The understanding Wife

Cathy's husband was exhausted from working late recently-surely all he needed was a little TLC?

- Ginny Swart, 2023 

Cathy was starting to feel a little frantic. She'd hurried back from the hair salon where she worked and had just an hour before Mike came home. She wanted everything perfect for their anniversary dinner.

The roast lamb was safely in the oven and she'd chosen the red wine, but she still needed to beat the cream for the apple tart and then change into her black lace minidress, one of Mike's favourites.

She felt Mike needed a little spoiling. He'd been so stressed lately, organising a huge promotion for the opening of a new chain of hotels, which needed him to work with his team until nine or even 10pm some nights.

Cathy understood that this was why he'd been so distant and short-tempered with her lately, although she tried not to complain. She knew he wanted to make a success of this job.

'Once I'm a partner, I can relax, sweetheart, and life will be back to normal again,' he'd promised. 'I can delegate work and take weekends off and we can have some fun again.' 'I understand, love. You have to impress the boss.

But she'd complained about it to her best friend Jill, who had popped in for her weekly appointment at Cut 'n' Curl. Jill never wore her hair the same for more than a month. Today she wanted to go a honey blonde.

'I totally see that Mike needs to do his best, but I think they're taking advantage of his good nature,' Cathy fumed as she mixed the dye. 'He hasn't been home before nine o'clock for weeks. He's looking exhausted.' 'You're so understanding! If I were still married to that loser Robert, I wouldn't have put up with that behaviour.' Jill had never been known for her patience and Cathy grimaced.

'I just wish this big promotion was over. He snaps at me for the slightest little thing at the moment. I can't do anything right.'