Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

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:
girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 20:06

The conversation seems legit to me.
His friend says he's refused to go before so it's not something he normally does and everyone knows it.

Windmillwhirl · 07/03/2022 20:36

I don't believe for a second he sat with his back to the stage looking into his pint.

He only admitted he was even there because he was seen there.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 20:53

@SaintJavelin

So DH came home earlier, I've been stewing on this all day and he knew something was up. I told him that I'd like to check his messages, I've never done this before and DH raised his eyebrow in a quizzical way before giving me his phone.

Nothing immediately jumped out so I opened the conversation between him and his friend and scrolled a few weeks up, this is not word for word but it was the Sunday after the night out.

F - thank you for a lovely night out mate, it was great to see you
DH - no worries buddy, you're not going to believe what happened when I got home
F - what? is everything ok?
DH - I think it is but ex SI saw us in XXX
F - fucking hell, you didn't tell me she was there
DH - i didn't see her mate [laughing face]
F - so how do you know she was there?
DH - she messaged SJ saying she was there and that I'd had a private dance
F - what? that's fucking bollocks, what the fuck, why would she say that?
DH - I know mate, got a bit of aggro when I got home and I told SJ the truth
F - mate I shouldn't have put you in that position, I know before when you were out with me and [redacted] you went home when we said we were going in XXX
DH - [laughing face] yeah and I won't be helping you get in there again, call [redacted] in future
F - i will mate, let me know if you want me to message SJ

The rest of the conversation is about football and waffley bollocks.

I gave DH the phone back and he shrugged his shoulders whilst saying I told you the truth, I said yes but ex SIL has blocked me so I can't ask her can I?

I feel some posters want him to have had a dance.

Well if it's an entirely natural/authentic conversation, then ex sil has been mistaken, maybe under the influence.

I doubt it was malice/shit stirring on her part if she has no history or rep for it. Probably more just drunken over earnestness/indignance.

Hopefully he has learned a lesson about frequenting lap dancing clubs, as I said I don't think the "go in but I draw the line at a,b,c always works for various reasons, so best not to pit himself in a position that could damage your relationship again.

Momijin · 07/03/2022 20:54

That message looks so staged. Why would he need to tell your DH that last time dh had refused . Because your DH was there so he didn't need telling. Unless it was in case he needed an alibi.

The whole thing sounds off and the only reason you found out was because your ex sil was there.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 20:55

As someone said above, if he left before she did, maybe she mistakenly presumed he'd disappeared for a private dance, because that's what was happening with many other patrons who disappeared. Esp after he was seen interacting with strippers who were trying to sell private dances

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 21:00

@Momijin

That message looks so staged. Why would he need to tell your DH that last time dh had refused . Because your DH was there so he didn't need telling. Unless it was in case he needed an alibi.

The whole thing sounds off and the only reason you found out was because your ex sil was there.

On one hand I disagree - the were just saying that he was clearly right to have headed on home and not potentially get into this sort of shit on previous occasions.

On the other, it was weeks ago that op challenged him/told him about the ex sil message, and if he thought he was caught, and needed an alibi asap, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that he prompted his friend for a cover up convo in case op really kicked off properly.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 21:01

I'd still say the former is more likely though.

Iamnotamermaid · 07/03/2022 21:09

So you trust your hammered ex SIL, who you haven't spoken to in over 3 years, over your DH who has been transparent about the whole evening? I think maybe you are overthinking things here .

If you really wanted to know you could ask DH disabled friend but suspect unless DH and his friend start to make a regular habit of heading out getting pissed I would let it go.

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 21:16

who has been transparent about the whole evening

Clearly there are 2 of these threads going, abd you've read the other one.

Iamnotamermaid · 07/03/2022 21:54

The lad has had a night out, and with this level of interrogation is unlikely to do so again for a while. What was your ex SIL doing in the strip club anyway, did you ask her that?

I think he has got the message you do not like him going into strip clubs. And he probably won't, seeing as he now knows your ex SIL appears to frequents them.

Walkingalot · 07/03/2022 22:44

I think it all sounds fairly innocent and I don't think you're controlling at all. It's fairly normal to msg your other half while out with little updates. I can understand why he didn't msg to say 'just gone into a strip club, lol'. That's never something I can imagine would go down well.
He sounds like he's been open and honest and as you say, no other suspicious activity.
I think the ex s-i-l is just shit stirring. She might have seen him go in and thought she'd cause some trouble. Some people are like that.
I think I'd let this one go. One thing is for sure, he's not going to get dragged into a strip club again anytime soon!

Tamworth123 · 07/03/2022 22:53

What was your ex SIL doing in the strip club anyway, did you ask her that?

It's written in the op.

she was in there with a party and saw him.

Stressedout1009 · 07/03/2022 23:35

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Your dh may not have had a dance but maybe something less so. Firstly, I don't believe someone who goes through all the trouble to face their back to the stage would actually be the same person to go there in the first place. 3 years later, what would your ex sil gain from this? Someone pretty against strip clubs, goes there on first night out after a few years Hmm. Also that conversation with his friend, sounds too perfectly scripted out. I don't think your dh cheated, but he may have enjoyed and wanted to he there and doesn't want to admit that.

midlifecrash · 07/03/2022 23:48

What would your vex SIL be doing IN the strip club? She saw him going in, and she thought she’d use that to get at you. She counted on him denying he’d been there

lunar1 · 08/03/2022 05:07

It honestly sounds like he's used to how controlling you are and prepared in advance. I know if I was having every movement tracked id have a stash of hidden money from bits of change and the odd fiver tucked away.

pollyroo · 08/03/2022 14:59

"friend brought him a beer and he sat with his back to the stage, facing the bar"

Seriously. That old chestnut eh OP Hmm

SaintJavelin · 08/03/2022 16:30

@midlifecrash

What would your vex SIL be doing IN the strip club? She saw him going in, and she thought she’d use that to get at you. She counted on him denying he’d been there
She was in there as part of a party, I have already explained that.
OP posts:
girlmom21 · 08/03/2022 16:32

Are you feeling any better about it all today OP?

SaintJavelin · 08/03/2022 16:44

@girlmom21

Are you feeling any better about it all today OP?
A bit thank you, like I mentioned yesterday, I don't think that he deliberately sat where he couldn't see the stage, he just sat down pissed and thought oh shit a pillar is blocking my view.

He mentioned it as a saving grace type thing.

The friend has invited DH out for an evening at the weekend but DH has said that he will say no as he still feels annoyed that he was put in that situation in the first place. I have said that I don't mind but just stick to pubs and bars in future.

I understand why some of you think that the disability is an excuse but the friend couldn't use his wheelchair inside and DH would never have forgiven himself if he'd left him to it and he'd fell and hurt himself. Friend has been hospitalised in the past due to various falls.

OP posts:
Hawkins001 · 08/03/2022 16:45

@SaintJavelin

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?

Sounds like she may have saw him in their and just assumed 2+2 =6 ?
girlmom21 · 08/03/2022 16:47

I get it. I think the friend was a dick to pressure him when he knew your husband was uncomfortable.

You seem much calmer today and it sounds like you've both communicated well and share similar views.

I'm glad you're feeling a little better.

candles1298 · 08/03/2022 17:35

Just wanted to jump in on the debate about him asking for permission to go out......

I think when you have young dc together (as OP does), you do need to ask if it's okay. You are jointly responsible for childcare so it's unfair to assume 1 person is happy to do it while the other is out without asking 1st?

SaintJavelin · 08/03/2022 19:32

@candles1298

Just wanted to jump in on the debate about him asking for permission to go out......

I think when you have young dc together (as OP does), you do need to ask if it's okay. You are jointly responsible for childcare so it's unfair to assume 1 person is happy to do it while the other is out without asking 1st?

Exactly, if he’d messaged me to say that he was heading to town I’d have been annoyed but he asked, I don’t understand why people think that’s controlling?

I guess some people just enjoy sticking the boot in.

OP posts:
BlindGirlMcSqueaky · 08/03/2022 20:06

You don't see what's controlling about launching a forensic investigation on your own husband? Looking through his transactions and private messages? No wonder he doesn't want to go out again.

BOOTS52 · 08/03/2022 20:11

I would ring sis in law and just talk to her and see what she has to say for herself. As for your husband going to a strip club and blaming his friend seems a bit weird and saying he had his back turned from the dancers/strippers. Least he seems pretty open talking to you and you seem to have good communication but I would not be happy if with someone & they went to a seedy strip club regardless of the circumstances. Sis may be just jealous of your relationship, if you do ring her or text her see what she says and then say oh it was a present from me to husband to go there. That should keep her quiet.

Swipe left for the next trending thread