When our kids fell ill and couldn’t go on our planned family vacation, my husband just ditched us and went alone. What he didn’t know was that his little “me time” getaway would cost him way more than he bargained for.
I trdged through the front door at 8:30 p.m., my feet throbbing after a grueling twelve-hour shift at the hospital. The cacophony hit me like a wall: cartoons blaring from the TV, Zach and Penny shrieking as they chased each other around the living room.
And there was Garrett, sprawled on the couch like a beached whale, beer in hand.
“Hey, babe,” he called out, not bothering to look up from his phone. “Rough day?”
I bit back a sarcastic reply. “You could say that. The ER was a madhouse.” I glanced at the disaster zone of toys and snack wrappers surrounding him. “Did you feed the kids dinner?”
Garrett shrugged. “They had some chips earlier. I figured you’d want to cook when you got home.”
I closed my eyes, counting to ten. This had become our new normal over the past few years. I’d come home from saving lives to find a house in chaos and a husband who couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger.
“Mommy!” Penny latched onto my leg, her blonde pigtails askew. “I’m starving!”
I forced a smile. “Okay, sweetie. Let’s get you both some real food.”
As I reheated leftovers, my mind drifted to our upcoming beach vacation. Maybe a change of scenery would help us reconnect, remind Garrett why we fell in love in the first place.
“So, you packed for the trip yet?” I asked, setting plates in front of the kids.
Garrett grunted. “Nah, I’ll throw some stuff in a bag tomorrow. No big deal.”
I sighed. “We leave in two days, Garrett. A little planning wouldn’t kill you.”
He rolled his eyes. “Relax, it’ll be fine. You worry too much.”
The night before our flight, I woke to the sound of retching. Zach was hunched over the toilet, his face pale and clammy. Within an hour, Penny was sick too.
I gently broke the news to Garrett over breakfast. “We’ll have to postpone the trip. The kids have a nasty stomach bug.”
He froze, fork halfway to his mouth. “What? No way. I’ve been looking forward to this for months!”
“I know, but they’re too sick to travel. We can reschedule”
Garrett’s jaw clenched. “I’m still going.”
I stared at him, sure I’d misheard. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I need this break, Nora. Work’s been insane lately.”
“And my job isn’t?” I snapped. “I’m a nurse, Garrett. I deal with real emergencies every day.”
He scoffed. “It’s not a competition. Look, you stay with the kids. I’ll go enjoy the beach for both of us.”
I watched in disbelief as he packed his suitcase, ignoring Zach and Penny’s disappointed faces. As the front door slammed behind him, something inside me snapped.
The next week was hell. I juggled caring for two miserable children, all while stewing in rage every time Garrett sent a smug beach selfie.
On Friday, my phone buzzed with another photo: Garrett grinning over a fancy cocktail, caption reading “Living the dream!”
That was it. I had had enough, and I had a plan.
I marched into the garage, surveying Garrett’s precious “man cave.” His fishing gear, the boat he’d barely used, piles of expensive junk he’d accumulated over the years. A plan formed in my mind.
I spent the next few hours photographing everything, creating listings on the local buy-and-sell site. Within days, Garrett’s prized possessions were gone, replaced by a fat wad of cash in my purse.
“Guess what, kids?” I announced over breakfast. “We’re going on our own special vacation!”
Their eyes lit up. Zach pumped his fist. “Awesome! Where are we going?”
I grinned. “It’s a surprise. But I promise it’ll be even better than Dad’s boring old beach.”
We arrived at the resort a few days later, the kids bouncing with excitement. As I watched them splash in the pool, I felt lighter than I had in years.
“Mom, watch this!” Zach called, attempting a cannonball. I cheered, then turned to help Penny blow up her water wings.
“You’re a natural with them,” a voice behind me said. I turned to see a woman about my age smiling. “Single mom?”
I hesitated. “It’s… complicated.”
She nodded knowingly. “I’ve been there. I’m Tessa, by the way.”
We chatted as the kids played, swapping stories about work and parenthood. It felt good to connect with someone who understood.
“So, what’s your story?” Tessa asked, sipping her lemonade.
I sighed. “My husband decided to go on our family vacation without us when the kids got sick. Left me to deal with everything while he partied on the beach.”
Tessa’s eyes widened. “Seriously? What a jerk!”
I nodded. “Yeah, it was the last straw. I’ve been putting up with his selfishness for years, but this — I just couldn’t take it anymore.”
“So what did you do?” she asked.
A mischievous smile crept across my face. “I sold all his precious toys and used the money to bring the kids here.”
Tessa burst out laughing. “Oh my God, that’s brilliant! How’d he take it?”
“He doesn’t know yet,” I admitted. “But I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.”
As if on cue, my phone started buzzing. Garrett’s name flashed on the screen.
“Speaking of the devil,” I muttered. “I should probably take this.”
Tessa gave me an encouraging nod. “Go get ’em, tiger.”
I stepped away from the pool, taking a deep breath before answering. “Hello?”
“Where the hell is all my stuff?” Garrett shouted, not bothering with a greeting.
I leaned against a palm tree, surprisingly calm. “Oh, you noticed? I thought you’d be too busy ‘living the dream’ to care.”
“Don’t play games, Nora. What did you do?”
“I sold it,” I said simply. “All of it. Your precious fishing rods, that boat you never use, everything.”
There was a moment of stunned silence. Then, “You what? How could you!”
“How could I?” I interrupted, my voice rising. “How could you abandon your sick children for a beach vacation? How could you ignore everything I do for this family?”
“That’s different! I work hard to provide for you.”
“And I don’t?” I shot back. “I’m done, Garrett. Done with your selfishness, done with being taken for granted.”
He sputtered, “What are you saying?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m saying I want a divorce.”
The line went quiet. When Garrett spoke again, his voice was low and dangerous. “You’ll regret this, Nora. I’ll make sure of it.”
I hung up, my hands shaking. Part of me wanted to cry, to mourn the life we’d built together. But a larger part felt… free.
I walked back to the pool, where Tessa was indulging in a cocktail.
“Everything okay?” she asked, concern etched on her face.
I nodded, managing a small smile. “Yeah, I think it will be. I just told my husband I want a divorce.”
Tessa’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s huge. How do you feel?”
“Scared,” I admitted. “But also relieved? Like I can finally breathe again.”
She squeezed my hand. “That’s totally normal. Trust me, it gets better.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the kids, building elaborate sandcastles and splashing in the waves. For the first time in years, I felt genuinely happy.
That night, as I tucked the kids into bed, Zach looked up at me with serious eyes. “Mom, are you and Dad getting divorced?”
My breath caught in my throat. “Why do you ask that, sweetie?”
He shrugged. “I heard you on the phone. And you seem happier here without him.”
I sat on the edge of his bed, choosing my words carefully. “Your dad and I have been having problems for a while now. We’re going to try to work things out, but… yes, we might get divorced.”
Zach nodded solemnly. “Okay. As long as you’re happy, Mom. That’s what matters.”
Tears pricked my eyes as I hugged him tight. “When did you get so wise, huh?”
After the kids were asleep, I stood on the balcony, watching the moonlight dance on the waves. My phone buzzed with a text from Garrett:
“This isn’t over. I’ll see you in court.”
I took a deep breath, letting the ocean air fill my lungs. The road ahead would be tough, but I felt ready to face whatever came my way.
As I crawled into bed, I thought about the uncertain future ahead of us. It was terrifying, yes, but also exhilarating. For the first time in years, I felt like I was taking control of my life.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, I let the sound of the ocean lull me to sleep, dreaming of the fresh start waiting on the horizon.
What would you have done?
Saleswoman Humiliates Customer for Her Size, Meets Her at Boyfriend’s Home for Christmas
I’ve got a holiday tale that’s stranger than fiction. It all started with a mockery and unfolded into a Christmas dinner none of us will ever forget.
So, recently, I went to the shopping mall to choose a dress for Christmas dinner, which I was hosting. There’s this young woman, Claire. She works in the sales department, and let’s just say she has a knack for spreading holiday cheer in the most unconventional way.
An older woman looks at the dress in the shop | Source: Shutterstock
She decided to play fashion critic at the shop, and when I wore a dress that she chose for me, she started mocking me. Loud enough for everyone to hear, she said, “You definitely need a bigger size, or it’ll blow up on you on Christmas, or maybe a diet will help you.”
A seller woman mocks someone | Source: Shutterstock
Some were baffled, some giggled. Classy, right? I ignored it and left the shop, as I had no time, no energy to put this sassy girl in her place.
When I got home, I tried calling my husband, but he was unavailable. My son was present, and I couldn’t hold back my tears while explaining everything to him. He became furious and insisted on knowing the name of the shop to confront the saleswoman. However, I stopped him; I didn’t want to escalate the conflict further. Not now, maybe later.
Christmas Eve arrived, and I eagerly waited for my son and his girlfriend. It must have been the first time we met her. In fact, the whole family had gathered today. It was a special day, and it turned out to be even more memorable than I expected. The couple entered the home, and…little did I know, my son’s girlfriend turned out to be the woman who mocked me in the shop.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The moment Claire realized what she did, her face turned all shades of red. She was mortified and desperately wanted to escape the awkward situation. She claimed she was suddenly feeling unwell and suggested leaving the house. My first thought was that I had to kick her out. But then, I decided to give her one more chance. Maybe she had problems while mocking me. Maybe it was a bad day for her. Being the gracious hostess that I am, I persuaded her to stay. I stretched my mouth into a smile: “Oh, Claire, it’s so great to finally meet you! Please come! We’ll take care of you.”
A Christmas dinner in a family circle | Source: Shutterstock
As we all sat down for dinner, there was a noticeable tension in the air. The young woman, trying to play it cool, avoided eye contact with me, the supposed unsuspecting mother. Little did she know what was expecting her. We all had an amazing dinner. Laughed a lot and talked about everything. Our relatives shared what happened to them during this year. All felt so relaxed except for one. From time to time, she nervously made cheap and even cruel jokes, making my mother-in-law feel uncomfortable a few times. I saw my son grabbing her hand and stopping her. But for me, that was it.
There came the moment we had all been waiting for. Right there, in the midst of the Christmas feast, I decided to unwrap a little surprise of my own. “You know, I would never spoil our Christmas, but there’s a person who isn’t worth being here.” I shared with the whole family what Claire said to me in the shop. You could practically hear a pin drop as the truth hung in the air.
The shock on everyone’s faces, especially my son’s, was something out of a movie. Claire, who was so quick to mock others, suddenly found herself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
My son, God bless him, couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Without hesitation, he took charge of the situation. He looked at Claire with a mix of disappointment and disbelief and, right then and there, kicked her out, ending their relationship on the spot.
A man is arguing with his girlfriend during dinner | Source: Shutterstock
As Claire gathered her things and left, there was a strange sense of poetic justice in the air. The woman who had no qualms about ridiculing someone’s appearance was then facing the consequences of her own words.
Later that night, as we cleaned up the remnants of what was supposed to be a joyous Christmas dinner, my son approached me. He thanked me for being honest and showing him who Claire truly was. He admitted that he deserved someone who treated others with kindness and respect.
An adult son hugs his older mom | Source: Shutterstock
Justice doesn’t take a holiday. And sometimes, the best gift you can receive is the truth, even if it comes with a side of unexpected drama. Cheers to a Christmas I’ll never forget!
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