My Husband Said We Couldn’t Afford Preschool — Then I Found Out He Was Secretly Paying Someone’s Rent

I thought my husband when he told me that we could not afford preschool. I cut down costs, had to work more hours, and I overworked myself to our daughter. However, one piece of paper in junk drawer unlocked a terrifying reality about the man I had blindly trusted and loved.

The kitchen counter was covered with brochures and colorful pamphlets all portraying smiling children as they play with building blocks and finger pain masters. I had been visiting preschools, weeks on end, hunting the ideal school, where Emily would cope.

“Mama, look! I have a cat that I drew!” she was presenting her homemade crayon object, purple blotchings with something like whiskers.

It is beautiful, darling, I answered kissing her forehead. The finest cat that I ever laid eyes on.”

By the time Emily reached three she was curious, social, and clearly needing more stimulation than I could manage juggling freelance graphics design all at our dining room table.

The feeling of half-parenting bestowed itself on me amidst the voice conferences and work deadlines. My daughter could have done better.

I picked up the brochure of Little Explorers Academy. It was a perfect combination of play and learning as the classrooms were bright and so were the smiles of teachers. It was not inexpensive at 1,100 dollars a month, but we could stretch… at least Emily.

I was willing to give up my over-priced cappuccinos and monthly spa treatments. Greg would only need to reduce his weekends in golf. I felt we could carry it off, I thought.

The front door was opened and Emily, ran on the sound. “Daddy!”

Greg emerged in the doorway of the kitchen with our daughter enveloped around his leg, tie loosened, evidently exhausted, but smiling. What are my little favorites doing?

“We’re great. Emily, dear, please go off to the living room just a few minutes? I must speak to Daddy.”

As soon as I pushed the brochure across the counter, and she was out of earshot, I could hear a half-muffled ring of alarm, and then the next thing I heard was Mother planting her foot down on it twice with all her might. I got it honey. The ideal preschool of Emily.”

He looked at it, but his face changed. Sandra, we have discussed this.

Just see it, now? Little Explorers has it all… curriculum, outdoor space and experienced teachers. It would take away the socialization Emily requires, and I would get a chance to work (not that I would feel I am abandoning her).

He groaned by turning the pages of the brochure he had not even looked at. And how much do you tell me it costs?

One thousand and one-hundred dollars a month. It may seem a big amount, but…”

“Eleven hundred?” His brows arched themselves up. You are serious?

I would be able to work on additional freelance jobs. We can eat at home, go less out to restaurants.. perhaps we can delay that weekend holiday we have booked..

“Sandra, stop. We can not afford that at this time.”

We can as long as it is a priority. It is a matter of growth in Emily..

I replied: no. He pounded his palm upon the counter. Well, that is the end of it.

Emily stood in the doorway shaking her lower lip. Why do you get mad up, Daddy?

Greg at once softened in expression. On his knees he stretched forth his arms. And I am not angry, princess. Daddy has a hard day at work.”

Tears of frustration dotted my eyes as I picked up the brochures as he went on with his bedtime story ritual carrying Emily to the living room.

This did not sound right. We did not have an ideal financial situation but this was not miserably bad. We had our own condo, were two steady car drivers, and went on vacation. Whence this hard line?

You know I don? t understand you now, I muttered to his retreating back.(O.Henry)

Days went by and the warning that something was wrong was very subtle. Greg would stay late in the office more frequently but did not go home tired.

The manner in which he pulled his phone screen out of my way when texting on it and maintaining the privacy of his laptop device was strange.

Two weeks later I faced him in our bedroom because I could no longer watch him drift away.
Did you know something that you are not telling me?

You could see Greg was really flabbergasted. “What? No! how could you ever have imagined it?”

Late nights, the coded phone calls and, altering your banking password Greg, something isn,t clicking here.

That was a security problem! They actually instructed me to do it (the bank). I did not tell lies to Sandra as I had nothing to read. I swear.”

Then what then is it? The cause being, that something is wrong.”

I am stressed out at work, darling. That’s all. I am trying to protect you and Emily against it.”
His were looking directly into my eyes and unguarded and foaming. I would like to believe him. Well, that is what I did.

I told him, I said, I was here all right. I put my head on his shoulder. Whatever that may be.

He put a kiss on me on the forehead. “I know. but I can love you more on account of that.”

Spring cleaning became my treatment after that. As Greg was wandering with Emily in the park on a weekend Saturday, I was assaulting our messy junk drawer.

Somewhere beneath the takeout menus, dead batteries and a cream-colored envelope belonging to a property management company. It was written to Greg, and our address crossed out and his office address written in. that was odd.

I need not have looked. We were respectful of each other mails. However something caused me to put my finger under the flap.

There was a receipt in it.

Amount charged: 3400 dollars

Arriving rent 504B Grand Apartments

Thank you to pay in time.”

I was beat. Thousand three hundred and forty, I garbled. Monthly? For what?

I was familiar with The Grand… a lavish tower in the city that had a pool on the rooftop, and a concierge service. We had said so many times as we passed it: how the other half lived.

I shook when taking a picture of the receipt and then carefully stuck it back in the envelope and stacked it up in the same position it was in previously..

Later that night, I observed Greg lining up peas with an airplane spoon across the dinner table and contributing them to the mouth of Emily, who giggled over Greg. Why is he hiding something to me? What more did I not know?

Why, you are quiet to-night, “I said, looking up at him.

I tried to smile. “Just tired. I am thinking about what I have to do tomorrow to catch up.”

You are too hard on the job. Perhaps we had better employ you to take Emily a couple of hours a week.”

it was acid like in the irony. I would like that. but supposing we had the money to SPEND.”

His eyes gleamed and then he turned petitioning Emily. Said they: More peas, princess?

I was not able to sleep. Greg lay sleeping shot-gun style, beside me, with one arm thrown across his head. I looked into his face with the dark light through the blinds. The face I had been awakening to every morning during the past seven years now turned into that of a stranger.

In the morning I went through formalities of normality. I prepared pancakes, packed Greg lunch and I kissed him good-bye on the door.

I love you, he said, kneeling just as he had done it a thousand times before.

I love you too.

Immediately his car drove off, I flung garments on Emily and myself.

Where we goin, Mama?” she wondered, astonished, when I strapped her hastily in her seat in the car.

In order to visit Aunt Lisa. She will play with you and Mama runs errand.”

There was no questioning on my sister when I came in unexpectedly, she just looked at my raccoon eyes, and took the hand of Emily. Use as long as you like,” whispered she. We shall be alright.

In twenty minutes I was at the entrance to The Grand Apartments; its facade is made of glass and steel, and it shone in the morning sun. The lobby was decorated by the use of marble floors, fresh flowers and a doorman in a uniform.

I grew palpitations as I went to the desk. Hello, I visit my mother in unit 504B. She has not been picking up the phone.”

The deception was natural.

The concierge with nameplate reading, Thomas, appeared worried. Of course, I will call her up and see whether she is at home.

I have a key, said I hastily, “just here.” Or, could you kindly allow me to get outside; I should hate to wake her up by being so high up.”

Thomas remained silent a moment, and nodded. “Of course. Elevators are on the right-hand side.”
It was a stressful ride to the fifth floor where I was biting my nails which were my childhood nerve-breaker behavior that never really disappeared.

I knocked on 504B and pictured myself opening the door, but nothing prepared me to see my mother-in-law Meryl opened the door wearing silk pajamas and holding a smoothie.

“SANDRA? Your business here?

“MERYL??”
I barged in on her into an apartment that would fit in the pages of a fancy lifestyle magazine. There were floor-to-ceiling windows that offered us a panoramic view of the city where the space was occupied by designer furniture, abstract art, a kitchen with high-end appliances with marble countertops. It was all that I could ever dream of.

I think the more pertinent question is what are YOU doing HERE Meryl?
With a huge sigh she flopped on a white leather sofa. I am a resident here. Obviously!”

And this is what Greg pays 3400 dollars a month?
He does not want me to feel uncomfortable. She took a smoothie. Well that doesn knowt do? A son nursing his own mother?”

It is when he informed me that we could not afford 1,100 dollars on the preschool of his daughter.

Greg knows priorities. Preschool is luxury. Emily guesses you at home.”

When you really had to have a posh apartment with a view? Gloomy parts fitted morbidly together. Did you know that there was a preschool chat?
He could have said so. I just reminded him that he had family duties.

His family is Emily!

I was a single parent and had to raise him all by myself for 28 years. I gave up my life. It is now his time to take care of me.

I looked at this woman who had fooled with my husband and ruined the chances of my kid. And you do not even feel bad about it?

Meryl coolly scanned my eyes. “Not particularly.”

It was all over, and I went off flinging after me, and looking back once at her.
Homeward was a fog. My hands turned so tense in somebody hands that my knuckles hurting. When I took Emily, and reached home, the decision was crystallized by anger.

in the afternoon I was packing systematically the property of Greg. At the end of the evening his possessions were arrayed along the entrance, enclosed in boxes that were awaiting shipment.

I waited in the living-room; Emily already asleep in the bedroom, until his key turned in the lock.

Whats all this? referring to the luggage, he asked.

I have been to see your mother to-day. At Greater Apartments. Unit 504B.”

His skin turned pale. He opened his mouth, shut it, and again tried. I can reason out, Sandra…”

That was not the truth. You have stared me in the face and told me that we cannot afford preschool for our daughter and you have been paying on the side 3,400 dollars a month so that your mother can live like a monarch.”

“It’s complicated…”

It is not really difficult, no. You have decided on the side of your mom and not your child. Between our family.”
Help! she needed help! She went into depression in that townhouse. She was in solitude.”

And Emily what of her? Her needs and her future? You might have assisted your mother without telling me a lie.”
I always knew you will not understand me. You have never liked my mother.”

This is not like I like her! It immediately has to deal with, as far as I can see, honesty and partnership and raising kids together. My tears came. It is because it is about how you even failed to consult me in such a crucial financial move yet you closed me off immediately I asked to be given a portion of the same amount towards our daughter.

There was silence between us, as wide a chasm as could be.
What you want me to do, Sandra?”

I am having you go. Go live with your mom in her posh flat. Discover what your priorities are.”
How long?

I don not know. Maybe forever.”

The weeks of the following were cruel and lovely. I signed Emily up on Little Explorers and the deposit, using money out of our joint account, so that Greg would not get a chance to blow it all away. I absorbed more freelance jobs and slept four hours per night in most cases.

Emily was the perfect example of a girl who enjoyed going to a preschool and each day she would come home sharing stories of new friends and activities. Her blossoming was a relief to our brokenhousehold.
Greg sent me text messages daily about Emily with some inquiries about me.

I was short of my answers and concentrated in our daughter. He took her out on weekends to the park or the zoo and deposited her on time back home with a heart-sick look on his face which I chose to ignore.

Two months later after he left, there was a rainy Tuesday when Greg arrived unannounced at our door.

Is it possible to discuss? said he dripping wet, flimsier and greyer.

I opened him a door.

Mom went to Miami… together with her new boyfriend.

and good luck to her.
She used my credit cards to their full limit. And I am coverent at The Grand on lease another ten months still.”

Why do you tell me this?

…but you were right…about everything. I allowed her to toy me around. I cheated on both of you. So, so sorry, dear.”
Sorry cannot repair your breach of trust.

“I know.” He put his hand towards my hand. But time perhaps could? I am missing you. I am missing our family.”
Emily brings in her questions every night… about when Daddy is coming back home, I confessed.

And there was hope in his eyes. and what answer do you tell her?

I do not know that.”

And what would you answer me should I ask that question?

I recoiled my hand. It (your finances, your trust, and perhaps even your marriage) is something that you can rebuild but not over a single night. And we did not prove we are first now in vain.
“I understand. Shall I begin with dinner? Once per week? We three?

I remembered how Emily became glowing when Greg entered the room.

Dinner, yes, once a week. That we will have to wait and see, and then some.”

Greg smiled. At least it is the beginning.

I called him as he turned to go, “And Greg, dear?” And if you lie to me again about one single thing…. about money… or your mother… or where you have been to… there will not be another time. There are leases that cannot be renewed when they are broken.”

I know, said he, looking straight at me. I will not lose this one.”
Another one. My husband gave me a box before his trip at night and told me not to open it. I did not intend to… but when it opened up accidentally I could do nothing but call 911.