My Husband Begged Me Not to Go to His Father's Funeral, But When I Found Out Who He Was With, It All Made Sense

This article appeared in bridesblush.com and has been published here with permission.

Even the best marriages keep secrets, right? Whether they're struggling marriages or those that have endured steadfastly for years, everyone has a private sphere distinct from that of their partner. Having some secrets is fine, but when there are too many, trouble begins. Too many secrets can crumble a family like a house of cards. This story is about me, a wife determined to find answers.... And my husband, a man determined to keep his secrets.

Radiant Journey

It was a gorgeous day for high-speed driving. So I thought on the hot summer morning as I sped down the coast, headed for a small, prosperous enclave in South Florida known as Tempest. To get there I had to pass through several forgotten towns filled with apocalyptic signs, but that didn't matter to me.

Pexels // Mikhail Nilov

"Tempest, Florida. McGrady Funeral Home, One Eleven South Street. 12 P.M. June 14. All who knew or loved Robert Sheldon are welcome." I was struck by the "o." I found it funny; typical of my ex's secretive family.

Dodging Divorce

I wasn't chasing my ex-husband, quite the opposite. He had been dodging me for months, refusing to respond to my lawyer's demands. I didn't have a lawyer. I didn't understand why he preferred to stay in an unhappy marriage, doing nothing, when his father was a wealthy military tycoon.

Pexels // Vera Arsic

She could be living on a beach in Cabo or something, but she preferred to take refuge in South Florida. He was hoping to serve her with divorce papers in person.

Don't Come

But, of course, my desperate pleas didn't make a dent in Matt Sheldon. Nor had they worked during the marriage, nor when I begged him to tell me about his family, why he was disappearing so much, and other important questions a wife should know.

Pexels // Tim Samuel

"Mary," he said, "Don't come. Stay where you are." I blinked. It was an odd way to put it. His father's death, though late, must have hit him hard. To most people, that would be obvious, but Matt and his father didn't seem close. He was taking it surprisingly badly.

Delicate Situation

I ignored Matt's multiple missed calls after that. I knew he was already in a morally delicate situation for wanting to serve him with divorce papers at his father's funeral; that just seemed wrong to me. Even if I understood it, it wasn't ideal.

Pexels // Pixabay

It would be subtle, I told myself as I cruised down the Florida turnpike, leaving a trail of hot smoke on the asphalt. I would simply walk in and hand over the papers. Then I'll leave, without making a fuss.