My husband is a very kind and caring man. He loves our children and me dearly. He would look for any excuse to buy me gifts. One day it could be trinkets, the next day a necklace. He did the same for our kids. I was the envy of everyone at my salon where I do my hair, as he would call me two or three times whilst I was there.
My husband works for an Oil Company as a contract staff so we are fairly comfortable. From his savings, we were able to build our ideal home. One day my husband came back from work earlier than usual looking visibly agitated. I asked him what the problem was and he said ‘nothing’ trying to conceal his weariness. Why nothing I asked when you are looking so disturbed. I am not well he said, so I took extra care of him, making him pepper soup and warmed his bathwater etcetera, etcetera.
The next day, he said he was not going to work so I did all my wifely duties and let him be. The next day he was going to stay home again that was when I panicked knowing my husband was not that sick and persuaded him to go. This was definitely not in his character. He was a loyal worker who took his job seriously.
When he came back, he did not look his usual self. He was dishevelled and reeking of alcohol. When I asked where he had been, he merely shrugged his shoulders, ignored my anger and said they had a little party at the office. My husband was not known to drink much but to drink and smell that bad was unlike him. I let that fly but lo and behold it became a habit.
What happened to my lovely husband? Hardly a day passed these days without a bitter quarrel. He now accuses me of nagging. One day, things came to a worse pass than ever and fearful of being made the object of my taunts my husband just switched off and never spoke to me again. Even in this state, he provided everything we needed in the house but just stopped talking to me. That was the worst time of my life. I would give anything to have my husband talk to me but he did not. Not even a grunt to say yes or no.
I asked his friends what was going on with him and all they would say was that it was a man thing that will soon pass. I called his mother, sister and they said there was nothing wrong with him, as he was his usual chatty self when they spoke with him. This was now a dilemma. How could he be one thing to me and another to other people?
One day as I was making my school runs, I ran into a schoolmate I had not seen in a little while, who works for an oil company different from my husband’s. She told me my husband was at their office to see her boss. I asked what time and she said 1 pm. I thought that was odd, my husband is a field man.
Once they arrive at work, the chopper takes them to the location so what would he be doing going to another company at that time? I started adding 2 and 2 together in my head and then it clicked. I asked what he was there for and she said for an interview. Are you thinking what I am thinking? My husband may have lost his job and did not have the courage to tell me; instead, he had an attitude to cover up.
My poor, poor husband, all the while I was nagging at him; he was hurting inside and afraid someday he may not be able to provide for us. When I got back home, he was already there. I hugged him so hard and he told me we had to talk and I said I know. Know what he asked? And I said ‘you losing your job’. He was so surprised. He told me not to worry as he already has another job. I told him I know that too.
Boy, am I glad to have my husband back, that silent treatment was killing me.
Ma baker