Benched My Husband During the World Cup Finals
During the World Cup finals, I brought soup to my husband at his office as he was working overtime.
When I arrived outside the screening room of his office, I heard his new assistant, Jodie Lenford, asking with a laugh, "Mr. Hayes, don't you always tell us that Mrs. Hayes watches every World Cup match with you? Why did you leave her alone at home tonight?"
My husband, Tristan, was silent for a while before replying, "Every time she watches the match with me, she'll just lecture me about drinking less and going to bed early. It takes the joy out of everything."
Jodie laughed again. "Let me accompany you tonight instead. I'll replace Mrs. Hayes for this duty."
"You're just like her back when she was young and fiery."
Tristan once told me that I would be the only one by his side during every finals match, but I watched as he gently placed the sports jersey I had carefully picked for him years ago over the shoulders of another woman.
Jodie asked, "Won't Mrs. Hayes be mad if she finds out about this?"
Tristan laughed. "She's learned her lesson. She won't make a huge fuss like she did before."
That was when loud cheering erupted from the screen.
I stood in the dark as I suddenly realized that some matches would end with me being benched before the starting whistle was even blown.