How should I reply to this text?

[JaysusWept]

Namechanged as I've told my work colleague already about this and I know she lurks on here. (She was absolutely no help - she's probably still laughing about it...)

Background is that I've been single for a couple of years after discovering he was cheating. I have an 8 year old DD.
I am friends with a small group who I have known for a few years - met through kids at nursery/starting school, etc. We do playdates, dinners, drinks out, whatsapp group which is used constantly, helping each other out, etc. We are close and I value all of their friendships.
For the past few weeks I have felt that one of the group, who I shall refer to as C, has been a bit 'off' with me. Nothing I can really put my finger on - I don't always do the drop off and pick ups at school for my DD, but when I have and I've seen C she hasn't chatted with me like she usually would, and 2 weeks ago 4 of us went out for drinks and I felt that there was a bit of an atmosphere when I was talking to her, although she was polite enough. There are people that I am closer to in the group but C and I have always been very friendly and have done many things with just the 2 of us.

Yesterday, I picked up my DD from school and C's husband was there to pick up their DD. The 4 of us walked back together and we stopped outside C's house to finish our chat briefly, before I carried on up the street. C came to the door but didn't come over although she did wave.

At 4pm I received a text from C which read "Doing her usual, all over XXXXX (her husband's name) and doing that stupid fucking laugh of hers" with a couple of angry emoticons.
I replied back "?" and she immediately sent back "Ooops, sorry! That was meant for L (mutual friend in group, but who is very close to C), talking about someone at work! Sorry, just delete!"
I didn't reply to that and almost straight after I received a text from L asking if I was up for a night out next weekend.

C was talking about me, wasn't she? L also wouldn't usually text me about a night out as it would be sent through the whatsapp chat.
I didn't do the drop off this morning, but C has text me (not in whatsapp group) to ask if I fancy going over to hers tomorrow after school with DD.
I'm not sure how best to respond.
Am I being paranoid in thinking that text was about me?

For the record, I don't know C's husband particularly well. I've chatted with him at group things we've attended and a few times we've walked home together if we've done school pick ups as I've got to pass their house on my way home. I am not attracted to him, and nothing untoward has ever happened or would happen, although I may very well have a stupid fucking laugh!

Any advice? I actually feel really fucking weirded out by this.

*who's

Hang on a minute. This makes sense. She has been off with you for a while. Way before the text incident. Maybe she was off with you because she DOES genuinely believe you have been messaging her DH. I think she genuinely believes that.

But if you actually thought that, surely you'd confront them about it, before telling them it was about somebody at work, leaving the group chat, spreading rumours etc etc.?

She sounds like a compulsive liar OP, who can see her silly little bitching is going to backfire on her, so has hatched up a plan to gain sympathy.

I'd also (now, I wouldn't have before the other friend brought this new stuff up) be saying something similar to what PP has suggested in the group chat. They all know now, and like you say, you don't want people thinking this about you.

I think not messaging the group makes it look like you're steering clear for a reason. Not that you've done anything, but that there's more to this. I'd message the chat and say that C sent you a message meant for L, denied it was about you etc and that you're just so baffled and hurt over the whole thing that you haven't wanted to get further involved in any nastiness. But now you've heard the latest allegation C has made and that you want to be very clear- this is not true.
I think PP's saying that anything you put will be screenshotted and forwarded is a bit presumptuous, if it hasn't been a Mean Girls bitching chat up until now there's no reason to think the rest of the group won't side with OP seeing as she's not the one who's flounced. Or at least be as normal as possible within the remaining group and support OP if they know her and believe her. If they don't fuck them all but give them a chance if there's no indication that they're all toxic!

*Say you're horrified and disgusted. That it is absolute tosh and you're upset that a friend would think you were even capable of that.

I always think all that can come across as "the lady doth protest too much" or as insincere, even when it's not .. I think more people would be convinced by a very straight, sharp, angry response like "dunno whose been messaging your husband dear but it ain't me; post the messages and put your money where your mouth is, let's get to the bottom of this. Otherwise it's just bullshit".*

Actually, this approach is better. But to the group chat. Or to her, then screenshot her reply (of which there will be none), and send it to the group chat. Clear your name!

And who cares if they screenshot and send it to her anyway! You're not lying!

Wow, is he having an affair and trying to blame?
Take your DH and confront them both

@mummmy2017 op's opening post. First line of 2nd para says she is single.

I'm not sure I'd post on the group chat to defend yourself, your friends will know the truth.

I would however put a message together to C saying your disguised in her behaviour and to spread lies about you and her dh is inexcusable, and that you are sorry if her dh is having an affair, but it's certainly not with you and that she needs to get her facts right before saying things like that

Fucking hell shes a grade a shit head
Get K,M and D on side asap or they'll be believing you have done that
Id be going nuclear to defend myself in fact I'd probably be on her doorstep now asking her to fucking explain herself and telling her husband what she's been saying

OP I hope you're okay.. this is alot of crap you're going through..

dunno whose been messaging your husband dear but it ain't me; post the messages and put your money where your mouth is, let's get to the bottom of this. Otherwise it's just bullshit

I'd lose the dear, but otherwise this is perfect. I'd send it to her though, not post it in the group chat

What a fruit loop I'd ask her for proof, at least the other people in the group don't seem to be calling for her drama other than L

Might I point out my "whose" instead of "who's" autocorrect error there if anyone is going to use that.

Also yeah the dear should be removed, but possibly replaced with 'you fkg bitch'

Anyway she's going to say they've been deleted.

But it would still be worth challenging her in the group chat to show you're not afraid of her producing anything (which you still would be even if you were guilty and thought they'd been deleted, there's always screen shotting, the cloud, data recovery etc) and you can say "really, how convenient" when she says they're gone.

I've read the full thread and never cease to be amazed at how awful some people are ! You must be raging !! God they sound like horrible bitches . You have every right to make sure you aren't slandered to half of the playground parents as shit sticks !

Walk away from this OP with your head held high. Leave the group chat, don't respond. Have some dignity. If anyone asks you privately you could briefly explain, but something tells me this could escalate further and get nasty.
I'd just keep my distance from all of them

I can't remember who said it up thread or find the post again but

L is shagging the DH

It's L that's messaging him

Thats why L is backing up and agreeing with everything C says about you as it gets the suspicion away from herself.

Well, clearly C is paranoid about her DH. Something else going on there.

You can't help crazy.

Hope it gets better quick, and it will blow over. What a bitch, though.

I would have to ask her why she is spreading awful lies?.

Wonder if any of them are on here ... it’s highly possible.

Show yourselves!

I've read and re-read the beginning of this thread over and over and I can't find the post about C & L leaving the WhatsApp group, but then there are posts discussing their leaving the group, but I cannot find the post from OP saying they left?! Am I going mad?!

You could go faux concern with C.

Message her to say you're so sorry to hear that she's having marriage difficulties. You had noticed she had been a bit quiet lately. Offer her an ear if she ever needs to talk. Hope she's managing ok. Xxxx

Found them 🤦🏻‍♀️ a huge chunk of posts weren't showing
Wow!

Check Facebook to make sure nobody has made a fake profile in your name.

The face book message thing is mad.

Sounds like she has been fuming about the few walks home especially if they end up with you and xxxx finishing your conversation at the gate while she watches. No matter how harmless the chat was, to her it was a flirtfest. She told this to to L and now everyone knows.

Since she's a bit light on evidence she's made something up to support her interpretation of the "facts". She probably half believes it too.

Hope the others are supportive to you op. I would do that evidence request post that pp suggested to her by text and cc the group.