Through the window, I saw her. JULIE. My husband’s mistress. She had perfectly styled blonde hair, red lipstick and a designer outfit. All the things I didn’t have.
Julie bounced in her seat like a child on Christmas morning when Jimmy walked up to her. ‘Oh, Jim, darling! You didn’t have to!’ She clapped her hands together, attracting stares from neighbouring tables.
‘Anything for you, darling.’ Jimmy’s voice came through the window he’d forgotten to close completely. He slid into the booth across from her and held out a shiny box. ‘I picked this out for you, my love.’
‘Oh my God, it’s…?’ Julie’s eyes widened as she grabbed the box. ‘The diamond necklace from La Enchanted Diamonds? The one I showed you last month? The diamond ring from Botswana?’
‘Open up and take a look, sweetie.’ Jimmy leaned forward, grinning like a fool.
‘I’m trying. The knot seems too tight,’ Julie said.
‘Let me help you,’ Jimmy got up from his chair and walked over to her as they untied the ribbon.
‘Three…’ I whispered, not taking my eyes off the phone. ‘Two… one…’
SPLAT!
The explosion of green paint was magnificent. Julie’s scream hit a note that I didn’t even think was possible. ‘MY HAIR! MY PLACE!’ She jumped up, paint streaming down her face like melted ice cream. ‘JIMMY, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?’
Jimmy froze in place, mouth open, green paint dripping from his nose. ‘I…I don’t…’
‘Is this a joke?’ exclaimed Julie, wiping the paint from her eyes. ‘You think it’s funny, dickhead?’
The older woman at the next table snorted into her mimosa. ‘Well, I think it’s hilarious!’
‘Somebody take a video of this!’ – A teenage boy shouted.
‘It’s already trending!’ – replied another, typing furiously on his phone.
Julie grabbed her ruined designer handbag. ‘I look like the Grinch puked on me! That dress cost more than your monthly salary, you idiot!’
‘Julie, baby, wait…’ Jimmy stood up, smearing green paint everywhere.
‘You don’t have to babysit me! I’m done being your dirty little surprise!’ She tore towards the door, leaving a trail of green behind her. ‘And by the way? Your wife is too good for you!’
You’re right, sis!
I barely made it home before Jimmy burst through the door, his face and expensive suit smeared with bright green paint.
‘What happened to you?’ I gasped, trying to keep a concerned expression on my face. ‘You look like the Grinch!’
‘Some… some kids with paint balls,’ he muttered. ‘They were attacking everyone outside my office.’
‘At Christmas? How awful!’ I reached for the manila envelope on the counter. ‘Oh, by the way, this came for you today. Consider it my Christmas present, darling!’
Jimmy’s paint-covered fingers trembled as he opened the envelope. His eyes widened when he saw the divorce papers inside.
‘WHAT?’ He lifted his head, concern appearing on his green face.
‘Merry Christmas, darling.’ I pulled a diamond necklace out of my pocket. ‘By the way, your taste in jewellery has improved since our anniversary. Poor Julie. She missed it!’
‘You… you switched…’
‘Yes! I switched the gift box you so lovingly hid for your lovely hostess! How did you like the surprise? Did you like it?’
‘Alina, honey, let me explain. You don’t understand!’ He pitched forward. ‘Julie means nothing to me! She was a mistake!’
‘A mistake?’ I laughed. ‘A mistake is forgetting to buy milk. A mistake is mixing white and colour in the laundry. Buying your mistress the exact necklace your wife wanted? That’s betrayal.’
‘We can fix this!’ He held out his paint-stained hands to me. ‘I’ll do anything! Counselling, therapy, anything you want!’
‘What do I want?’ I stepped back. ‘I wanted a faithful husband. I wanted the man I married. Instead I got a liar who can’t even come up with a decent excuse to be caught. ‘Kids with paint balls? Really?’
‘Baby, please,’ Jimmy stepped forward and green paint dripped onto our pristine floor. ‘It’s nothing serious. Julie just…she didn’t mean anything by it. We never…’
‘Leave it alone.’ I held up a hand. ‘I’ve heard all the excuses. ‘She’s just a friend. ‘We’re just colleagues. ‘Those late nights were just work.’ You know what the worst part is? I actually believed you for a while.’
‘Don’t do this. Please. I’m sorry.’
I laughed. ‘You know what’s funny? I’ve been thinking for months that I’m not enough. That I needed to be prettier and smarter and better. But standing here and looking at you covered in paint, I realise that you’re the one who was never enough.’
‘Give me another chance.’
‘No.’ I picked up my packed suitcase from behind the couch. ‘But thanks for the necklace. Consider it my consolation prize. Oh, and Jimmy? Green really isn’t your colour.’
As I drove away, I took one last look at Jimmy in the rearview mirror-the pathetic green figure standing in our driveway. My phone buzzed with notifications. Apparently, someone had posted a recording of the paint incident online. The video had already gone viral.
From what I heard, Julie dumped him after a paint incident that went viral at the law firm where they worked. She couldn’t stand being labelled a ‘green lover’.
Jimmy had been trying to get on dating apps for a while, but it’s hard to find a date when you’re the infamous ‘green Christmas cheater.’
And me? I’m fine. The necklace looks great with everything I wear. Every time it lights up, I smile as I remember my particular Christmas payback: the day I wrapped my marriage with a bow and smeared green paint all over everything.
Here’s another story: I spent 23 years mourning my deceased wife after she died in a plane crash. But as fate would have it, she and I met again.
This piece is inspired by real events and people but fictionalised for creative purposes. Names, characters and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental and is not intended by the author.