There could be various reasons. It might be that she has a higher sex drive and the husband's absence prompts her to seek that form of pleasure. Or it could be a way for her to cope with feelings of abandonment or insecurity when he's not around.
This kind of question assumes an unhealthy dynamic. A wife's actions in a relationship are based on love, connection, and her own comfort, not an obligation to perform such acts whenever the husband desires.
It could be that she has some personal errands to run that she doesn't want her husband to know about. These errands might be something as simple as buying a gift for him without him finding out, or it could be something more private like visiting a doctor for a minor health issue that she doesn't want to worry him with at the moment.
A husband should approach the situation with empathy. If he notices his wife masturbates a lot, he could try to enhance their emotional and physical connection. He could plan romantic evenings, be more affectionate, and communicate better about their sexual desires. At the same time, he should respect her autonomy and the fact that masturbation is a normal part of her sexual expression. He shouldn't make her feel ashamed or guilty about it.
She could initially be in denial. She might not believe that her husband would actually leave her for a younger woman. She may keep waiting for him to come back, thinking it's just a passing phase.
The phrase might imply that the wife is going away and she has stories that are becoming a part of the environment she's leaving. If she was in a family, for instance, she might have family stories that she takes with her in a sense, but also leaves an imprint of in the family's collective memory, and those are the 'stories' that are left.
Maybe she wants to warn him about the consequences of cheating. For example, she might have heard some real - life cases where cheating led to broken relationships, financial losses or emotional traumas. By sharing these stories, she hopes to make him understand how serious it is and that he should stay faithful in their relationship.
It could symbolize them having access and ownership of their home, representing stability and togetherness.
Maybe the dog is very attached to the owner and feels lonely when they leave.
I think this kind of statement is quite private and personal. It's not something that can be generalized or assumed easily.
Maybe he feels threatened by the romantic ideals in those novels. He might think his wife will compare their relationship to the fictional ones and find it lacking.