«Well, John,» Natalie replied with a smirk, lying on the beach. «You chose this yourself. And Paula and I are resting. Don’t bother us with such trifles, please.»
After several such calls, Natalie began to get tired of her husband’s constant complaints. Either he didn’t understand where to put the powder in the washing machine, or the kettle wouldn’t turn on, so he had to heat water on the portable gas stove. Natalie decided to turn off her phone to have some peace and quiet.
But John didn’t give up. He started calling the home phone of her parents. «Hello, this is John. I just wanted to know how Natalie is doing.»
But without letting his mother-in-law say a word, the man continued: «And I also wanted to ask how you cope with utility prices? We’re all trying to save here, and I wanted to consult with you.» Natalie’s mother was initially glad to talk to her son-in-law, who seemed to share her views on saving.
But soon John’s constant questions about money began to irritate the woman. «John, son,» she said once in a conversation, «you know, maybe you should just relax a bit? Is it impossible to just live normally and not count every penny? Your income allows it.»
Natalie, learning from her mother about this conversation, laughed. «Well, Mom, did my economical husband get to you?» «He sure did,» her mother nodded.
«I didn’t even expect that people could be so obsessed. Saving is saving, but this is some kind of mania with him. Run from him, daughter, run away as fast as you can. Such behavior won’t lead to anything good.»
«Yes, I’m already thinking about it myself. But I need to try to teach him a proper lesson. Who knows, maybe it’ll help cure my hubby.»
Although deep down Natalie understood that everything was heading towards a breakup, she decided to try all options so as not to regret later. While at the resort, the woman realized that she deserved not only rest but also positive emotions from communicating with friends she hadn’t seen in a long time. Her parents supported this decision, promising to entertain Paula somehow during that time.
Then the woman began going to cafes to meet with girlfriends, and took photos, after all, for memories. One day, sitting in a cafe with her daughter and enjoying the sea view, Natalie accidentally met her classmate Andrew. They hadn’t seen each other in a long time and decided to sit together, reminisce about school years.
«Natalie, what brings you here?» Andrew exclaimed joyfully, approaching their table. «I never thought I’d meet you here at the resort. And who’s this beauty with you? She’s the spitting image of you!»
«Andrew, what a surprise!» Natalie beamed, hugging her friend. «Paula and I came to rest at my parents’. We haven’t seen each other in ages. Sit down, tell me how life is?»
Andrew joined Natalie and Paula, and they chatted nicely. At some point, Natalie decided to take a photo with her classmate and posted the picture on social media. Later in the evening, John, scrolling through his social media feed, came across this photo and immediately dialed Natalie’s number.
«Hello!» the man began rudely, getting straight to the point. «Natalie, what’s this photo? Are you meeting with guys there while I’m sitting alone in the apartment counting money?»
Natalie, already understanding where the conversation was going, calmly replied: «John, this is just my classmate. We met by chance in a cafe, sat, talked, took a photo for memory. Don’t make a problem out of this, please.»
«Don’t make a problem?» John was indignant. «You’re not only squandering the money I earn with difficulty, but also sitting at the same table with some guys. Maybe let them pay for you then, since you’re having such a fun time?»
Natalie sighed heavily, realizing that the conversation was going in circles again. Only this time her husband chose a slightly different justification for the emerging scandal. «John, listen, let’s do without accusations. This is just a friend, and I’m not going to justify myself for communicating with other people without reporting to you. If you don’t like that I’m having a good time, that’s your problem.»
«Problem?» John began to boil. «You’re spending time on guys, and I’m here!» Natalie sharply interrupted him.
«John, enough. You’re trying to manipulate me, as always. First with money, and now you’ve moved on to invented infidelities. But it doesn’t work. I was resting here and will continue to rest, and you’re to blame for putting saving above normal human relationships.»
John tried to insert his word, but Natalie strictly continued: «And let’s agree, if you call me again with such claims, I’ll just turn off the phone and enjoy the rest. This is my last warning.»
John fell silent, not knowing what to answer. He had always been sure that he could control his wife’s behavior. But Natalie had clearly changed, and his old methods no longer worked.
«Okay,» the man finally muttered. «But watch it, you’re still behaving wrong.» «Complain to my mom about it too,» Natalie snapped.
«And my opinion is this. I deserved this rest, period, so see you.» With these words, she hung up and turned off the phone.
Surprisingly, her husband didn’t bother Natalie anymore. A week after this conversation, Natalie and Paula returned from the resort fresh and rested. They looked great.
Tanned, with smiles on their faces. After three hours on the train, Natalie hurried straight to the shower. As soon as she closed the bathroom door behind her, John, out of habit, began to grumble.
«Water flowing uncontrollably again. How much longer? You’ve been in the shower for almost half an hour. Do you even understand how much water you’re wasting?»
Natalie calmly came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a robe, and, looking at her husband, replied restrainedly: «John, remind me, I pay for the water myself, since your money isn’t enough for water, so my minutes in the shower are my concern.»
John, apparently not expecting such an answer, sighed and irritably threw two hundred dollars on the table. «Here, choke on it! Here’s for utilities!» Natalie smirked but said nothing in response.
She wasn’t going to refuse the money, as she was sure she deserved at least a hundred times more. The next day, the woman decided it was time to implement another of her ideas. In the morning, while John was drinking coffee, Natalie approached him with a paper in her hands and said:
«John, I have something new for you. Here, look.» And handed him the price list. John puzzledly took the sheet and began reading aloud: «Cooking—twenty dollars per dish, cleaning the apartment—one hundred. What nonsense is this?» John asked irritably, while Paula quietly giggled on the side…
Обсуждение закрыто.