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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:
SaintJavelin · 07/03/2022 13:14

@Tamworth123

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.

Just because premises are meant to be accessible doesn’t mean they are, knowing what disability the friend has means him requiring assistance to enter certain buildings is an unfortunate fact of life.

Like I have said, I don’t mind him going out, I don’t even mind him going into the club, my DH is not an arsehole so I understand why he didn’t leave the friend. However, I draw the line at a dance.

I don’t think that he expected to be seen by anyone we know.

OP posts:
Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 07/03/2022 13:18

@RelentlessForwardProgress

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.

Sorry OP but i agree with this. Everything he says is a standard 'friend forced me to go but i hated every second of it' kinda line. You must think so too which is why you checked his money. As for your SIL, is she the kind to shit stir usually? Did youu get on well before? Wouldn't it be strange to randomly make up a story to cause problems if there was no previos issues between you all? She maybe thought she was looking out for you by letting you know but could have been mistaken about the private dance.
loveyoutothemoon · 07/03/2022 13:19

I don't think you sound controlling. I don't think anyone would go to a strip club with their back to the stage either. Who knows if he had a private dance or not, but are you okay with him going in there anyway?

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:20

Just because premises are meant to be accessible doesn’t mean they are

True.

Bit even if they don't meet accessibility standards, there are v likely door staff to give any help your p/h could give. I know premises like this, and disabled patrons simply go to the door, door staff see them, help them in.

This narrative is kinda bullshit and manipulative.

I don’t even mind him going into the club, my DH is not an arsehole so I understand why he didn’t leave the friend. However, I draw the line at a dance

As some posters have stated above, some clubs include a dance with entry, so he could end up in that situation.

Likewise being OK with lap dancing club visits, but not a table or private dance is a very fine, tricky line to negotiate. They may have table dances happening beside them, they may end up facing/close to podium abd stage strips, they may get too drunk, carried away, they may have a strip bought for them, come under pressure. Their perspective may may affected by cum ulative visits. Happens all the time.

I wouldn't advise anyone who would be hurt by a "dance," accepting lap dancing club visits, at all.

Momijin · 07/03/2022 13:21

Well very weird that you don't mind anything and hes happy to keep sending you updates and pictures but omits the fact that he's going to a strip club. And then has his back to the girls?

I reckon he didn't intend telling you but as he saw his ex SIL there, he knew there was a chance she would tell you, so he fessed up before she said anything. Or he saw her on the way back from getting a dance and realised that there would be quite a chance that she would tell you so decided to get in there first.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:22

my DH is not an arsehole so I understand why he didn’t leave the friend

Your h wouldn't be an arsehole to have said no to his friend or accompanied only to the door.

Quote the opposite, in terms of respect and consideration for his wife & family.

Puddington · 07/03/2022 13:23

Saying he sat with his back to the stage is perhaps laying it on a little thick BUT I'd be inclined to believe he didn't have a full-on private dance since there's no money unaccounted for, and your SIL was either mistaken due to being a bit drunk, or was feeling malicious and wanted to cause some trouble.

Orchidsonthetable · 07/03/2022 13:23

I’m on the fence here. I do find it disturbing the way it’s written, with rhe askijg permission to go, you detailing why you allowed it, checking all the evidence, him sending pics, detailing exactly how he spent his money each step of the way etc, and then when it gets to the strip club him describing exactly where he sat and he had his back to the dancers, is just odd. It’s written like he is a small child and you are the very strict parent..

On the flip side though, your sil is right, he was there.he was talking to some of the strippers. It’s not like she was wrong on that.

But over all, as a snap shot in time of someone’s relationship,this is written in a very disturbing manner.

Hrpuffnstuff1 · 07/03/2022 13:24

Hahaha, I and my brother were talking about friends and the moral dilemmas they bring into our relationships. How old is he 18?

Nights out bring sooo many dilemmas. I wonder how many marriage disagreements/breakups are caused by inappropriate behavior, men and women, and their friend's good ideas.
Love it. Grin

SaintJavelin · 07/03/2022 13:25

Once again, he didn’t know that ex SIL was in the club, if he did his acting whilst pissed was best actor Oscar award worthy.

You’ve now made me question where he was sitting so I’ll see if there’s any pictures of the club interior online.

OP posts:
Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:26

If your ex sil messaged you, you can message her back asking why she thinks he had a private lap dance, surely.

Orchidsonthetable · 07/03/2022 13:27

@Momijin

Well very weird that you don't mind anything and hes happy to keep sending you updates and pictures but omits the fact that he's going to a strip club. And then has his back to the girls?

I reckon he didn't intend telling you but as he saw his ex SIL there, he knew there was a chance she would tell you, so he fessed up before she said anything. Or he saw her on the way back from getting a dance and realised that there would be quite a chance that she would tell you so decided to get in there first.

This is what I think. He was not texting or sending pics of this little excursion,,,and suddenly he’s fessing up, saying he was doing it just to help a friend and laying it on how he had his back to the dancers, and lo and behold the op finds out he was seen by someone who would tell her.

I’d also assume he was getting his story in first and now overdoing it on the confusion act.

SaintJavelin · 07/03/2022 13:27

@Orchidsonthetable

I’m on the fence here. I do find it disturbing the way it’s written, with rhe askijg permission to go, you detailing why you allowed it, checking all the evidence, him sending pics, detailing exactly how he spent his money each step of the way etc, and then when it gets to the strip club him describing exactly where he sat and he had his back to the dancers, is just odd. It’s written like he is a small child and you are the very strict parent..

On the flip side though, your sil is right, he was there.he was talking to some of the strippers. It’s not like she was wrong on that.

But over all, as a snap shot in time of someone’s relationship,this is written in a very disturbing manner.

There’s a difference between having a polite conversation with the girls and having a private dance.

In my mind anyway.

OP posts:
Orchidsonthetable · 07/03/2022 13:28

@Tamworth123

If your ex sil messaged you, you can message her back asking why she thinks he had a private lap dance, surely.
Well clearly because she saw him?
girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 13:28

@Tamworth123

my DH is not an arsehole so I understand why he didn’t leave the friend

Your h wouldn't be an arsehole to have said no to his friend or accompanied only to the door.

Quote the opposite, in terms of respect and consideration for his wife & family.

I agree with this tbh.
  1. He had no choice but to go because of his friends disability - sorry but a disability doesn't mean you get to force people to do what you want
  2. the friend could access the strip club alone - so what if the friend wanted a private dance? Would your DH have accompanied him to that too?

I can't see you've answered this question from others so sorry if I've missed it but did he tell you about the strip club before the message from SIL?

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 13:30

I'd also be interested to know why your SIL waited until your DH was already home before she messaged.

If I was telling my friend I'd seen their husband getting a private dance I'd do it immediately.

I will say this makes me suspicious that she assumed this is where he disappeared to - when in reality he had just left.

SaintJavelin · 07/03/2022 13:30

He didn’t tell me about the strip club before I received the message but like I have already clarified, I worded my OP wrong and I wasn’t getting a blow by blow account of the night out.

OP posts:
gingerhills · 07/03/2022 13:30

I've never been to a strip club so am basing this on watching Ozark and Sopranos, but is it possibel that some girls danced up to them to try and tempt them into buying a dance and that is what she saw?

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 13:33

@SaintJavelin

He didn’t tell me about the strip club before I received the message but like I have already clarified, I worded my OP wrong and I wasn’t getting a blow by blow account of the night out.
He's the kind of man who updates you on his night out, albeit not a blow by blow account, who was sensible enough to come home and drink water while he was talking to you but didn't tell you about his friend putting him in an awkward, uncomfortable position?

Both your DH and SIL are making me suspicious.
If he's not the kind of man who'd normally go to a strip club and try to hide it, and is very open, I feel like his friend pissing him off or pressuring him would be the first thing he'd tell you.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:34

@ChiefWiggumsBoy

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.

No idea where you're flying off to with the #believeher shit ..... I've stated it as simply as anyone possibly could. In my experience, ppl who have nothing to gain from lying are generally more likely to be truthful than people who have plenty to lose ... and he most def does since a "dance" is open hard line.

Plus his narrative for how he just had to go into one is, at the risk of being repetitive, bullshitty and manipulative. So that makes me Hmm in the first place.

Best case scenario here is ex sil for some reason thought he went for private lap dance but was mistaken.

But that could possibly be cleared up by simply asking her to clarify why she thinks he did.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:36

He didn’t tell me about the strip club before I received the message

That's something pretty major to leave out (lie by omission about).

That's v dishonest, so I'm not sure why we'd be so dismissive of further dishonesty.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:39

I'd be inclined to believe he didn't have a full-on private dance since there's no money unaccounted for

Op saud something about him having 100 on him, if im not mistaken (?)

A private dance is only 15/20 quid in many clubs.

theemmadilemma · 07/03/2022 13:40

It's not controlling necessarily to ask your partner if they mind you going out. It's also called a respectful relationship. If you HAVE to get PERMISSION that's one thing. Asking if they mind because it's respectful is entirely another thing.

Momijin · 07/03/2022 13:41

Oh so he's so honest and he couldn't possibly lie, yet managed to lie by omission that he had been to a strip club!!

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 13:42

Well clearly because she saw him?

I mean the details that would clarify what she saw.