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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Odd message

157 replies

SaintJavelin · 07/03/2022 09:59

Apologies, this turned out way longer than I thought it would.

A few weeks ago DH went round a friends house to watch some football and a rugby match, when those concluded him and the friend went into town. He asked me if he could go and I said yes because he’s had a shit time recently with a close relative passing away, DH hadn’t really been out for the past two years because of Covid-19 and because I gave birth to our daughter just before it all went to shit in 2020.

I should mention that DH’s friend is physically disabled, you’ll see why in a minute.

Whilst they were out DH was in regular contact with me, sending me photos as they basically went on a pub crawl, he was pissed but in a good mood. At about 12 he messaged to say they were making their way home, the cab was dropping the friend off first and then he’d stay in the cab to come home. Sure enough within half hour he was home, I was awake anyway so we were talking whilst he was drinking water.

It became apparent that at some point the friend had placed DH in a difficult position, the friend wanted to go into a strip club, DH said no way and the friend said you haven’t got to have a dance, just help me in and I’ll buy you a beer. So DH grumbled, said okay and helped him into the building, friend brought him a beer and he sat with his back to the stage, facing the bar.

DH is not a prude and neither am I, he was however not comfortable being there and he made it clear to his friend so in the end they both left and got the cab back to their respective homes. I understand his friend put him in an awkward position but DH is not the type of person who would abandon a drunk friend, disabled or not.

However this is where it gets odd, whilst I’m sitting there with DH I get a message from my ex SIL, she walked out on my BIL three years ago and none of us had spoken to her since. I could tell from the messages that she was absolutely hammered but she accused DH of getting a private dance in the strip club, she was in there with a party and saw him. I relayed this to him and he was really confused, he said no he didn’t have a dance, they both sat there having a beer and DH then said to his friend come on let’s go home. He said yes a few of the girls spoke to them both but as soon as it became obvious they didn’t want a dance they’d move on.

DH can’t lie to save his life, even more so when drunk and I believed him however I wanted to be sure. I didn’t respond to ex SIL but in the weeks since I’ve checked his bank account and the joint, his wages get paid into the joint account anyway, there’s no activity on his account and every payment from the joint account is legit, he did take some cash with him, only £100 that he’d got from selling something and he came back with £20 and some loose change, the £80ish is accounted for, £20 to his friend for drinks at his, (proven as his friend sent him a Deliveroo screenshot before he left to go round), £20 on cab to get home and £40 in town, bearing in mind they went in 5-6 different bars/pubs I’m amazed he came back with £20.

His behaviour hasn’t changed, he didn’t mope around the next day, he got on with stuff and playing with our daughter, he felt a bit rough but he didn’t moan.

I don’t understand why ex SIL sent what she did, there’s no proof, no suspicious transactions, his friend would not have paid and he even asked DH for beer money. I wonder if she’s angry that none of us have spoken to her since she left and saw an opportunity.

I don’t know what to do, I’m 99.9% sure now but is that enough?

OP posts:
pumpkinpie01 · 07/03/2022 11:53

I think your sil is stirring things , as she feels aggrieved no one has spoken to her since the split . It's manners that your dh should check that you are ok if he goes out for the evening when previously he was expected home and him sending you little updates that he has chosen to do , does not make you controlling fgs !

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 11:57

I'd do some digging in terms of asking him questions and making sure his story makes sense. I certainly wouldn't be checking his transactions.

donquixotedelamancha · 07/03/2022 11:57

I just don’t understand why ex SIL would lie with potentially disastrous consequences.

At an old place of work, many years ago, a woman went round telling everyone I was having an affair with the canteen head chef (who I'd never met).

I finally worked out that she'd seen me with my arm round someone (who was upset) I knew that worked in the canteen on a night out, and leaped to wild conclusions.

Some people are fucking idiots.

EthelTheAardvark · 07/03/2022 12:00

Pretty clear that your SIL is shit stirring. Block her.

Sonaftersonafterson · 07/03/2022 12:05

I smell bs. Why would she do that if it wasnt true?

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 12:06

@Sonaftersonafterson

I smell bs. Why would she do that if it wasnt true?
She must have seen him there but surely there's no possible way she'd know if he had a private dance.
NameChanger45465465 · 07/03/2022 12:11

I really find the dynamic of your relationship a little odd.

Why on earth dos he need to ask your permission to go out? Surely a message saying 'plans have changed, im going into town with X' would be more appropriate.

I have never asked my DP if I can go out, just checking the date is okay so one of us if home with the kids. If i was already out for the evening, I wouldn't be checking i was allowed out out.

Why is he checking in with you all night? even more odd he was doing this an conveniently forgot to mention the strip club.

I wouldn't dare to go through all the back statements after this, either you trust DP or you dont.

Blackcatsocks · 07/03/2022 12:19

I'd be really weirded out by the fact that SIL just happened to be there at the same time. I would find all this quite strange.

collieresponder88 · 07/03/2022 12:25

What does she gain from lying ?

PoshPyjamas · 07/03/2022 12:27

Gosh, he’s quite unluck isn’t he - going to all the trouble of sitting with his back to the stage Grin and getting caught out anyway?

RelentlessForwardProgress · 07/03/2022 12:39

I think the whole 'i sat with my back to it because i had to take my friend in' is utter bs, and I think you know it is, which is why you checked his money etc....

It seems more likely to me he went with his friend, probably with extra cash on him, saw the sil and had to think up how he could explain away his presence there in a way that made him seem least culpable.

SaintJavelin · 07/03/2022 12:47

DH was genuinely stunned when I told him that ex SIL had seen him, there was no faking that. I know he only took £100 as that was all the cash he had, there were no ATM withdrawals.

I didn't expect to have to explain this but DH did go into detail about having his 'back to the stage', there was a pillar immediately to the right of his chair that blocked the view to the stage, straight ahead was the bar so I don't think it was a conscious decision to sit where he did, more likely he was pissed and sat in the first free chair he saw.

OP posts:
Blue4YOU · 07/03/2022 12:50

I’m with @RelentlessForwardProgress on this.
I don’t see how you’ve been controlling OP.
I can assure you a lot of people saying you checked his bank account is controlling but it wasn’t without provocation and just in relation to a regular night out, but one where he told you something different to the SIL.
I wouldn’t be happy about being lied to but I can only imagine SIL is shit stirring and may have been wrong but on the face of it is sounds exactly as if she knows what she saw and your DH knows you wouldn’t like it etc

RelentlessForwardProgress · 07/03/2022 12:58

Honestly OP there is a level of credulity here that's hard to fathom.

He sent you pictures all night of the pub crawl, yet managed to entirely absent any mention of the strip club he was in. Where he didn't see anything, anyway. Riiiight Confused.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 12:59

surely there's no possible way she'd know if he had a private dance.

Confused

You'd see them going to or from the private dance booths/area (!)

SaintJavelin · 07/03/2022 12:59

@RelentlessForwardProgress

Honestly OP there is a level of credulity here that's hard to fathom.

He sent you pictures all night of the pub crawl, yet managed to entirely absent any mention of the strip club he was in. Where he didn't see anything, anyway. Riiiight Confused.

I've already clarified this.

Also, I would guess that photos inside of strip clubs are a big no no for obvious reasons.

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 07/03/2022 13:03

Honestly the whole situation I would believe DH and think SIL was confused over what she saw.

The other stuff - I'm gobsmacked that others think this is weird? If DH or I go out without the other, we send regular pics and texts throughout the evening, not to check in or check up, but because we like each other and like to tell one another what we're doing? Going through an account is nothing, we share an account - it would be quite clear how much either of us spent? Showing someone a screenshot of a purchase to say "HOW MUCH??!?!?" seems totally normal to me?! Likewise, if he was out and expected back fairly early, it seems normal to text or call to say everyone was going into town, do you need me home? I mean, do we not have hundreds of posts on this site about the husband who was expected home at 8 but rolled in at 1 with the poor unsuspecting wife thinking he was maybe dead in a ditch because he hadn't checked in?!

I think she was shit-stirring, I don't think your behaviour before or after is weird, I think it's completely possible to trust your husband and still want to double check when you get a message like that.

Honestly some of you are weird and come across like you barely tolerate the existence of your partners rather than actually liking them.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:04

Did he tell you he'd gone into a strip.club with this impossible to say no to friend before you received your ex sil's msg or only after.

Oh and sorry but I've heard too many "only sat at the bar" stories that turned out to be bullshit not to take that with a scepticism. I tend to believe women who have nothing to lose over men, who ended up in lap dancing clubs because they were "forced" to be, poor dears, and who v much have something to lose from admitting being in there or what they did in there.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:07

IMHO it's inappropriate and shitty for him to go into one, with a partner and ooking after his baby at home at all .... having a physical disability doesnt give someone a free pass to bully others, or (in your partners case) to go along with inappropriate behaviour.

And how much help does his friend need getting in; premises are supposed to ve accessible now and there are federally door staff.

Bullshit central.

cosmicbabe · 07/03/2022 13:07

I find it hard to believe he sat with his back to the stage lol. Like a naughty child?!

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:07
  • generally not federally
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 07/03/2022 13:08

What's your advice then @Tamworth123 to the OP? Dump the husband because actually he faced the stage? Break up the family?

Pretty sure the whole #ibelieveher relates to women who've disclosed abuse or similar, not just anything random thing a woman happens to tell you.

moose62 · 07/03/2022 13:08

Perhaps your Ex Sil has an axe to grind. She probably saw him and assumed he was up to no good and relished the opportunity to tell you. If that is the case then she has accomplished what she set out to...look at the distress it is causing you. Personally, I would just forget all about it and believe your husband. If you don't want to, what do you want to do?

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:11

Your p/h sounds like hrs using his froebds disability as get out of jail free card.

Whereas he could have simply said "no, go another night with another mate", or "I'll see you to the door, make sure you're in OK then I'm off home", or any number of things.

It's v manipulative, this narrative.

And as I said, I always doubt the "sat at the bar" contingent, from experience.

pumpkinpie01 · 07/03/2022 13:13

@ChiefWiggumsBoy spot on posts there .

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