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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Man spending lots of time alone with best friend's wife. Aibu to think this odd?

66 replies

Felaku · 25/07/2024 07:31

Hi, this is currently happening to someone I know well and is close to me in such a way that any fallout would affect me. Maybe not directly but definitely indirectly.

The people concerned are: a husband, his wife and his best friend.

Before husband and wife got together, along with the best friend, they all went to the same club and the (now) wife had an affair with the (married) best friend which ended. So let's just say that wife and best friend are definitely OK with infidelity.

She then moves on to the man who is her (now) husband.

Anyway the situation is that the husband now takes their child every week (same day each time) to see it's grandparents during which time the best friend visits their home to spend time alone for hours with his wife.
It's like an hour's journey there and back so plenty of alone time.
This has been going on for months.
The husband is completely aware of the situation but seems unfazed.

It's not my business but I find this really f*ing dodgy and can't help but think they're up to no good again. The husband seems oblivious to the dodginess of this.

I'm not going to say anything but between me and the people of mumsnet, aibu to find this dodgy?

As a side note, they were only fwb- he didn't seem to want a relationship, she very much did, until she got pregnant but he thought he ought to do the 'right thing' and proposed that they became a proper couple.

OP posts:
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TeabySea · 01/08/2024 09:38

You say the husband knows that his friend visits. So there's not a concern on his part about what is going on whilst he's out with their child.
Perhaps they have an open marriage. Perhaps wife and friend are cheating. Perhaps it's all innocent.
As you're not part of the set up, it doesn't matter.

FWIW, my DH knows someone socially who has a polygamous set up. The couple are in their 70s and one has a partner that they spend a few days a week/several weekends a year with. It works for them, and they're all happy with the situation.

VividQuoter · 01/08/2024 09:36

sigh and whatever. Not my circus, not my monkeys

IllGiveYou20Minutes · 01/08/2024 09:32

It does seem like they are having an affair, but why do you think it would be exposed?
How does the husband know his wife and best friend are hanging out every week?

I think the likely scenario is he does know but it doesn’t bother him as he doesn’t love her anyway, and he gets a home and child/family out of the situation. If they split up he would lose both the home and getting to see his child all the time. Maybe he is taking the child to the grandparents specifically to give his wife time to see her affair partner. It sounds like it’s a situation that works for them. Only thing I wonder is if the best friend’s wife knows/cares.

PurpleDiva22 · 30/07/2024 03:22

I only started the thread to see if my suspicions of the affair resuming are correct.

We can all guess and assume and give opinions but you've no way of knowing this for sure unless you actually catch them being intimate!

Newnamehiwhodis · 30/07/2024 03:21

Tough on the wife of the friend, really. Not fair to her.
everyone else in this situation seems to have been given a choice.

Chrsytalchondalier · 30/07/2024 03:12

You said yourself it's not your business. Stay out of it and get a life.

Wtafdidido · 30/07/2024 01:09

Well My husbands best friend and I are very close and v good friends and spend time just the two of us regularly but there has never been anything sexual. He is like a best friend /brother. My dh spends time with my sister when I am not about. Again good friends and nothing more to it. We are all secure in our relationships and fully trust each other and whilst I know there has been gossip in our small village I really couldn’t care less as it’s nobody else’s business other peoples opinion really doesn’t bother me.

Solocup · 30/07/2024 00:33

Either way, your brother knows about it. So it’s either platonic or they’re having sex. Sex isn’t an affair if your brother is aware. It’s quite normal for people to have different views on monogamy. Maybe she takes the kids on Tuesdays so he can see ‘Brenda’.
I know a very happily married (20+ years) couple. She has a few ‘nights out’ a week. He doesn’t because it’s not his thing. Works for them.

Garlickest · 29/07/2024 23:21

(Only read your posts, OP, and about half the replies.) What seems most likely is that he knows the affair's re-started on a weekly basis but doesn't much care because [a] he wasn't in love with his wife to begin with and [b] she's provided him with a home and family.

No reason to suppose this won't carry on indefinitely, unless you think the visitor's wife will divorce him for cheating? I'm surprised you're not more worried about that, as the main couple look pretty stable with their divergent sex lives.

Julimia · 29/07/2024 23:11

What has any of this to do with you really? Do not get involved. Get on with your own life.

Umidontknow · 29/07/2024 20:55

Why didn't you just say it was your brother 🤦‍♀️ if you think his relationship is a marriage of convenience anyway he may already know that she is sleeping with someone else and there is a good chance he is too. There are probably a lot of couples who live together for financial reasons and to still parent their children but aren't actually in a "relationship".

Cm19841 · 29/07/2024 20:28

It's your parent's business if he moves back, and it isn't your decision. Everything around that is irrelevant. You said parents insisted he move out before, so it is up to them to hold firm to the decision. Nothing for you to do right now.

Felaku · 29/07/2024 20:26

BeNavyCrab · 29/07/2024 20:23

It's a really difficult situation because it's going to be almost impossible to protect your parents if for any reason your brother decides he wants to move back in. Especially if he's very manipulative! I can understand why you are concerned and hoping that the weird marriage dynamics might make this more of a possibility. If it were me, I would try to ignore all the strange stuff in the marriage but be very careful to be vigilant for any contact he has with your parents. If it does come to pass, try to remind them of the reasons why they asked him to leave in the first place. You really don't want him to become a resident again, especially with a child because it will make it virtually impossible for your parents to "kick a grandchild out on the street", as your brother will put it. Ultimately though it is their house.

Thanks for the advice.

OP posts:
BeNavyCrab · 29/07/2024 20:23

It's a really difficult situation because it's going to be almost impossible to protect your parents if for any reason your brother decides he wants to move back in. Especially if he's very manipulative! I can understand why you are concerned and hoping that the weird marriage dynamics might make this more of a possibility. If it were me, I would try to ignore all the strange stuff in the marriage but be very careful to be vigilant for any contact he has with your parents. If it does come to pass, try to remind them of the reasons why they asked him to leave in the first place. You really don't want him to become a resident again, especially with a child because it will make it virtually impossible for your parents to "kick a grandchild out on the street", as your brother will put it. Ultimately though it is their house.

Felaku · 29/07/2024 20:16

neilyoungismyhero · 29/07/2024 20:12

Well it sounds like you think if the marriage fails he would buggar off back to live with his/your grandparents and take advantage of their generosity which may impact on their welfare and yours it would seem..have I got that right?

Absolutely right.

See him being there would worry me.

I just wanted to know if my suspicions are correct because they may split because of the affair.

OP posts:
neilyoungismyhero · 29/07/2024 20:12

Well it sounds like you think if the marriage fails he would buggar off back to live with his/your grandparents and take advantage of their generosity which may impact on their welfare and yours it would seem..have I got that right?

Felaku · 29/07/2024 20:05

Catza · 29/07/2024 19:44

So they should say no. What’s the problem? He is not going to break into the house and camp with them. You are far too involved

He is deeply, deeply manipulative. He had next to no interest in his wife until he needed somewhere to live.

Gosh, I can't believe the flak I'm getting from some for this.
How the hell would some posters like it if they had elderly parents who were not in the best of health and their waster sibling wanted to move back in with them and be a general pain in the ass to them?
Hardly nosey parker territory.

If not for my parents, I wouldn't give a shit if his wife was shagging the Pope.

OP posts:
Catza · 29/07/2024 19:44

Felaku · 29/07/2024 19:41

It IS my business - the grandparents are MY parents and I don't want my waster brother getting under their feet again.
They had a hell of a job getting rid of him last time.

So they should say no. What’s the problem? He is not going to break into the house and camp with them. You are far too involved

Felaku · 29/07/2024 19:41

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 29/07/2024 13:13

"...would affect me if it turns out my suspicions are correct cause frankly he'd want to live at home again with them as he's not the sort of person who wishes to stand on his own two feet."

That clears it up. It's what you perceive as 'your' inheritance which would be hampered by him being there.

You absolutely are the worst sort of nosey person there is. This is absolutely none of your business and nobody can or should back you up in your gossipy 'are they, aren't they?'.

It IS my business - the grandparents are MY parents and I don't want my waster brother getting under their feet again.
They had a hell of a job getting rid of him last time.

OP posts:
Felaku · 29/07/2024 19:38

I don't care about the affair only about the impact it will have on the grandparents should it all come to light.
He will definitely want to move back in with them.

OP posts:
Dinkydo12 · 29/07/2024 14:06

Mind your own business this is nothing to do with you. Either distance yourself or accept its their choice not yours.

TeaGinandFags · 29/07/2024 13:56

If the husband is aware and happy, then nose out.

Unless you actually state how you'll be affected, there's nothing else to say.

Delphiniumandlupins · 29/07/2024 13:46

Why does it matter whether there's infidelity or not? If the marriage is working for them, the grandparents are happy seeing plenty of the DGC, you're not going to rock the boat because splitting up the marriage might result in him moving back in with the GP... Stop investing so much time and thought into other people's lives.

Beautiful3 · 29/07/2024 13:38

Sone couples swing or have open relationships. He may not be bothered about the faithful side. I'd stay out of it and leave him alone.

ByCupidStunt · 29/07/2024 13:22

I should think both spouses are promiscuous to be honest. Husband surely filling his boots elsewhere if he's unfazed about her doing it.