Melanie adored her husband Henry, but his constant trips to help his ex-wife, Liz, began to strain their marriage. Every time Liz called about a minor home repair, Henry would rush over, even missing their anniversary dinner once. Meanwhile, tasks in their own home — like a dripping faucet — went untouched. When Melanie confronted him, he insisted Liz was simply helpless and needed help with the house they still co-owned. Still, Melanie couldn’t shake the feeling that Liz was taking advantage of his kindness.
One evening, after Liz called about a supposed kitchen flood, Melanie decided to go with Henry. When they arrived, Liz appeared at the door in a silk robe, seemingly surprised to see Melanie there. Inside, the “flood” turned out to be a small puddle that looked staged. It was clear Liz didn’t need a handyman — she wanted Henry’s attention. As Henry fixed the minor issue, Melanie handed Liz a list of local professionals and firmly suggested she call them instead of Henry in the future.
On the drive home, Melanie made her feelings clear: Henry had to set boundaries or risk their marriage. She even placed a divorce lawyer’s card on the dashboard, telling him it wasn’t an ultimatum but a choice. Henry realized how his actions had affected Melanie and promised to call Liz and end the pattern. He admitted he hadn’t seen things from her perspective and wanted to prioritize their relationship.
Three months later, Henry kept his promise. Liz found someone else to help her — this time a professional repairman — and Henry focused on his own marriage. Melanie finally had her faucet fixed and, more importantly, a husband who was fully present in their life together. It wasn’t just about fixing things around the house — it was about fixing their partnership, and now, both felt stronger than ever.