I had the perfect life as a rich banker's wife and stay-at-home mum. I tried to ignore my husband's cocaine habit... and then he humiliated me for a final time
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Snuggled up in our Christmas jumpers, my three-year-old son James and I were reading The Snowman together when I heard my husband's key in the door. It was a Saturday lunchtime and the last time I'd seen Jeremy was the previous morning when he'd set off for work.
While he'd called later to tell me he'd been invited out for impromptu drinks after completing a big deal – he worked in banking – I had heard nothing from him since. Moments later, Jeremy appeared at the doorway of our son's playroom. Tie askew, no sign of his suit jacket and with a slither of red tinsel draped around his neck, he was red-nosed and sniffing.
For most of us, Christmas and New Year are a time for parties. Unfortunately, for Jeremy, that meant copious amounts of cocaine – his preferred 'plus one' on a night out. James tried to wriggle off my lap to get to Daddy, but I held on to my tousled-haired boy tighter. I didn't want him near his father in such a state. I knew perfectly well what Jeremy had been up to over the past 12 hours, snorting line after line.
Although I've never taken drugs and always been clear about my disapproval, I'd put up with this sort of behaviour for a decade at that point. Why? Well, first of all, I kept deluding myself that soon he'd settle down, and learn to put his wife and child first. Looking back, I can't imagine why I ever thought he'd change or that I could change him. But I did.
