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DH's inappropriate texting. What do you think?

182 replies

Somethinglady9 · 07/02/2017 23:23

DH and I used to live in Paris and we own a flat in Paris and we have tenants - a young woman who is probably late twenties and her boyfriend. (I am early 30s and DH is 40.)

DH went on business to Paris last week. He checked on our flat, checked the tenants were happy, organised some repairs and went to his business meetings. We have had these tenants for five years and DH had always dealt with them, so he has the relationship with them.

He got back tonight and as soon as he came through the door said he wanted me to read a wats app conversation he'd had with the female tenant so that he and I had "no secrets." Turns out the female tenant's boyfriend was away the whole time he was there, so they had, had a couple of drinks together.

So the wats app conversation was a follow on from their drink. Apparently she was having problems with her boyfriend and had confided in him about it. He had told her that he was missing us (me and the DC) so it was a sort of mutual drowning of sorrows and a follow up to their chat.

Then there was another meeting organised with her, DH and mine and DH's good friend who visited him there for a few days. So there was the organising of that drink, times, places, literally a blow by blow of the minutae of what they are doing. "Getting dressed now," "on my way," "just leaving the gym have to have a shower." Hardly formal tenant/landlord conversation but not inappropriate. Then presumably they have the drink with mine and DH's mutual friend.

Then later that night she wats apps again"are you up?" Etc "it was good to talk to you about my problems." Anyway this turns into a full on counselling session where DH is telling her she's young and good looking and could meet someone better. This is arguably, also interspersed with him sending her pics of our DC and saying how much he loves his family.

Then it gets to a point where she says "just come over. I've got booze and cocaine." From what I can see DH turns her down - "I'm too tired, sorry. Besides I think if you want to save your relationship it's probably not the best idea for you to be inviting men over like that." Then from the looks of things she's called him crying and they've had a phone chat with her begging him to come over.

Then back to wats apps - and this is the bit I'm having trouble with - he says "drink some water, go to bed, touch yourself if you can't sleep! Goodnight xxx"

Then even later that night (early hours of the morning) she sends a picture of her cat, Which DH responds to (apparently he LOVED her cat when he visited her flat, to be fair, DH loves cats,) the chat continues all night until the morning and they are sending each other pictures of what they are eating for breakfast, the places they are going, what they are thinking (now unrelated to relationships just general "banter.")

And it ends today before he got on the flight.

I said, obviously this is inappropriate. I'm not going to leave you over it but it's inappropriate and you have to acknowledge how it is inappropriate and then we can move on. He also can't explain why he told her to touch herself. He says it was just a joke.

He is now annoyed with me for not having the reaction he expected. He said he thought I would find it funny (?!) and he is sulking and saying he wishes he had deleted it and not been so honest.

DH has a very low guilt threshold so I know he showed it to me out of guilt despite what he says. But now I am feeling a bit confused and conflicted. DH wants to forget about it as quickly as possible (of course.)

What do you think I should do from here?

OP posts:
arsenaltilidie · 08/02/2017 09:55

I agree with Harmless that texting 'touch yourself' was just a throw away comment to let her down easily.
He was flattered by the attention of a young and I presume attractive woman but ultimately when sex was on offer he turned her down.

The whole messaging and interaction was inappropriate for a married man but I don't think he cheated.

Adora10 · 08/02/2017 10:57

Who drinks with their tenant, that's so wrong, and the fact she said come over I have coke intimates to me that they have taken it together already? If not, you both happy with Class A drugs being stored in your property?

As for the touch me comment, that could not be any more personal, he's completely out of order and I don't buy the BS about men not being able to say what they really think; he's a big boy now!

Cuppaoftea · 08/02/2017 12:10

His reaction to you after he showed you the messages suggests to me he wasn't telling you due to his own guilt Op.

I wonder if your mutual friend who joined them become uncomfortable with the situation on your behalf, broached it with him and he's brushed it off with 'Oh she would find it funny (tenant's name) is interested'. Shown you the messages to preempt any conversation about the Paris trip you might have with your friend and is now panicking at your reaction.

Or he's worried the tenant or her boyfriend (also your tenant, Christ your DH has crossed a number of boundaries as to what is appropriate as their landlord) will be in touch with you.

I think more happened.

Whatever the case I'd need time to process his betrayal, space from him and to really consider if I could trust him when he's away on business. Especially as instead of a grovelling apology he's basically said he wished he hadn't shown you and he'll delete messages from now on!

The drugs in my property would be an absolute no for me but then your DH has acted so inappropriately as landlord and she'll have all his messages saved, I guess you're stuck with them as tenants for a while longer. I wouldn't take over dealings with them myself, as pp suggested I'd hire a letting agent to handle everything from now on.

FelicityGubbins · 08/02/2017 12:15

So she asked your husband to come over for a drug fuelled night in your own home? She would be getting eviction notice for a start, I would also contact the friend and ask them what happened then decide from there what to do with 'd'h..

gingina · 08/02/2017 12:23

The "touch yourself" comment makes me think that their face to face conversation had become sexual and that he had told her that to relieve the sexual tension which had been there earlier.
Maybe she made a pass at him? Maybe something happened and he freaked out and left which would have left her frustrated so he told her to sort herself out???
Only you know your DH but I think there must be some part of their interaction that he isn't telling you and THAT is the problem.
Do you generally trust him or does he have previous?

HelenDenver · 08/02/2017 12:52

"The whole messaging and interaction was inappropriate for a married man but I don't think he cheated."

The Op doesn't think he did either.

As a man, Arsenal, what would you have done in the DH's position?

AnyFucker · 08/02/2017 13:01

Those messages are only part of the story. Like an iceberg, the major truth is beneath the surface.

jcne · 08/02/2017 14:17

is he like my current male burden bf who makes a big deal about sitting you down and telling you 'the truth' about something relatively minor thing but conveniently forgets to tell you about what would really hurt you and therefore inconvenience his life

kitXi · 08/02/2017 14:33

I agree with those who say it's damage limitation. Like the man in the other thread who says "I bet x is going to come onto me soon, she has a reputation for doing this to married men". It serves two purposes, one to give you a story ready so when something does happen they can say "well you knew something would happen, I told you and you didn't want to hear it" and two so they can basically say "look at me being good and showing you, other men would have hidden it,you can't be cross with me now"

Problem is, he hasn't covered himself in glory. He didn't shut her down and say that her "advances" were inappropriate because he is married and she is his tenant, he said he was too tired. In other words, if he hadn't been tired, he would have gone.

And that's even if you believe that's exactly what happened. Which I don't, but it's not my marriage.

SparklingRaspberry · 08/02/2017 15:10

Oh jeez OP.

It sounds a bit like you're trying to convince yourself he's telling the truth

'To be fair DP really loves cats'
'He was missing us'

He was missing you that much he was telling another woman to touch herself Hmm

But all that's okay because he never actually went over right....

Wise up op. He told you all this and showed you messages to ease his guilt.

I'd be devastated if I found out my boyfriend was a sleaze who told other women to touch themselves, and then purposely showed me the messages to make himself look innocent. (you can bet your life there was messages deleted that you never saw)

Thinkingofausername1 · 08/02/2017 15:34

Very inappropriate!! I think you need to tell him to stay at a friends or parents; unless he blocks her and cuts contact

EverythingEverywhere1234 · 08/02/2017 15:43

I agree with a PP in saying that he probably meant 'touch yourself' as in, 'I know what you're suggesting but I'm not game. Sort yourself out', BUT that is still hideously inappropriate at you cannot get to the stage of asking someone to come over for drinks, drugs and sex without flirting beforehand. I am sorry your husband has been such an arsehole.
I agree that he is hiding in plain sight, knows he's fucked up and is trying desperately to be so 'normal' about it to make you feel you're overreacting if you get upset.

Christinayangstwistedsista · 08/02/2017 16:29

A piece of the puzzle is missing

Christinayangstwistedsista · 08/02/2017 16:34

What image of himself was he presenting of himself that she felt of was okjay to message him in the middle of the night to come over for coke

Does he show you all of his conversations, if not, then why this one?

memyselfandaye · 08/02/2017 16:45

I would have thought the cat picture was code, cat = pussy.

I also think maybe they have shagged so he's jumping in quick and getting his story straight just incase she decides to contact you, so he can say he has already told you everything and showed you the conversations.

Notagainmun · 08/02/2017 16:47

I would be hopping on a train and asking for her side of the story and the hand her notice on the tenancy for the cocaine comment.

SuperFlyHigh · 08/02/2017 16:50

Damage limitation and only part of the story.

I'm betting that after the drinks etc at the very least they kissed... And he maybe didn't sleep with her, or did.

He's telling you now to assuage his guilt and also in case the mutual friend spills and maybe because he feels guilty too.

If he'd been cheating and lying I'd certainly be "getting my ducks in a row".

Oh and I'm sure if I asked my good french friend who lives in UK re the touch yourself comment she'd say it wasn't innocent. The French (according to other French friends and this one I know well) do have a laissez-faire attitude towards sex etc and flirting can be quite open from what I've seen, but affairs/cheating are generally frowned upon and the old "having a mistress is common" may have a ring of truth but it's certainly not usual with most married or cohabiting couples!

jobanana · 08/02/2017 16:50

He's obviously told you because he knows it was wrong.

But, I think you have to be quite careful now in how you deal with him - think about the aim. You want him never to have any contact with her again. Because (despite it being unpopular probably for me to say this) she is offering him sex on a plate, and he has in fact gone for a drink and been messaging late at night and early in the morning, so they're already on a slippery slope, as it were.

Tell him not to worry - you'll protect him (ironically delivered) - tell him you can answer her messages from now on ...

As for him telling her to touch herself - he wouldn't have showed you that if he had wanted to hide it. You do somehow need to acknowledge the real value in him having come to you with all of this. It really does mean a lot. I know he got a bit drawn in but he gave her a lot of flags that he wasn't available, and she just basically fell upon him in a sobbing heap and also offered every oblivion-seeking option she could. But he doesn't need it. He's got you.

Probably point out to him it was stupid to say about the touching as it encouraged her. He has to just literally never speak to or see her again. He must know that.

SuperFlyHigh · 08/02/2017 16:51

The cat picture is certainly code for... You know what... And why update re breakfast unless you've shagged senseless or had sexual contact!

Yeah the more I read of your OP the more I smell a rat!

Gingerbreadlass · 08/02/2017 16:52

I'd be livid!! Any chance you have her partner's contact details? I'd be screenshotting some messages to him. Angry

I'd say if it was my DH I wouldn't want him going over there again. Your turn and that little damsel in distress would be hearing some direct words from me, too.

Booze and coke?? These are your tenants? I'd find a way to throw them out tbh.

Gingerbreadlass · 08/02/2017 16:53

Agree with that. At picture being a metaphor for her own "petit chatte" (lecher la chatte = cunnilingus)

FellOutOfBed2wice · 08/02/2017 17:07

I don't think they slept together but I'm guessing there was some intimacy such as a snog and he's getting his story in before she does.

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 08/02/2017 17:33

Agree with the cat/pussy analogy. She clearly feels she has some sort of "closeness" to him to invite him round for cocaine and text him all night. Not to say he hasn't kept it going by responding. Inappropriate at best - well dodgy at worst.

AnyFucker · 08/02/2017 17:38

"To be fair, he does love cats"

The naivety and desperate triumph of hope over judgement of that comment made my heart sink to my boots Sad

jobanana · 08/02/2017 17:47

AnyFucker you are funny.

But really the cat business is bad. The intimacy of daily routine. The keeping in constant contact. The drink. The booze and drugs.

He did show it all to the OP though. Isn't that a good sign? I think it must be.

Feels like a cry for help ... ; )