I liked our new neighbor Janet from the moment she moved in, but I couldn’t understand why she seemed to despise my husband. After months of awkward encounters, I finally asked her what her problem was. Her response made me wish I’d asked much sooner.
My name is Laura, and I’m 33.
Until last spring, I thought my marriage was one of the things I’d gotten right in life.
My husband, Ethan, and I had been married for seven years.
We lived in a small neighborhood outside Columbus, in the house we’d bought after saving for five years.
When Janet moved into the house next door, I had no idea she would change how I saw him.
Janet was about my age, with a cheerful Southern accent.
She had a habit of wearing bright sundresses, even when the weather barely called for them.
I liked her immediately.
But she seemed to hate Ethan.
The first time I noticed, we were bringing groceries inside. Janet waved from her porch.
“Hey, Laura! How’s your week going?”
“Good! This is my husband, Ethan.”
He lifted a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Janet glanced at him, then looked back at me.
“Don’t forget what I said about that little bakery downtown.”
I thought she hadn’t heard his greeting.
After that, it happened constantly.
She’d chat with me for 10 minutes beside our mailboxes, then go almost silent if Ethan came outside.
Ethan didn’t laugh when I mentioned it.
“I’ve noticed it too,” he said.
“Did you know her before she moved here?”
“Never seen her in my life.”
He shrugged. “Whatever her problem is, I wish she’d stop making it ours.”
I agreed. We were hoping to stay in that house for years.
What happened next changed everything… FULL STORY on the next page.
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