“We were just having fun.” I gave him a few chances, but he just couldn’t change.The last straw was when I caught him in our bedroom with her while he was supposed to be watching our kids. It was such a dumb move on his part. Long story short, I kicked him out and filed for divorce. That lousy man didn’t even bother fighting for custody. I guess he knew I’d win because my case was rock solid.I’ve been living alone with my kids, Chelsea (10), Trevor (8), and Kayla (6), for about two years now. My world revolves around them, and my days are a juggling act of work, chores, and parenting. At first, living without a man in the house felt weird since I’d always relied on my husband for the heavy lifting. Although I was working and contributing to the household financially, I wasn’t the one fixing leaky pipes or rewiring switches. That was his job.So, I often lean on friends and family for help. My brother Adam usually drops by to handle those things. But this time, I had no choice but to hire a contractor. And that’s when I learned how some people treat single mothers when they realize there’s no man in the house. I know it sounds horrible, but it’s a harsh reality that hit me hard.So, it all began a few months ago when the kitchen drain had a blockage. I was doing the dishes when I realized the water had started accumulating in the sink. Mind you, I’m very careful while doing the dishes. I always ensure no food particle goes down because I know they always clump up and cause blockages. Anyway, I quickly tried a few hacks, including pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, but nothing worked. Ultimately, I had to wash the dishes in the bathroom. Imagine!Later that night, I called my brother. “Adam, I think you’ll need to come over because there’s a problem with the kitchen drain,” I began. “There’s a big blockage and I can’t seem to solve the issue.””Don’t worry, Liz,” he said. “I’ll be there tomorrow.” However, when Adam came over, he realized there wasn’t much he could do to solve the issue. “Seems like a serious issue,” he said, scratching his head. “I guess you’ll have to look for a professional.”So, I talked to my friends about hiring a contractor, and one of them recommended this guy, Mark. She said he was “one of the best” in town. I wish I hadn’t listened. A few days later, Mark finally showed up because, apparently, he was swamped with work. He was in his thirties, seemed friendly, and gave off that “trust me, I’m a professional” vibe.”Can you tell me what the exact problem is?” I asked as he examined the drainpipe.”A blocked drain and seepage,” he told me. “You should consider remodeling your kitchen. It’ll save you from more headaches down the road.” Remodeling? I thought. That sounds like a whole lot of work. Then, Mark explained why I needed to get it remodeled, and he even quoted a very reasonable price. He also promised to get it done in about six weeks, which seemed pretty quick.Talking to him made me realize the guy was a real pro and knew his stuff. I told him I’d give him my answer the next day. That evening, I called Adam to tell him about Mark. “I think he’s right,” Adam said. “You should go for the remodel. The price sounds good too.” “Yeah,” I agreed. “I’ll call him tomorrow to start the work.” “Sounds great,” he replied. “Do you want me to be there?””Thanks, Adam, but I’ll manage,” I said. “The guy seems solid and doesn’t look like a troublemaker.” Adam had always been there for me, and I didn’t want to keep relying on him. He had his own life, and I figured it was time for me to take charge.Little did I know that this would be the worst decision of my life. I should’ve involved Adam.Mark started on the kitchen two days later. While he worked, my kids Trevor and Kayla would wander in to see what was happening. I thought Mark would be annoyed, but he was surprisingly kind to them. I was relieved to see that. Everything went well for two weeks until the day Mark didn’t show up. I thought he must’ve fallen sick or something, so I let it slide and waited for him to come the next day.aHe didn’t show up again. This went on for three days and then I decided to call him. “Mark, where are you?” I asked. “I’ve been waiting for you for three days.” “Oh, Eliza,” he said casually. “I’m working on another job. I’ll swing by later.” Excuse me? I thought. Another job? What about the hanging cabinets in my kitchen? Who’s gonna fix them? I was angry, but I decided to be polite and asked him to return soon. BIG MISTAKE.Another week passed and he still didn’t show up. I called, but he didn’t answer. I even left voicemails.”Hey, I get that you’re busy, but I need some kind of timeline here,” I said. No response. That’s when I lost my cool because I knew exactly what was happening here. He thought he could take advantage because I’m a single mother. No husband to chase him down. He figured he’d disappear, and I’d just let it go.But I’m not that kind of woman. I’ve been through too much to let anyone play me. So, I got creative, and Mark wasn’t ready for what came next. I took a few pictures of the half-done kitchen with a few cabinets hanging at odd angles, exposed wires, broken pipes, and everything else that made my kitchen look ugly.Then, I posted those photos in a couple of local home improvement groups on Facebook.I didn’t post anything offensive. I just wrote: I hired this contractor named Mark on a friend’s recommendation. He’s great at his work and was almost done remodeling my kitchen when he suddenly vanished. Has anyone else experienced such delays? I let the photos do the talking. I knew exactly what I was doing.It didn’t take long before the comments started rolling in. I know him. He was supposed to fix my bathroom and never showed up again!! OMG! I’m sure this is the same Mark I’ve been calling for two months because he left my place half-done. So glad I found a better contractor. Mark comes up with the best excuses. He vanished with my initial deposit, and I’ve been chasing him for a month now. I’m so sorry your kitchen looks like this. And the list went on.It seemed like the whole town was fed up with him, just waiting for an opportunity to vent. Even Adam was shocked when I told him. He regretted not being there with me.Anyway, as the post gained more traction, I was certain it’d reach him, and it did. I got a call from Mark two days after I posted the photos.”Hey, I’ve been hearing some things online… People are saying I’m not finishing jobs. That’s not true, right?” he asked, practically pleading. His shaky voice told me he was panicking. I’d clearly hit a nerve by exposing him. “Well, Mark, I can’t control what people say,” I said calmly. “Maybe you should focus on finishing the work you started.” I didn’t yell at him or accuse him. I just wanted him to know that he was in this situation because of himself.A few hours later, I got a message from him. I’ll be over tomorrow with the crew, and we’ll finish everything. Please just help me get those reviews taken down. He was practically begging me now and I believed he must have figured out I wasn’t some single mother he could ignore. The following day, Mark arrived at my place with his team. They worked faster than I’d ever seen, scrambling to get everything done.It was almost comical how desperately he worked to finish, as if I’d take the post down the moment he was done. Once the job was done, I thanked Mark, and he left with his crew. Then, he texted me asking if I could remove my post and leave a good review instead. I’ll think about it, I told him. But in reality, I wasn’t going to take the post down or write a new one.I wanted him to realize he couldn’t just get away after betraying so many people. He thought I was one of those people who didn’t raise their voices, especially because I was a single mother. But I guess he messed with the wrong person.Now, I think I made the right choice by handling it myself. If Adam had been around, Mark wouldn’t have dared to mess with me, and his actions wouldn’t have been exposed online. Everything happens for a reason, and I finally understand why.
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