I'd caught her. I knew she'd been doing it, but catching her in the lie had taken some time. My wife of ten years, Jane, had been lying to me. Every Thursday night, when she said she was going to play cards with the girls, she had really been going out to clubs. I'd suspected as much, but hadn't wanted to confront her without proof. Proof I now possessed. As far as I knew she hadn't been cheating, but the lying was almost as bad. She'd finally screwed up and put a night's worth of revelry on our joint credit card instead of on her own card. She must have been drunker than usual that night. She'd paid for three rounds of drinks for her and her girlfriends - who knows how many they'd stood for her - and she'd used the wrong card. I guess it just felt natural for her to be spending my money instead of her own.
I waited until after 9:00 that night, after I'd put the kids to bed (naturally, she didn't help with that chore) to speak with her about the lie. When I confronted her she'd denied it, then become defensive. I told her in no uncertain terms that I expected honesty from my wife. She copped an attitude and told me to mind my own business. That's when I lost my cool. I don't tolerate that kind of disrespect, not from my employees, friends, or colleagues. I certainly wasn't going to accept it from my wife.
As she sat up in bed wrapped in the Egyptian cotton sheets I'd paid for I smacked the remote to my Smart TV from her hand. I saw the first flicker of uncertainty and maybe a twinge of fear in her eyes.
"What do you want?" she whispered. I could hear her holding back tears.
"I want my wife to be honest, but maybe I can't expect that of you." I said.
"I'm sorry," you apologized. "I got caught up with the girls."
"Not good enough." I said.
"I'll do anything," you replied. It had taken some time, but you were finally grasping that I was about to throw your ass out. I didn't reply.
"Anything," you repeated and your face was pale.
"Yes, you will," I smiled. "You'll do whatever I want."
I smiled because I finally had the upper hand. After ten years of trying to please you, of trying to buy you and woo you. After a decade of giving you the kids, cars and trophies you wanted I had you. And I wasn't going to let it slip away.
I told you wait in the bedroom and went down to the kitchen. I grabbed two small glasses, a bottle of vodka and a can of Diet Coke and made my way back upstairs.
When I walked in I poured you a generous shot and myself a smaller one.
"Drink," I ordered.
"Honey, I've got to work tomorrow. I don't want a drink." You whined.
"I'm not asking." I said, "Drink. It." I was serious. I wasn't taking no for an answer. You grimaced and drank your shot.
"Are you happy?" you asked.
"No," I answered. "You don't make me happy." I poured out two more glasses, a large one for you and a smaller one for me. "But you will."
You looked at me silently and held out your hand for your glass. I handed it to you and with a shudder you drank it down. I cracked the Diet Coke and handed it to you. You took a sip and looked at me.