Should I be worried about "Carol"?

My mother-in-law has told me several stories about having to go up to the local bar and drag her husband home back when their kids were young. Sometimes she'd be coming in the front door of the bar, and he'd be sneaking out the back. It's an all too common tale; husbands "working late" and finding ways to avoid going home to responsibilities. Luckily, I have never worried about the bar. Rather, I have to worry about Carol.





My husband called me the other day and mentioned wanting to stop by Carol's. I asked him not to and he then informed me he was on his way home from work and would come right home. The next day, he confessed to me that he stopped by Carol's on the way home from work the day before, even after I asked him not to.





I've only been to Carol's once. I was surprised by Carol's older apperance and vacant looks. I didn't really get why my husband had been so compelled to go to Carol's. Carol's inner world seems disorganized and old-fashioned. I felt uncomfortable there, while my husband seemed right at home. The 80's style mirrors made me think of cocaine and orgy parties. I thought after I shared my concerns, that would put an end to my husband's interest with going to Carol's, but now I wonder- were there other times? And the nerve, me at home with a baby while my husband is over at Carol's...



Carol's is a furniture store, and even though it sounds harmless enough, it's weird. It's weird that my husband always wants to go there. It's weird that he has to "come clean" after lying about not going there. This place is so weird (have I said that yet?). I can't figure out how it's still in business and wouldn't be surprised if it's some sort of front, or perhaps a time warp - like a place where time moves slower and gravity is different. Maybe their reality is really moving slower than ours? I don't know.