Wife's wedding night slipup reveals husband's true character

Q. My honeymoon and marriage are in tatters because of two words I said on my wedding night. A few years ago, I was in a very intense relationship with "Rick." When it ended, I swore I wouldn't become so intimately involved with someone unless it was for life.

I met "Tom" shortly afterward, and knew he was "the one." I shared with him my views on premarital sex but didn't explain what happened or why. He completely supported me. We just married and had a beautiful reception, spending the night at a hotel near the airport because we were going to Europe for our honeymoon.

As things heated up between us, I accidentally said, "Oh, Rick." I realized my mistake immediately, and the look of horror on my face was met by the look of hatred on his.

"Who's Rick?!? Why are you thinking about Rick when you just married me?!?" It got really vicious. He called his parents and told them to set up a divorce attorney when he returned. Then he called my parents and introduced himself as "your future ex-son-in-law." He asked them who Rick was and why I was moaning about him!

I pleaded with him for a chance to set things straight, but he quickly got dressed and took his suitcase and my passport with him, and told me not to follow him to Europe. The airlines couldn't help because I didn't have my passport, and when they tried to page him, he refused to talk to me. He's not answering my calls, and the only text he answered was one where I suggested couples' counseling. He said he's not the one fantasizing about an old flame on our wedding night.

I'm trying to get a new passport, and wondering if I should get on a plane as soon as I can to try to salvage this. What should I do?

Wedding Night Disaster

A. Your honeymoon and marriage are in tatters because Tom reacted with absolutely stunning hostility to a quirk of the human brain.

Yes, his pain is understandable. Yes, yours was a huge mistake and not just the fateful "two words," which I'll get to in a second. A person's sense of self or humor would have to be formidable to take a slip like yours in stride.

But. For this to obliterate all of his supposed love and trust, plus any inner mandate to be kind? His commitment to you as a human being, vs. as a bride or presumed virgin can't have been deep.

He didn't just get sad or angry, or yell, or cancel the honeymoon, he went for your emotional jugular and hasn't let go. He called your parents to shame you. Making mistakes, that's life. Living in fear of his reaction to your next mistake, that's hell.

This glimpse of his true character is a gift. Accept it and annul the marriage.

Take time to think before acting, sure. Get counseling, solo, with someone good. Heal. Forgive yourself.

And make a note for next time: Telling people the what (in this case, no premarital sex) without any hint at the why invites misunderstandings. The best way to know people is to let them know you, and better upfront than the morning after. I'm so sorry.

• Email Carolyn at tellmewashpost.com, follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carolyn.hax or chat with her online at noon Eastern time each Friday at www.washingtonpost.com.

© 2015 The Washington Post