My life with Mark was a solid ten years: two kids, a mortgage, and a decade of me running our entire operation. Mark, frankly, was zero help around the house. He didn’t cook, clean, or manage the ceaseless chaos of raising children. It was all on my shoulders. I told myself it was fine, that we were a team. But Mark, as it turned out, had decided to join a different one.
The moment of truth came one afternoon. I had just pulled into the driveway after a grueling grocery run. My car was packed; I was mentally bracing for the solo mission of hauling everything inside—Mark, as usual, wouldn’t lift a finger. Then I heard them. Voices, coming from the porch.
It was Mark, chatting with Emma, our neighbor’s 25-year-old daughter who’d recently moved back. They were laughing like old friends. I nearly called out a greeting, but some instinct made me stop. Hidden by the car and the heavy bags, I listened.
“I can’t believe she hasn’t figured it out yet,” Emma giggled, the sound sharp and clear in the cool air.
Mark chuckled. “She’s so busy, Em. Lexie barely notices anything. She’s gotten so gray, too. She just brushes her hair the other way to cover it up. Honestly, she’s let herself go so much. She doesn’t even look like a woman to me anymore. She’s nothing compared to you, my princess.”
Emma’s response was a sultry coo. “Well, lucky for you, mister, I’m here now. You can parade me all you want. And trust me, there’s no gray hair in sight.”
Then they kissed.
My vision blurred. I clutched a bag so hard the plastic nearly ripped. The humiliation and rage were a physical torrent, but I didn’t scream or confront them. I didn’t cry, not properly anyway. Instead, I quietly carried the groceries inside through the back door and started to plan.
The next morning, I woke with a surprising sense of calm. I made Mark’s breakfast, his eggs fluffy and the bacon crispy, his coffee spiced with cinnamon. I kissed him goodbye and waved cheerfully as he left for work.
Once he was gone, I walked next door and knocked on Emma’s door.
“Oh! Hi, Lexie,” she stammered, her smile bright, yet a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
“Hi, Emma,” I said warmly. “I was wondering if you could come over tomorrow evening. I could really use your advice on something.”
“Advice? On what?”
I let my voice sound uncertain. “I’m thinking about redecorating the living room. Your parents mentioned you studied design, and I thought you could help pick out colors. It’ll just take a little while.”
A sly, confident smile returned to her face. “Oh, I’d love to help! What time?”
“Seven, I think, will be fine? Dinner time!” I said, my own smile sweet and sincere. “Thanks so much, Emma. You’re a lifesaver.”
Emma arrived the next evening, dressed to impress, radiating confidence. I welcomed her and led her inside.
“Oh, before we get to the living room,” I said casually, “I wanted to show you a few things.”
I guided her through the house, pointing out areas of domestic responsibility.
“Here’s the dishwasher. You’ll need to load it every night because Mark doesn’t bother. The kids’ laundry goes here, but please, separate the loads; they’re sensitive to different detergents.” She stared at me, her initial confidence fading.
“And here’s the schedule for their after-school activities. You’ll need to handle pick-ups on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ve written down the plumber, electrician, and pediatrician’s numbers, just in case.”
Her smile was gone, her face pale.
I led her into the kitchen, where a roast chicken was filling the air with scent. “This is where you’ll prep all the meals. And trust me, between breakfasts, school lunches, work lunches, snacks, and desserts, it’s a lot. Mark likes his steak medium-rare, by the way. The kids will only eat it if it’s cooked all the way through.”
She gasped. “Don’t expect Mark to say thank you; manners are not his thing. The kids are picky eaters, but you’ll figure it out.”
“Uh, Lexie. I’m not sure… I didn’t offer to babysit them,” she whispered.
Just then, Mark walked in. The sight of us together instantly drained the color from his face. “Lex, what is going on?” he asked, his voice tight.
“Oh,” I said brightly. “I probably should have included you. I’m just showing Emma how to run the house. Since you think I’ve let myself go, I figured that it’s time for me to prioritize myself. And also, maybe it’s time for me to find someone who sees me as his princess. Emma, you’ll be taking over everything I do. Good luck!”
Before they could respond, there was a knock. I opened the door to Emma’s parents, Anne and Howard.
“Oh! It smells delicious! I told Annie you were making your roast chicken, Lexie,” Howard said cheerfully.
“Thanks for coming, Anne and Howard. And thank you for raising such a helpful daughter,” I said, laying it on thick. “She and Mark have grown so close that I thought it was time to officially make her part of the family.”
“Wait, what?” Anne asked, confused.
“I’m leaving, and Emma’s going to take care of everything now! You must be so proud of your little girl.”
Emma’s mother looked shocked. Her father was livid.
“Emma,” Anne said. “Tell me this isn’t true.”
“It’s not what it looks like!” Emma stammered.
Mark, the coward, tried to shift the blame. “Lexie, this isn’t fair! Emma came to me! She came onto me!”
“Oh, did she?” I raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re not responsible for sneaking around with a 25-year-old while insulting your wife?”
Howard cut him off. “Mark, this is on you. Emma, this is equally on you. Let’s leave. Now.”
Emma shot me a venomous glare before storming out. Her parents followed, muttering a thousand apologies as they went.
Mark turned back to me, desperation etched across his face. “Lexie, please, babe. We’ve been together for so long… you owe me a conversation.”
“Oh, sweetie,” I said, finally taking the chicken out of the oven. “We’ll talk. My lawyer will call you tomorrow. For now, you should pack your bags and leave.”
“Where will I go?” he asked pathetically. “My family lives in a different state.”
“I don’t really care, Mark,” I said. “Go to a motel. Go to a friend. Join the circus.”
“And the kids?”
“They’re with my sister, and they’ll stay there until the lawyers work out a settlement. I’m not going down without a fight.”
A week later, I heard Emma had dumped Mark. “It was fun while it lasted,” she told the grapevine, “but I didn’t sign up to play mom.” Two weeks after that, Mark showed up with flowers, begging to return. “I’ve been so miserable without you,” he pleaded.
“I don’t care, Mark,” I blurted, the words finally feeling true and freeing. “I truly don’t care. Now leave. I’m fetching the kids in a few hours.” I closed the door, leaving him speechless.
It’s been months now, and I’ve never been happier. I’ve rediscovered the pieces of myself I thought were long gone, taking up salsa dancing. My kids and I have found a new rhythm, filled with laughter and love. Mark is still single. Karma’s a funny thing, isn’t it? Emma’s parents, Anne and Howard, though, they still send me pies and rake my yard. They were the lifesavers all along.
