[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Have you ever read "The Client" by John Grisham? You know the lawyer who handles the young client? Reggie? Well, her case probably isn't so "fictional". I have a friend whose doctor-pediatrician-husband looks great out in public, but he's a really nasty pompass, self-indulgent character behind closed doors, to the point where he's even thrown his own son up against the wall in impatience. This friend of mine is now finding out that her soon-to-be ex-husband-doc has been financially screwing her for years - hiding investments, etc. apparently planning ahead for the divorce. My friend was about to go off the deep end, until people like me helped her get a grip on things and realize that she could fight back.

[Eva]

I had a patient, years ago, with a husband like that (I used to be a dental hygienist). She came in to the office so happy one day and told me that she was changing her address, that she had rented an apartment six months earlier and had been secretly furnishing it with money from her household budget and was going to move into it that week-end. I would have loved to see the look on the man's face. (I think that she had already seen a lawyer, as well).

[Gabz]

Good for you and your friend. Stick by her - she's going to need you.

When I left my (insert expletive) in 1988 - he never once said he wanted me to stay because he loved me - it was all "I can't afford this......without you."

For 4 years he held me hostage with "you can't make it in this town without me."

I walked out of there with what I walked in with - my clothes and furniture - and even told him I would pay the cost of the divorce proceedings (that's how badly I wanted out).

During all of this he was using me as a professional/job reference and still had the gall to tell me he expected me to pay his 2 grand in legal fees. I was smart and refused - I later found out he was charged nothing.

Stick by your friend - she's going to need people like you.