When our children got sick and were unable to join us on our planned family vacation, my husband decided to go without us. What he didn’t realize, however, was that his solo “me time” escape would end up costing him far more than he expected.
I dragged myself through the front door at 8:30 p.m., my legs aching after an exhausting twelve-hour shift at the hospital. A wave of noise crashed over me—cartoons blaring from the TV, Zach and Penny squealing as they darted around the living room.
Children playing indoors rambunctiously | Source: Pexels
And there was Garrett, lounging on the couch like a stranded whale, beer in hand.
“Hey, babe,” he mumbled, not even bothering to look up from his phone. “Tough day?”
I held back a sharp response. “You could say that. The ER was a zoo.” I glanced around at the mess of toys and snack wrappers scattered everywhere. “Did you feed the kids?”
Garrett shrugged casually. “They had some chips earlier. I thought you’d want to cook when you got back.”
I shut my eyes and counted to ten. This had become the norm over the past few years. I’d return from a long shift saving lives to find a house in complete disarray and a husband who couldn’t be bothered to help.
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woman in a nurse uniform crashed out on a couch | Source: Pexels
Mommy!” Penny clung to my leg, her messy blonde pigtails bouncing. “I’m so hungry!”
I mustered a tired smile. “Alright, sweetie. Let’s get you both some real dinner.”
As I warmed up leftovers, my thoughts wandered to our upcoming beach trip. Maybe a new setting would bring us closer, remind Garrett why we fell in love to begin with.
“So, have you packed yet?” I asked, placing plates in front of the kids.
Garrett shrugged. “Nope. I’ll just toss some things in a bag tomorrow. No big deal.”
A man relaxing on a sofa | Source: Pexels
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Garrett, we leave in two days. A little preparation wouldn’t hurt.”
He rolled his eyes. “Chill out, it’ll all work out. You worry too much.”
The night before our flight, I woke to the sound of retching. Zach was bent over the toilet, his face pale and sweaty. Within an hour, Penny was throwing up too.
Over breakfast, I quietly told Garrett the news. “We’re going to have to postpone the trip. The kids caught a bad stomach bug.”
A couple talking over a meal | Source: Pexels
He stopped dead, fork frozen in mid-air. “What? No way. I’ve been waiting for this for months!”
“I know, but they’re too sick to go. We can always reschedule.”
Garrett’s jaw tightened. “I’m still going.”
I stared at him, certain I’d misunderstood. “Pardon?”
“You heard me. I need this break, Nora. Work’s been crazy lately.”
“And mine hasn’t?” I shot back. “I’m a nurse, Garrett. I handle real emergencies every day.”
A woman turning away from a man in frustration | Source: Pexels
He scoffed. “It’s not a contest. Look, you stay with the kids, and I’ll go enjoy the beach for both of us.”
I stared in disbelief as he packed his suitcase, completely ignoring Zach and Penny’s sad faces. When the front door slammed behind him, something inside me finally broke.
The following week was a nightmare. I had to take care of two sick kids while simmering in frustration every time Garrett sent a smug selfie from the beach.
A woman cares for a sick child while making notes | Source: Pexels
On Friday, my phone buzzed with another photo: Garrett grinning over a fancy drink, captioned “Living the dream!”
That was the last straw. I’d had enough, and I knew exactly what to do.
I stormed into the garage, eyeing Garrett’s precious “man cave.” His fishing gear, the boat he barely used, piles of expensive junk he’d collected over the years. A plan began to take shape.
I spent the next few hours snapping photos, creating listings on the local buy-and-sell site. Within days, Garrett’s prized items were gone, replaced by a thick stack of cash in my purse.
A woman standing in a cluttered garage, surveying fishing gear and a boat | Source: Midjourney
Guess what, kids?” I said cheerfully over breakfast. “We’re going on our very own special vacation!”
Their faces lit up. Zach fist-pumped the air. “Cool! Where are we going?”
I smiled. “It’s a surprise. But I promise, it’ll be way more fun than Dad’s dull old beach.”
A few days later, we arrived at the resort, the kids practically vibrating with excitement. Watching them splash around in the pool, I felt lighter than I had in years.
A figure floating leisurely in a tropical resort pool | Source: Pexels
“Mom, look at this!” Zach yelled, attempting a cannonball. I cheered, then turned to help Penny inflate her water wings.
“You’re a pro with those,” a voice behind me said. I turned to find a woman around my age smiling. “Single mom?”
I paused. “It’s… complicated.”
She gave a knowing nod. “Been there. I’m Tessa, by the way.”
We talked while the kids played, swapping stories about work and parenting. It felt nice to connect with someone who truly understood.
Two women sit by a pool, talking and laughing while children play in the background | Source: Midjourney
So, what’s your story?” Tessa asked, sipping her lemonade.
I sighed deeply. “My husband decided to go on our family vacation without us when the kids got sick. Left me to handle everything while he lounged on the beach.”
Tessa’s eyes widened. “Seriously? What a jerk!”
I nodded. “Yeah, that was the last straw. I’ve put up with his selfishness for years, but this—this I couldn’t overlook.”
“So, what did you do?” she asked.
A close up of a woman sitting beside a resort pool, talking | Source: Midjourney
A mischievous grin spread across my face. “I sold all his prized stuff and used the money to bring the kids here.”
Tessa burst into laughter. “Oh my God, that’s genius! How’s he handling it?”
“He doesn’t know yet,” I confessed. “But I’m sure I’ll find out soon.”
As if on cue, my phone started buzzing. Garrett’s name lit up the screen.
“Speaking of the devil,” I muttered. “I should probably answer this.”
Tessa gave me an encouraging smile. “Go get him, tiger.”
A woman sitting beside a pool looking at her mobile phone | Source: Pexels
I took a step back from the pool, inhaling deeply before responding. “Hello?”
“Where the hell is all my stuff?” Garrett yelled, skipping any pleasantries.
I leaned casually against a palm tree, surprisingly unfazed. “Oh, you noticed? I figured you’d be too wrapped up in ‘living the dream’ to even care.”
“Cut the crap, Nora. What did you do?”
“I sold it,” I replied flatly. “Everything. Your precious fishing rods, the boat you never touch, all of it.”
A woman talking on a mobile phone beside a resort pool | Source: Midjourney
There was a brief pause, then, “You what? How could you!”
“How could I?” I snapped, my voice rising. “How could you leave our sick kids for a beach trip? How could you disregard everything I do for this family?”
“That’s not the same! I work hard to support you.”
“And I don’t?” I shot back. “I’m done, Garrett. Done with your selfishness, done with being taken for granted.”
He stammered, “What are you saying?”
A man making a mobile phone call using earbuds | Source: Pexels
I exhaled slowly. “I’m saying I want a divorce.”
The line went silent. When Garrett finally spoke, his tone was dark and menacing. “You’ll regret this, Nora. I’ll make sure of it.”
I ended the call, my hands trembling. A small part of me ached, wishing I could grieve the life we’d shared. But a bigger part… felt liberated.
I made my way back to the pool, where Tessa was sipping on a cocktail.
“Everything alright?” she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
A woman reclining beside a pool, cocktail in hand | Source: Pexels
I nodded, offering a small smile. “Yeah, I think it will. I just told my husband I want a divorce.”
Tessa’s eyes grew wide. “Wow, that’s a big deal. How are you feeling?”
“Terrified,” I admitted. “But also relieved, like I can finally breathe again.”
She gently squeezed my hand. “That’s totally understandable. Believe me, it gets better.”
The rest of the afternoon was spent playing with the kids, building intricate sandcastles and running through the waves. For the first time in years, I truly felt happy.
A child playing on a beach | Source: Pexels
That evening, as I settled the kids into bed, Zach looked up at me, his expression serious. “Mom, are you and Dad getting divorced?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Why do you ask, sweetie?”
He shrugged lightly. “I heard you on the phone. And you seem happier here without him.”
I sat down on the edge of his bed, taking a moment to choose my words. “Your dad and I have been struggling for a while. We’re going to try to work things out, but… yes, we might get divorced.”
A woman sits with a young boy wearing a serious expression | Source: Midjourney
Zach nodded seriously. “Alright. As long as you’re happy, Mom. That’s what counts.”
Tears welled up as I pulled him into a tight hug. “When did you become so wise, huh?”
Once the kids were tucked in, I stood on the balcony, gazing at the moonlight reflecting on the waves. My phone vibrated with a text from Garrett:
“This isn’t over. I’ll see you in court.”
A pair of hands holding a mobile phone | Source: Pexels
I inhaled deeply, letting the salty ocean breeze fill my lungs. The path ahead would be difficult, but I felt ready to confront whatever came next.
As I slipped into bed, my mind wandered to the uncertain future that awaited us. It was daunting, no doubt, but also thrilling. For the first time in years, I felt as though I was reclaiming control over my life.
Tomorrow would bring its own hurdles, but for now, I let the soothing sound of the ocean drift me to sleep, dreaming of the new beginning on the horizon.
A tropical resort setting at night | Source: Pexels
