**THE SECOND WIFE**
I was certain my ex-husband would run from this woman any day now. Ella was not from his worldtactless, erratic, a reckless adventurer. She was six years older than Vinnie. To be fair, Ella was pretty, always stylishly dressed, and knew how to wrap herself in an air of mystery. But the moment she opened her mouth, that illusion vanished. Vinnie (my ex) was her complete oppositegentle, caring, calm. You might wonder why we divorced if he was such a saint. Blame me, I confess
When Vinnie and I split, he threw himself into chaos. First, he toyed with love for a colleague, Emily. Shed been chasing Vincent for years, dreaming of becoming his wife. Emily had a young son who needed a father, and she was eager to play mother to Vinnie too. She doted on himcooked him lavish meals, pressed his shirts to perfection, all but tied his scarf for him. But Vinnie wanted a wife, not another mother. The office affair lasted barely three months before he escaped her smothering care.
Then my best friend (now former), Olivia, swooped in. Shed always fancied my husband, and Vinnie foolishly thought I hadnt noticed. Free from husbands and children, Olivia was desperate for love. The moment she saw cracks in our marriage, she became his shoulder to cry on. For a year, Vinnie drifted between her and our cold, empty home. His savings bled dry into Olivias hands, and wedding bells seemed imminent.
Ella appeared out of nowhere. They met through mutual friends who insisted, *”Youre both single, both have kidswhy not make a go of it?”* Vinnie confessed about Olivia. *”A fiancée isnt a wifeshe can be un-fiancéed!”* Ella declared. Olivia was shoved aside. Ella dragged Vinnie to the registry office, moved in with her daughter Lily, and swapped their old flat for separate ones.
Lily was fourteen thena handful. She frayed Ellas nerves, constantly running off, too wild for her own good. Once married, Ella suggested Vinnies mum downsize from her two-bedroom flat to a one-bedder. *”At your age, love, cleanings a chore,”* she cooed. His mother obeyed without protest, just to keep peace in Vinnies new life. With the leftover money, Ella renovated their flat and registered herself and Lily there.
Ella was always in some scrapea stolen fur coat, a till shortage, snapping at wealthy customers. Her shop manager tolerated it only because Vinnie quietly covered every loss. The moment the last penny was repaid, Ella was sacked. Vinnie suggested she stay home*”Cheaper in the long run.”* She agreed but never lifted a finger. Instead, it was endless café dates with friends, spa days, shopping sprees. Vinnie came home to fry his own eggs, waiting for his darling wife. *”Wife out gallivanting, husband gnawing bones,”* as they say.
Every summer, they toured EuropeVinnie loved lavishly and wholeheartedly.
Years passed
At twenty, Lily came home pregnant, no father in sight. Ella took over raising the boy while Lily paraded a rotation of “dads” through the house. Vinnie seethed, so Ella guilted him into buying Lily a flat*”A three-bedder, so a proper father might stick around.”* He did. Soon, a decent bloke moved in, loving Lily and the boy. But Ella despised him*”Barely earns a penny!”* Her nagging drove him off. Now Vinnie supports Ellas grandson too.
Our daughter wanted her 30th birthday with her fractured family. Ella refused to let Vinnie go alone and tagged along. After a few wines, Ella boasted about her preference for rough, brash men*”Vinnies not my type at all!”* Yet hed been her golden ticket. *”Pout, and hed break his back for me. Life with hims a breeze!”*
Eventually, bored of leisure, Ella meddled in Vinnies business. Now hes borrowing from our son-in-law to stay afloat.
Thats their love story.
Twenty years on, theyre still together. Ill never understand it.
**Lesson learned:** Some men mistake chaos for passionand pay for it forever.
