A spouse’s infidelity is always tragic and destructive. To know that the one doing the cheating, has been doing it for years and does not even care, is even more tragic and disturbing. That spouse, through their cheating, tears at the fabric which holds a family together.
Usually, the situation can sometimes be resolved through counseling. But the trust will always be absent. Even though, that can and is a long, and somewhat painful road to recovery. Which will not always result in the desired results.
When that happens, it usually ends in divorce. Which is the faster, but more expensive solution. When divorce is the final outcome, the one who was cheated on, will find it hard to trust another person, that they are not related to.
Then, afterwards as the healing continues, life will throw you a lifeline. It may come in many ways. It could be staring you straight in the face at times like these, or by throwing a curve ball at you. In either case, all you need to do, is to keep your eye on the ball, and don’t miss.
Authors notes:
This story is fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No one under the age of 18, engaged in any sexual activity. Whether implicitly or explicitly.
No animals were harmed in the writing of this story.
Need to cover all of the bases. We have some real nuts running around lately.
*************
The front door slammed shut. The wedding pictures on the wall nearly fell from the force of the vibrations. My wife and I just had another fight. She is now off to stay with her sister, suitcase in hand.
I needed to lean against the door, to allow my blood pressure to slowly begin to lower. This fighting has been going on now, periodically, for the past 6 years.
Again… as usual, this fight was because I found her stumbling into the house last night, well past midnight. As usual, she smelt of beer and cigarette smoke, as well as,… pot?
Her make-up was smeared and her panties were hanging out of her hand bag. There was a white liquid running down the inside of her thighs. I could also see a large glob of it on her panties.
When I asked her was every thing alright, she drunkenly told me to go fuck myself. I stood there. Shocked at the total disrespect that I was just shown.
Then during the following day, when I answered the phone, a man asked for her. When I said that she was still sleeping, he told me to tell her that he would be at the bar waiting for her. I knew then, that our marriage was truly over.
So much for her continued infidelity towards our marriage. I remembered the weather conditions the day we were married. It must have cast a foreboding shadow over our marriage.
I married Margaret 8 years ago. At the time, I did not know that she had a 12 year old daughter. She was struggling to maintain a roof over their heads. She only had a low paying job working in a diner, that I frequented. We dated for a few months, fell in love and married. Now, I wonder if she ever really did love me.
*******
Margaret and I walked out of the little chapel next to the court house, only to be met by the cold and windy winter afternoon. It was a Thursday and school had just let out earlier that day, just before noon, for the Christmas break. A little girl, she called Carrie, was dressed in a very pretty white dress. She served as our ring bearer and flower girl.
Margaret’s sister, Clare, had Carrie living with her and her husband, Tom. Carrie cried when we started to walkaway. It broke my heart to see the little girl cry. So, I walked back over to her, bent down, and told her that everything will be alright, and that she will see her aunt in just a few days.
She hugged my neck real tight and I kissed her cheek. “I love my mommy.” I teared up. “I love her too.” It would not dawn on me until much later, as to what she really meant.
Margaret and I only left the bed to receive room service and use the bathroom. Then eventually only to leave to return back home. I felt that this weekend was the beginning of the life that I had longed wished for. That I had finally found the woman, to fill the hole left from my wife’s death, that I had been looking for.
Life was great after we returned back home. I now had the loving wife that I had longed dreamed of at home. As well as, the possibility of children that will call me daddy. Which I hoped, we will soon to start that large family that I so longed for. Which I had also hoped included the son that I had always wanted. Little did I know that it would all turn into a nightmare.
***************
My now 20 year old step-daughter Carrie, came up to me and put her arms around my shoulders. “Why daddy,…do you put up with her shit?” She was crying. “She is nothing but a cheating whore.” Carrie had just celebrated her birthday the day before. She also just recently finished the first half of her Junior year in college.
I held her for a few minutes, letting her cry. Her tears were becoming visible on my shirt. When she picked her head up, her eyes were red and puffy. She used my shirt to wipe her nose as she sniffled. I thanked her.
“I have to tell you…something that is going to hurt…a lot.” Her sniffles turned into body shaking sobs. “…That bitch of a whore has been…cheating on you…for years.” Her crying turned into out right balling. “She would come over to Aunt Clare’s, change clothes, and go out to meet up with a man at the bar.”
I held onto her as I sat down on the couch, letting her cry it out. I then picked up her petite frame, putting her onto my lap. I wrapped her up into my strong arms and just let her cry it out. Just like I did when she was a child after she hurt herself when she fell off of her bike.
Just like when Aunt Clare first allowed her to start riding her new bike that one year at our July 4th BBQ. Carrie was 13. She feel off after hitting a curb, she was crying so much that her tears soaked my shirt. It was then that I learned that Carrie was really Margaret’s daughter.
After she had settled somewhat, I told her that I knew. “Carrie, I have known of your mother’s infidelity for some time now.” I started to become emotional and tear up myself. “That is what this
latest fight was all about.” I paused briefly to reflect on our past. “I have tried for years to get her to stop.” My tears were flowing as well.
It took me a few minutes before I was able to speak again. “I told her this morning that I was tired of being her cockold, and have already contacted a divorce attorney. That is why she left.”
Carrie leaned back and wiped a tear from my cheek. She just laughed and said good. Carrie needed to wipe her own tears several more times. She then said that it was about fucking time. I told her to watch her language.
“Your mother said that the only reason she married me, was for me to eventually take care of you.” I pulled Carrie tighter against me. “That she needed a roof over her head, so she could go out and do her whoring without a fucking kid hanging onto her coattail.”
“Did my own mother hate me that much?” The tears started to flow again. “It is not my fault! I am not the one who opened my legs and got pregnant!”
A giant sob wracked my body. “Those were her exact words.” I hugged Carrie to let her know that she is loved by me. “For the life of me…I can not understand why she hates you so much.” I said between sobs.
From the first moment that I met them, Carrie struck me as this beautiful little girl, who only wanted to be happy and bring joy to others. Her smile would light up a room, as well as, your heart. Why would anyone want to live apart from such a lovely little girl, such as Carrie. I could not fathom ever living like that with any child I would ever have. It would break my heart.
Carrie had her head nuzzled into my neck, with her arms wrapped around me as well. “Daddy, what…will happen now?” Her voice muffled by my neck. A shiver of joy ran through me, any time she called me that. Why she does, I know not why. Although, I am the only real father she has ever known.
“The lawyer has hired…an investigator to follow them and obtain definitive proof….This state does no go on hearsay.” We both sniffled at the same time. “Then I will file officially for a divorce. I am making sure that your mother gets nothing.” My voice was cracking from the emotion due to this whole sordid situation.
“Good!…That bitch deserves nothing.” She said rather forcefully through her tears. I could hear the hate for her mother in Carrie’s voice.
To explain that display of hatred occurred when Carrie was 15. Carrie and Clare were over at my place. I was tutoring Carrie with one of her math classes.
Margaret and Clare decided to have a few cocktails. Within the span of only a couple of hours…both women were drunk.
Suddenly, Carrie needed to be taken to the doctor’s. She was having some female issues. I tried to awaken either Margaret or Clare, but neither one would respond. So Carrie and I left. At the hospital, with me present, Carrie had to explain her problems to the doctor, in front of people who were not her mother and father.
The reason why her mother did not respond, is very simple. Her real mother was passed out drunk, in bed upstairs. She could not even be bothered to make sure that her daughter was properly taken care of. I believe since that day, Carrie considered me her real parent. Her mother was then relegated persona non grata.
“I have tried for the past 6 years to allow her to stop. She has refused every attempt that I have put forth.” My anger began to take over. “Enough is enough!” I gave Carrie a hug, as my anger boiled over. I thought that at least I still had my little girl.
“That’s not what I meant earlier… Since we are not related,… do you want me to leave and drop
out of school?” She raised her head, tears were flowing freely.
“No, baby.” I tried to wipe her tears away. “Your mother is the one who destroyed this family. I will not, nor could not,… take it out on you.” I leaned back to look into her eyes. I saw the fear that I would reject her as well.