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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel uncomfortable with what's going on?

525 replies

Girlonatubetrain · 31/03/2017 13:31

Ok, so will try and keep it brief,

So the background
A woman and her family moved into our street a couple of years back and have since then, become very good family friends. Our DHs get on well, kids in same school, help each other with childcare etc.

End of last year, DF had an affair, her DH knows since the new year and they have been trying to save their marriage. She is unsure she wants to stay in her marriage but her DH loves her and they are trying to fix things (she has told me this week she is still unhappy to I’m guessing the marriage will end). The OM is out of the picture now, from what she says.

DF claims that the stress of her unhappy marriage and the resulting affair have caused her to have a nervous breakdown. She is on anti-depressants. I have spent many an hour listening to her being upset with her life in general and do regard her as a good friend, who needs people to lean on.

And my problem –
My DH has his own business very close to our homes. I work from home quite a bit. Over the last couple of weeks, whenever I’ve popped in to see DH when on a lunch break etc, she has been there. I have even offered to drop her home when I leave and she has said, she’ll hang back for a bit. It sounds ridiculous, but my DH even has her preferred brand of beverage there for when she visits, but not mine!

I spoke to DH about it last week as I feel its crossing a line and am very uncomfortable about it. DH reassures me there is nothing to worry about. He then started to tell me about how she’s just going through a mental rough patch and how she’d msgd him the other morning that she was struggling to get out of bed!

Everytime I pop in to visit, which is max twice a week and only for 10mins at a time, he makes out he is really busy and doesn’t really speak to me but just gets on with his work. So how can she always be there if he is ignoring her in the same way? So can only assume, when she’s there, he has time for her?

I get that she is having a hard time at the moment. I also understand she needs support and friends. It may be that she is just using him as an emotional crutch like shes used me the last few months. But . . . . I still feel that they are crossing a line and I am unhappy about it. To know they are spending so much time together (& that’s just the ones I know about) and now to know that they are PMing each other rather than the group chat with the 2 wives and 2 husbands on it, doesn’t sit well with me . . .

I love my DH and do trust him, but still feel very uncomfortable about the whole situation. DH and I have since fallen out since the start of this week because of this and are barely on speaking terms.

Im sure his reason would be I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just supporting DF and DW is blowing it into something bigger.
But AIBU to feel this way? What do I do?

OP posts:
IloveBanff · 31/03/2017 20:16

Puzzledandpissedoff "Another one wondering if this woman will "just happen to drop in" tonight, expecting that OP would be out"

I have no doubt that the OP's husband will already have contacted the woman to let her know that the OP is home tonight.

StuffYouAllInTheCrust · 31/03/2017 20:20

She is absolutely after your DH and the fact that he's not been completely honest about their contact would worry me. Follow your gut, it's not often wrong.

Mcchickenbb41 · 31/03/2017 20:21

Sorry I haven't read all replies but firstly she is bang out of order. I would not start that sort of relationship with a friends husband. Even if totally innocent, it's not on. And it's making you feel like the spare wheel almost ! As for dh he needs to end this whatever it is right now. She has you to talk to and fair enough if he was present In a conversation and she asked his opinion that's fine.
Sorry I'm waffling on because similar happened to me. My exh and a so called friend used to talk. I aired my suspicions and was told I was mad. Years later after I left the pig I found out they had had a fling. No just no. Put your foot down.

Mcchickenbb41 · 31/03/2017 20:23

Sorry just to clarify I meant I wouldn't start up a friendship with a friends dh that didn't involve the friend !

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/03/2017 20:25

I have no doubt that the OP's husband will already have contacted the woman to let her know that the OP is home tonight

You're right - I should have thought of that Blush

Mcchickenbb41 · 31/03/2017 20:27

My god my iv just read more of the thread. I'm fuming on your behalf. Just awful op.

annielouise · 31/03/2017 20:28

I had a thought that if you'd gone out she'd have popped in. You could have surprised them.

She's out of order. I'd ditch the friendship with her. I'd tell her straight to stay away as I knew what she was up to and she was no friend.

Him, I'd be mad at. Idiot. Wants his effing ego stroked by a cheap woman. There's no love between them. He was flattered and willing to risk his wife and kids for it. Not sure I could stay. Depends on how he acts from now on. If she turns up at the show room again I'd be straight round there and keep on until she got the message.

Patriciathestripper1 · 31/03/2017 20:36

She is not your freind, she wants your husband.
Get rid of her.

Maryhadalittlelambstew · 31/03/2017 20:39

Wow. Just wow. OP I really feel for you, what a horrid situation to be in. You clearly love and trust your DH an awful lot but from all you've said I honestly think they are having an affair. The amount of time they're spending together, the secret messages and her bare faced lying to you about "errands" while actually she had you looking after her children while she goes round to your DH. She sounds like the lowest of the low, the methodical planning and taunting you with selfies with YOUR DH beggers belief. And I'm sorry to say but your DH is just as bad. A decent, loving husband would tell her where to sling her hook even if it is innocent (which it just isn't, I really don't see how it can be) a decent husband would see it bothers you and put you at the center of his world but instead he allowed her to send a selfie to you, buys her favourite beverage and engages in conversation behind your back. They are both awful human beings and you deserve better.

You sound like a wonderful trusting lady but you need to put your big girl pants on and face this head on. I cry at literally everything, don't be afraid to cry but be strong and don't let him get around you with half hearted apologies and empty promises that it will all stop. You deserve the truth and your children deserve to see a marriage where both parties are treated with love and respect. Its a credit to you that you've been such a good friend to this woman but that needs to stop now.

Best of luck, I'm sorry you're going through this Flowers

MollyHopps · 31/03/2017 20:44

No additional advice OP, just support and hopes that the talk is going well Flowers

LucieLucie · 31/03/2017 20:44

Oh and check his camera roll.

The WhatsApp messages will more than likely be them sending nudes to each other, some phone settings are pre set to save them to camera roll.

If he won't let you see the messages or login to his phone just ask him to hand his phone over for an hour and simply wait to see all her message notifications pop up, hopefully with a preview.

I bet he also has covert cctv at the show room and they have always seen you coming, hence the 'sitting down on chairs chatting' when you have arrived before.
The day she hid when you turned up with HER kids, she must have seen them coming and was shutting herself they'd tell their dad she was there.
Make sure he knows.

LucieLucie · 31/03/2017 20:46

Oh... and if he lets you see his WhatsApp and there's nothing from her then slide message list down and it will reveal 'archived messages' which is a good hiding place for this type of thing.

1AnnoyingOrange · 31/03/2017 20:47

I am sorry this is happening.
They are acting completely inappropriately, there is an emotional affair between them and may be physical also.
I think it has gone past nipping this in the bud.
Your feeling are important.
You can't stay friends with this woman. Only you and your DH can decide about your marriage.

IloveBanff · 31/03/2017 20:50

I keep thinking the OP is going to come back with an update of 3 words "He's admitted it". Sad

foxyloxy78 · 31/03/2017 20:51

I'm sorry, but what the fuck are they talking about for two hours. They are up to something. Absolutely don't be taken for a mug any longer Angry

HopefulHamster · 31/03/2017 20:55

How's he getting any work done?

I like my friends but if they came to visit me when I was working from home (I do twice a week) for that long every day it would actually piss me off!

Hope talk is going well...

Molehillfromamountain · 31/03/2017 20:56

I hope you get some answers OP, it's horribly familiar. My EX was having an affair with a friend, he always made a point of telling me she was a nutter, weirdo etc. I came home early and found them there innocently having a cuppa. She was drinking from 'her favourite' mug in MY kitchen.
I found out via her DF a few days before their wedding.

Mysteriouscurle · 31/03/2017 20:56

I dont think so. I think he will deny everything unfortunately. am hoping she tells him to cut all contact with this "friend" or he can look forward to divorce papers being served.

IloveBanff · 31/03/2017 20:58

Actually I should say that I am a terrible pessimist and yet usually completely wrong, so let's hope I'm wrong again about this.

MycatsaPirate · 31/03/2017 21:07

I am so sorry you are going through this. I hope it goes well tonight but fgs stay strong and remember you deserve so much more than being lied to by anyone.

brassbrass · 31/03/2017 21:08

personally I'm hoping he's been an utter naive fool.

Still not great for poor OP.

Atenco · 31/03/2017 21:08

This is a first time for me, but I feel that this woman is much more to blame than your husband OP. She seems to have really set her cap at him.

I usually defends friendships with the opposite sex, but I would never seek out a friend's husband for company and my friend's have really lovely husbands.

Whatatododo · 31/03/2017 21:08

It sounds as if she is actively winding you up and enjoying it eg the selfie. Where is her shame?

honeyroar · 31/03/2017 21:10

Thinking of you OP. I hope it goes well. Be strong. I'm a cryer too, but be strong for yourself, nobody else will.

I'm wondering what his reaction was when you said that you weren't going out and needed to talk. My husband would've been fussing round worrying, not calmly having dinner with the kids.

brassbrass · 31/03/2017 21:14

I have a lot of male friends through work. We meet in a group setting and we're all close but none of us would ever behave like this. This is blatantly disrespectful.