Henry and I met reaching for the same book, and five years later, our marriage was full of love—but also interruptions. His ex-wife, Liz, kept calling him to fix things at their co-owned house, and he always went running. When I decided to go with him one day, I expected a quick repair. Instead, I found a truth that changed our marriage.
Liz’s calls were relentless—a broken sprinkler, a jammed garage door, a noisy disposal. Henry would drop everything, leaving me with a cold dinner and a sinking feeling. At first, I told myself it was just his sense of duty. They’d been married, and he felt responsible for the house they still owned together. But when her “emergencies” became a weekly event, I started to question what was really going on.
One evening, Henry got a text about a “flood” in Liz’s kitchen. “I’m coming with you,” I said, tired of being left behind. He looked surprised but agreed. The drive was quiet, my nerves buzzing. Liz’s house was picture-perfect, and she answered the door in a silk robe, her hair and makeup flawless. Her smile vanished when she saw me. “Didn’t expect you,” she said coolly.
The “flood” was a tiny puddle under the sink, looking more staged than urgent. Henry fixed it quickly, while I noticed the house was immaculate—no signs of another man, no reason Liz couldn’t call a professional. She was calling Henry for him, not the repairs. When she offered lemonade, I declined. “We’ve got plans,” I said firmly. When she called him her “hero,” I stepped in. “Plumbers are great for this,” I said, handing her a list of repair contacts and a dating app, with a note: “Stop calling my husband.”
Liz’s face reddened, but I didn’t back down. In the car, I set a divorce lawyer’s card on the dashboard. “If you want to be her handyman, you can live there,” I said. Henry looked stunned. “I didn’t realize how it seemed,” he said. “I’ll tell her I’m done.” Three months later, Liz has a new boyfriend who handles her repairs. Henry fixed our faucet, and we’re closer than ever. I learned that love needs boundaries, and sometimes, you have to face the problem head-on to protect it.
