Honesty, or a lie to make you feel better?

Totally theoretical:You invite your friend over for a Saturday BBQ, later he/she calls and explains they're unable to make it cause he/she got called into work.You find out by a friend that what he/she told you wasn't true. The real story is that they don't like your wife/husband but they enjoy your friendship.Would you have wanted that person being honest or prefered that story of being called into work.