled to find a stranger in their hallway.
“Sophie? What are you doing here on a Saturday? Something work-related?” he asked, confused.
“No, shes here for you,” Charlotte said, enjoying the moment.
“For me? What do you mean? Did something happen at work?” James asked, even more lost.
“No, darling. Shes come to take you away from me. Permanently,” Charlotte replied, grinning.
Sophie, visibly flustered, quickly grabbed her coat and started backing toward the door.
“Leaving so soon? What about James? Didnt you come for him? Honestly, Id be more than happy to hand him over,” Charlotte teased.
But Sophie was already out the door without another word.
“What on earth was that about?” James asked, utterly bewildered.
“You tell me! Why did this bold woman show up demanding a divorce and insisting youd move in with her?” Charlotte asked, arms crossed.
“Are you serious?” James replied, looking genuinely shocked. “I have no idea whats going on. Shes been acting odd at work, but I never gave her any reason. Im sick of this nonsense. I promised you, remember?”
“Good. Because you know me, JamesI dont tolerate this sort of thing. But honestly, some women these days will do anything to fix their messy lives,” Charlotte said, shaking her head.
James kicked off his shoes and headed to the kitchen, while Charlotte stayed lost in thought for a moment. She vowed not to let something like this rattle the peace of their home. Against her will, she smirked at how poorly executed Sophies whole “plan” had been.
One thing was clearno matter what others tried, their marriage was stronger than anyone couldve guessed.
