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Post by craftedbys on Dec 12, 2018 22:29:52 GMT
Will try to make this short, but y'all need some backstory, and you know I am never succinct. You've been warned, LOL
I have been close with my BFF for over 5 years. She's part of our family, she even says my family treats her better than her own (one year my kids got her something for Christmas and her own kids didn't because they are selfish). We jokingly call her my sister wife and my kids refer to her as Mom2.
We helped her through a divorce and two years ago she met this guy. To put it mildly, neither me, my family, or our other friend like this guy. He is almost 49 years old and is nothing but a mooch. He was just coming off a "seasonal job" when they met.
So dude can read her like a book and says all the things she has been wanting to hear etc etc. He showers her with all the flowery words and physical affection and next thing we know he has convinced her to elope without her children or any friends knowing (like 2 months after they started seeing one another).
So my other friend and I are seeing these huge red flags, like him texting constantly while she's out with us. She occasionally will see she's being used, but then he distracts her with sex and home repairs.
Now the problem I have today: A couple of weeks ago they found a mass during a colonoscopy and turns out it is cancerous. She was having surgery this morning.
I offered to be there this morning, I could move an appointment my Dad had, but she said no, there was no reason for me to just sit in a waiting room all day. I said ok, as long as her DH would keep me updated on what's going on, when she went to recovery, to a room etc. I received a promise of updates etc.
Y'all know where this is going, don't you? Yep. Radio silence all day. I don't have his phone number so we sent a message via our group chat, figuring he was reading all of her texts like he always does. No reply.
I sent her son a text asking if he had any information, and he was in the dark.(He's still in high school and mom didn't want him to miss.)
I called the hospital at 3pm to see if I could just talk to her on the phone and they said she hadn't been put in a room yet (she was headed back to surgery just after 730 this am).
So our other friend finally tracked his phone number down and sent him a text basically saying "hey, we haven't heard anything and we're concerned, how's she doing?" And instead of just answering he started sending these bullshit cryptic messages.
My DH finally sent him a text and it showed he read it, but dude never bothered to answer. So DH called the hospital and said he was trying to send her something and needed her room number.
So Peas, if you have hung in there this far, what can I say to him that isn't going to upset my friend but will let her DH know exactly how I feel about him? My DH said "eat shit and die" wasn't appropriate.
The proper Southern girl in me knows I should just say "bless your heart" and move on, but I think that will go right over his head. I guess I will have to bite my tongue so I don't upset BFF but I really wish I could tell him exactly how I feel. Hopefully, he can tell by the loathing vibes that radiate from me whenever he's around.
I feel better having gotten this off my chest, much less stabby. However, I would appreciate any words of advice on how to deal with dude. I know that our other friends solution of finding a pig farm to make the problem go away probably isn't a viable solution.
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Post by nellej on Dec 12, 2018 22:36:12 GMT
I hope she is okay. I'd wait for an update before you contact him again, hard as it may be.
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Deleted
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May 10, 2024 13:37:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2018 22:43:37 GMT
Unfortunately, there's nothing you can say to him about this without hurting your GF or creating a greater divide between him and you. He's not going to change and your GF has made her choice as to who she wants to spend her life with. If you want to ensure you remain in his good graces while she's going through treatment, best thing to do is say nothing.
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Post by lucyg on Dec 12, 2018 22:44:21 GMT
Is the pig farm reference like what happened to the pig farmer in the first season of Copper? If yes, I approve. Honestly, for now I think you just have to let it go. Focus on your BFF and her recovery. You know for future reference that you can’t count on him. But there isn’t much point in picking a fight with him at this particular moment. She will have to come to her senses on her own time frame. No matter how very wrong for her you know he is.
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Post by papersilly on Dec 12, 2018 22:50:26 GMT
Unfortunately, there's nothing you can say to him about this without hurting your GF or creating a greater divide between him and you. He's not going to change and your GF has made her choice as to who she wants to spend her life with. If you want to ensure you remain in his good graces while she's going through treatment, best thing to do is say nothing. you've nailed it on all accounts!!! OP, nothing you say will change your friend's mind. the best thing you can do for her is to be there for her during her treatment. bite the bullet and tolerate the guy for the sake of your friend. if communication with him is an issue, you have to get your friend to maintain open communication with you so you don't have to rely on that guy. i think your friend is vulnerable right now because of her illness. she needs continued support from her friends in ways that the guy cannot provide. nothing beats the support of your real friends. the BF provides that "companionship" she probably wants from a guy. who knows.
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Post by ladytrisha on Dec 12, 2018 23:41:12 GMT
I agree with being there for your friend - just be aware that he may try to push you out.
I have a friend - same story, red flags, even the illness. And I'll tell you that they will ALWAYS make excuses for the idiot they married.
My friend and I wrote a letter to our mutual friend before she married this loser (wanted to be on record that we were not supporting her at all - he was that shifty). He was also illiterate and just plain horrible. Nothing changed except one day years later, she did tell us we were right about him BUT that she was stuck with him now and nothing she could do. So she has a boyfriend on the side.
I've drifted away because the whining about him never stops, but she won't do anything. She survived uterine cancer, 2 foreclosed homes and bankruptcy - and this guy even gamed the system and got permanent disability for a work injury that she finally fessed up one day (after a few beers) that never happened at work. Then he moved his adult weird sister in with them so she's now the only one that works in the entire family. He bowls several times a week in leagues and has even thrown perfect games. Now I can't figure out who makes me more ill and my hubby tells me its time to close the book on all of it.
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Post by femalebusiness on Dec 13, 2018 0:04:54 GMT
I'd get her to watch Dirty John on Bravo channel.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
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Post by peabay on Dec 13, 2018 0:09:30 GMT
She will choose him over you. Plain and simple. So, smile, support her, avoid him and don't say anything bad about him. The messenger will be killed.
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Dec 13, 2018 0:11:22 GMT
The only thing I can think of is something like "Hey, I love her like a sister and have been a part of her life for years. Please keep us in the loop when important things like this are happening." I'm sure he'll completely ignore it, but if she sees it, there's nothing to get mad about, at least.
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 13, 2018 1:26:23 GMT
Thanks for all the advice. I did what y'all suggested and just kept my mouth shut and focused on my BFF.
I gave her a lap quilt that I made for her when I found out she had cancer and she cried because she knows I only quilt for people I love, and she is not a crier by nature so I know she was touched.
I am going to go back up there tomorrow evening with some lip balm and lotion and vitamin c drops. I will continue to ignore him like he doesn't exist, LOL.
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Post by 950nancy on Dec 13, 2018 3:27:07 GMT
Just sit with her and be there for her. If things fall out with him, she will know you care about her.
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Post by annabella on Dec 13, 2018 3:33:01 GMT
There's nothing you can say to him, he doesn't care. He was probably busy all day doing something else distracted or not even in the hospital. You should have her listen to the Dear John podcast because that's exactly the situation she has gotten herself into. Tell her to adjust her will to make sure her kids get everything and not her husband.
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FurryP
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Post by FurryP on Dec 13, 2018 4:01:15 GMT
There's nothing you can say to him, he doesn't care. He was probably busy all day doing something else distracted or not even in the hospital. You should have her listen to the Dear John podcast because that's exactly the situation she has gotten herself into. Tell her to adjust her will to make sure her kids get everything and not her husband. Dear John is the first thing that popped in my head!
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Post by pierkiss on Dec 13, 2018 5:47:09 GMT
Nothing. There is absolutely nothing you can say to your best friend about her husband to make this better. I know this because I have been in this situation with my former best friend. Yep, former. It’s late and it’s an extremely long Story and I can’t type it all out now. But I let my feelings be known about her husband and the patterns of abuse I saw, said I was concerned. She in turn accused me of a bunch of stuff (none true), emotional wounds were done, and in the end I opted to discontinue the friendship because of her stupid awful husband. I miss my best friend. But I don’t miss her husband and the drama he brings, so I stay away.
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anniebygaslight
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Post by anniebygaslight on Dec 13, 2018 12:11:32 GMT
I would disingenuously ask him, in front of her, if he has been having problems with his phone, as so many people had been unsuccessful in contacting him after they had heard nothing.
I hope she makes a good recovery.
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julie5
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Post by julie5 on Dec 13, 2018 12:44:00 GMT
I’ve been trying to think of a response since I read this post yesterday and this is the best I could come up with. I’ll try to be gentle.
Your friend married someone in less than 2 months of knowing him without your blessing—she’s very insecure and she probably won’t listen to any advice you have. Not right now anyways.
I was your friend. I married my 2nd ex husband in under 3 months, we were engaged just 6 weeks after meeting. He was unemployed. Real winner material here. But I was desperate and he knew it. He played upon that. Made me feel like it was marry him now or die alone and miserable. And I fell for it. We were married for four years before I finally gave up and left. He was never going to change (his 3rd divorce was just finalized, after 4 years with her).
The reality is, HE is the desperate one and he will do whatever he needs to do to keep her from seeing that. Think of a smear campaign against you. If you make any trouble for him with her, he gets to lie in bed next to her at night and tell her how much you don’t understand them and how wonderful he is to her. Seriously I could write a book on guys like him.
I hope your friend is ok.
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julie5
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Post by julie5 on Dec 13, 2018 12:47:33 GMT
Also my sister was the friend like you-having me over for family suppers and stuff. It got real old seeing her with her family so happy and her rubbing in my face how wonderful her husband was and gee so sorry you’re all alone with no one. Poor aunt Julie, never going to find anyone. So I married the first loser I found. You can be the most loving people in the world, but when she had to go home alone at night, and sit with just herself, that’s hard. Hard on the heart. She probably just wanted what you had. <3
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2018 13:34:16 GMT
If he sees that you all don't like him, then you are going to be fighting an uphill battle. A better strategy would be to get him on your side as much as possible. You don't have to actually like the guy, but she did choose him and being inclusive with him may help. Check in and see how they BOTH are doing. Try to empathize (even if he is a total jerk, you can understand SOMEONE going through this situation). Let him know that you want to be a support to them BOTH, so keeping you in the loop would mean a lot. You will need to swallow your concerns and treat them as a couple if you are going to be able to be there for her when it all blows up.
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julie5
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Post by julie5 on Dec 13, 2018 13:43:43 GMT
If he sees that you all don't like him, then you are going to be fighting an uphill battle. A better strategy would be to get him on your side as much as possible. You don't have to actually like the guy, but she did choose him and being inclusive with him may help. Check in and see how they BOTH are doing. Try to empathize (even if he is a total jerk, you can understand SOMEONE going through this situation). Let him know that you want to be a support to them BOTH, so keeping you in the loop would mean a lot. You will need to swallow your concerns and treat them as a couple if you are going to be able to be there for her when it all blows up. Yes THAT. if you check in on just her, he’ll say to her “can believe the nerve, they don’t even care about your husband!” Look up the word narcissist.
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 13, 2018 14:10:28 GMT
Unfortunately, there's nothing you can say to him about this without hurting your GF or creating a greater divide between him and you. He's not going to change and your GF has made her choice as to who she wants to spend her life with. If you want to ensure you remain in his good graces while she's going through treatment, best thing to do is say nothing. This.
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Dec 13, 2018 15:57:29 GMT
I’ve been trying to think of a response since I read this post yesterday and this is the best I could come up with. I’ll try to be gentle. Your friend married someone in less than 2 months of knowing him without your blessing—she’s very insecure and she probably won’t listen to any advice you have. Not right now anyways. I was your friend. I married my 2nd ex husband in under 3 months, we were engaged just 6 weeks after meeting. He was unemployed. Real winner material here. But I was desperate and he knew it. He played upon that. Made me feel like it was marry him now or die alone and miserable. And I fell for it. We were married for four years before I finally gave up and left. He was never going to change (his 3rd divorce was just finalized, after 4 years with her). The reality is, HE is the desperate one and he will do whatever he needs to do to keep her from seeing that. Think of a smear campaign against you. If you make any trouble for him with her, he gets to lie in bed next to her at night and tell her how much you don’t understand them and how wonderful he is to her. Seriously I could write a book on guys like him. I hope your friend is ok. Things was also my experience step by step
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Post by scrapmaven on Dec 13, 2018 23:33:26 GMT
Think about your friendship w/her. If you rip him a new one then you will be the bad guy. This guy has hoodwinked her all along and now that she has cancer she is in a very vulnerable state. If cancer means that she will be destitute then he might bail on her anyway, because she's his meal ticket. However, she provides for him and a bed is a bed. If you get in the middle then she will cut you off to be w/him. This whole thing will likely explode and the most you can do is to continue being her friend. You don't have to like him or invite him anywhere and she can know that you don't trust him, but don't make a big deal out of it for your sake. When he hurts her and he will she'll need a friend and that's when you can be really supportive.
I hope that surgery was enough to rid her of her cancer.
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Post by PEAcan pie on Dec 15, 2018 4:02:01 GMT
What about sending a text to both at the same time? that way he will respond
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smcast
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Post by smcast on Dec 15, 2018 7:19:22 GMT
I wouldn't give him the time of day. I would catch him alone at some point and tell him I didn't appreciate the ghosting on day of surgery. Then I would only engage him after that if absolutely necessary.
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dald222
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Post by dald222 on Dec 15, 2018 9:16:30 GMT
I am sorry to hear about your bfff
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Post by katiejane on Dec 15, 2018 9:42:44 GMT
She is not in a place to recognise who he is. Be a friend to her as much as you can. She will need you. But this relationship is about him and his need for control. It doesn't follow the normal relationship rules. Telling her to leave will just backfire. Just be supportive and if she asks tell her what you have seen experienced as factually as you can.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Dec 15, 2018 9:47:10 GMT
I recently had to sit by and watch my DD jump into a questionable relationship straight out of a 15 year abusive situation. He took total advantage of her vulnerability. I had to smile and make nice and wait for it to play out. Which it did in spectacular ways after 6 months.
She has to know you’re there for her. Always. No matter what. And she has to figure out what he is on her own.
Please let us know if she’s going to be ok and thank you for being there for her.
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Post by wordsmith on Dec 15, 2018 11:26:05 GMT
I have no advice other than what's already been posted; however, I chuckled at "he distracts her with sex and home repairs" -- if only!!! LOL
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momto4kiddos
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Post by momto4kiddos on Dec 15, 2018 11:37:59 GMT
You've gotten great advice. Your best bet is to continue to support her and ignore him as much as possible. Don't do anything to make him be able to make you look like he bad guy and drive a wedge between you and friend.
Sadly feeling stabby may be your new normal dealing with this. Wishing you and your friend well.
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M in Carolina
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Post by M in Carolina on Dec 15, 2018 11:58:15 GMT
The independent feminist in me says f@ck him
The Southern woman in me says fuss over him and how difficult this is for him, too. Bring them a meal—something kinda soft and easy to digest (don’t be like me and eat steak after abdominal surgery). If you know his favorite food, make it for him.
He’s not going to be her rock through this. But if you take care of him, too, you’ll be in the right place when he looks around to shift the burden.
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