When Lisa’s husband Tom starts pressuring her to take a second job, she becomes suspicious of his motives.
Fed up with his constant nagging, Lisa finally agrees to get a job. But in the beginning, she reveals the shocking truth about Tom.
I am the main earner in our household, a situation that was never an issue until recently when Tom started pushing me to take another job.
“You don’t even leave the house for work, so you can’t be as tired as I am at the end of the day,” remarked Tom.
“But you’re a mechanic, Tom,” I retorted. “You run your own business and still take three days off because you have staff to handle the workload.”
“Let’s leave it at that for now,” he replied dismissively.
We left this topic alone for a few weeks, but I wasn’t sure why it became a discussion.
“Is everything okay financially, Lisa?” my mother asked when I mentioned Tom’s suggestion of a pasta date between us.
“No, we’re fine,” I assured her. “We don’t live extravagantly, so it’s easy to manage our finances. But Tom is really adamant about this second job idea.”
“Is it possible that his business is failing?” she asked as she sipped her drink.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’ve seen how many cars come and go, and they’re even hiring new staff, so it seems to be profitable.”
“So what’s going on?” my mom insisted.
“I have no idea,” I said, pouring more Parmesan cheese over my pasta. “I just know that I don’t have time for other work. I’m already juggling a full work schedule, housework, grocery shopping, and taking care of the dogs. There’s no room for more.”
“You have to tell him, honey,” my mom advised me. “Let him know that you cannot take on additional responsibilities that will drain you.
Things continued as usual until we decided it was time to sell our car and buy a new one.
“You really need to get that second job, Lisa,” Tom said one evening over dinner, scraping his knife against his plate.
“Why me?” I asked incredulously. “I’m already working long hours and my work is draining. I spend all day staring at a screen and end up exhausted. Then there’s dinner and laundry and everything else.”
“Your job is easy,” argued Tom. “You work from home, remember? You don’t have to leave and you’re not as tired as I am because I’m under cars all day.”
I was taken aback.
“Why don’t you get another job?” I asked. “You’re free.”
“Because, Lisa,” he said slowly as if explaining the obvious, “I’d miss bowling with my friends!”
Was that his excuse? It sounded completely ridiculous.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll look around.
The next day, when Tom was leaving for work, he stopped by my house.
“Don’t forget to start looking for that job,” he said. “And by the way, try harder to get the grease stains out of my work clothes. It’s embarrassing.” With that, he left.
“Goodbye too,” I mumbled under my breath as he left.
I decided to visit the website of the local bowling alley where Tom and his friends went every week. Jill, Marcus’s wife, mentioned that Tom and Marcus often flirted with the waitresses there. My plan was to get a job at a bowling alley and make Tom regret making me take a second job.
I started working there on Wednesday, the same night Tom and his friends went bowling. That evening I casually asked Tom if he wanted to have dinner at home before I hit the aisle.
“Are you going bowling tonight?” I asked. “Do you want to eat first?”
“Yeah, probably,” he replied without looking up from his phone. “Do something simple like fish and chips.
“Sure, see you there,” I said with a smile.
Tom didn’t seem to think much of it, but I knew he was in for a surprise. Later that night I showed up at the bowling alley in my new uniform: a tight short dress that left little to no attention. I knew Tom wouldn’t be happy about that.
“Sorry about the uniform,” Headmaster Ursula apologized. “I tried to change it, but the owner insists on keeping it that way.
“That’s just wrong,” I said.
I worked at the beverage counter and occasionally fried the small donuts that were popular with the teenagers. Eventually, I saw Tom coming and started playing by himself. As the evening wore on, the bar became increasingly noisy and men began to approach me.
When Tom finally noticed me, his face darkened with anger.
“What the hell, Lisa?” he reeled, his eyes blazing. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m working, Tom,” I said with a smirk. “You wanted me to get a second job, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t mean this!” he shouted.
“I get great tips,” I replied coldly. Tom clenched his jaw in frustration.
“Stop it. Now,” he barked.
“We need money,” I snapped and left to serve another customer. Tom went back to his game, clearly trying to avoid the scene. However, I knew that once my shift was over, the topic would come up again.
Tom kept looking at me all night. About halfway through, Ursula came up to me.
“Is he bothering you?” she asked, nodding towards Tom.
“What do you mean?” I asked confused.
Ursula sighed heavily.
“That guy was with almost all the waitresses here,” she revealed. “One of them even had a child two weeks ago. I heard he’s after him for child support. To prove it, she took a paternity test.”
I was amazed. Ursula didn’t know I was married to Tom, so he had no reason to make things up. What she just told me created a whole new image of Tom.
No wonder he wanted me to get a second job – he was trying to make sure I could help him cover his child support.
I walked over to Tom and ignored the other customers.
“You are a disgusting person!” I yelled and punched him across the face. “What the hell, Lisa?” he cried, holding his face.
“Did you mess with the waitresses here? And one just had your baby?” I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks. Tom turned pale.
“I can explain,” he stammered.
“I don’t care,” I said firmly. “You pack your things and leave tonight. I’m filing for divorce tomorrow.”
I ran out of the bowling alley, broken and defeated. How could I marry someone like him?
The next day, Lisa was resolute in her decision. She didn’t let the shock of the discovery drown her. Instead, she focused on practical steps. She quickly moved to consult a lawyer, and by the end of the week, Tom was served with divorce papers. The betrayal cut deep, but Lisa knew it was the only way forward. As painful as it was, she was regaining her independence and dignity.
The process was not easy. There were countless sleepless nights filled with anger, sadness, s and confusion. But Lisa found solace in the support of her mother and friends. They gathered around her, providing the comfort and strength she needed to move forward. She refused to let Tom’s actions define her and gradually learned to trust herself again.
As time went on, Lisa focused on her career and building a life that was her own. She felt empowered, no longer living in the shadow of Tom’s selfishness. After the divorce, she began to heal. Lisa now understood that she deserved respect and loyalty in a relationship, something that Tom couldn’t give her. The experience, though painful, taught her a valuable lesson about self-worth and the importance of not settling for less than she deserves.
By the end of the year, Lisa not only rebuilt her le, but also became stronger and more confident. She turned a chapter of betrayal into a new beginning full of promise and self-discovery. The experience solidified her determination to never let anyone take advantage of her again, and she was more than ready to face whatever the future held.