When I met Henry at a bookstore, we both reached for the same copy of The Great Gatsby. Five years of marriage later, I still felt lucky\u2014at least, I used to.Things changed slowly. It started with one favor for his ex-wife, Liz\u2014a broken sink. Then came the leaky shower, the squeaky garage door, a crooked cabinet. Each time she called, Henry grabbed his toolbox and left, often before dinner hit the table.Meanwhile, our own home repairs piled up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The faucet in our bathroom dripped for weeks. Our anniversary dinner? Missed\u2014because Liz\u2019s garage sensor \u201cneeded realigning.\u201d I gave him the benefit of the doubt. \u201cShe\u2019s just helpless,\u201d he\u2019d say. \u201cShe has no one else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But eventually, I stopped believing it was just about the plumbing.So when Liz called about \u201ckitchen flooding,\u201d I simply said, \u201cI\u2019m coming with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201dHenry hesitated, but agreed. We arrived at her immaculate house, and she opened the door wearing a silk robe and glossy lipstick. Her expression froze when she saw me beside him.\u201cOh,\u201d she said. \u201cDidn\u2019t know you were bringing company.\u201cSurprise,\u201d I smiled.The kitchen was spotless\u2014except for a single suspicious puddle under the sink. Henry got to work. I handed him the wrench before Liz could move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I turned to her and passed her a folded paper.\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d she asked.\u201cA list of professionals,\u201d I replied. \u201cPlumbers. Electricians. And a dating app, just in case.\u201dAt the bottom I\u2019d written:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you keep calling my husband, I\u2019ll assume you can\u2019t read.Her face went red. \u201cYou think this is about pipes?\u201d\u201cNo,\u201d I said calmly. \u201cIt\u2019s about boundaries.\u201dOn the drive home, I gave Henry a divorce lawyer\u2019s card. \u201cNot a threat,\u201d I told him. \u201cA choice.\u201dHe was quiet for a while, then said, \u201cI\u2019ll call her tomorrow. I\u2019ll tell her I can\u2019t be her handyman anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And he did.It\u2019s been three months. My faucet\u2019s fixed, and Liz hasn\u2019t called again. I hear she\u2019s dating someone\u2014a guy from the list I gave her. Handy and single.As for Henry? He still has his toolbox. But now, it only opens for me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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