“Stephanie Stephens!”
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“I’m sorry, you’ve been served,” handing over the envelope he turned and walked away.
Oh my God I can not believe this is happening, holding the envelope in my shaking hands, tears streaming down my face. I know I f**k up. I know he is angry, I just did not think that it was going to…to lead to this. I.. I.. I have to stop this, I have to speak to him, I have to make this right.
FEW DAYS EARLIER
I just finished up my day’s work on my laptop. Now that I am working from home three days a week I have a lot more time on my hands to look after my family. But today right now, I have an hour and a half before my daughter comes home. Two and a half hours before my husband returns. It was game time I can not believe I am going to do this. I ran to take a quick shower being careful not to wet my hair. I can not believe I allowed Hunter to talk me into mutual live sex chat, on video zoom time.
Ever since he left our home office six months ago we have kept in contact, first on Facebook and then on WhatsApp. We always flirted at the office though nothing serious. Once we got online neither one of us held back with the sexting fantasy talk. I never inquired as to where his wife was when we were online and he never inquired into my state of affair, so to speak. It was exciting. I do not know how many orgasms I had while playing with myself when we texted on multiple occasions. Hunter had tried to coerce me into sending him nude pics. He on the other hand sent me many pictures of himself nude. As nice as the visual aids were, it was his words that got me off.
I would never use my cell phone to text him or send pictures because it was a company phone. I did not want to risk my work, God forbid my daughter or husband reading or seeing something inappropriate.
Jumping out of the shower, I quickly towelled off and fixed my makeup. I slipped on nothing but my thick white terry-cloth robe. Quickly checking my perfectly groomed sex in the mirror. I skipped back into my home office excited and nervous at the same time. Setting up my parameters for no recordings and being on in time for a designated hookup.
“Hello my sexy Angel, you look beautiful as always.”
“Hunter, I can not believe we are doing this, I am so nervous look my hands are shaking.”
“Steph, that is making me even more excited. Well, this is not fair, you can see me from the waist up with no shirt on, but you are covered up. Come on Angel, open that robe a little bit let me see.”
Licking my lips and tilting my head back I close my eyes and slowly dragging my long red fingernail slowly to the opening of my robe.
Exposing my right breast teasing gently pinched my nipples between the nails of my thumb and forefinger. My areola tips were as hard and long as the end of my baby finger. I heard Hunter moaning. I smiled and slowly opened my eyes. His eyes looked wide, hungry and I could see his arm moving up and down out of camera. Hunter slowly inched his way back in the office chair bringing more of his body into camera view. His throbbing hard fallas came into sight. Hunter’s hand gripping and stroking up and down. It was fully engorged, the head purple, it looked approximately 6 or 7 inches about the same size as my husband’s.
“Stand up, Stephanie, show me that ass.”
I complied to his request and push my chair back turning around seductively lifted the back of my robe wiggling my ass side to side. Slowly bring my cheeks into view, I heard him moan.
“Yesssss, now bend over and pull your cheeks apart.”
“No,” I said spinning around dropping my robe back over my exposed butt.
Now sitting back down but leaving my robe open in the front, my legs closed tightly together. Leaning back in my chair far enough that he could see my neatly trimmed blonde pubes between my legs. Looking back at him I smiled and licked my lips.
“You’re no fun, you are such a tease, come on open your legs, show me how you masturbate.”
Slowly running my fingers up and down my thighs opening my legs slowly… ever so slowly inching closer slowly caressing and exposing my vajayjay gently touching my moist inner lips.
“Oh there’s my Angel, oh look at that, you are so fucking hot. Open that pussy show me your fingers inside of you.”
Fingers moist with my essence glistening on their tips as I showed it to the camera close-up.
His hand was frantically pounding his meat. I closed my eyes and listen to the slapping sound and Hunter’s moan. Tilting my head back, eyes closed, spreading my legs as wide as I could I put my glistening fingers into my mouth. Sucking my fingertips as I continued to masturbate with my other hand. I knew both of our orgasms where eminent.
I heard Hunter say, “Cum for me baby, look at me! I’m going to shoot my load for you Steph.”
At that exact moment, I felt my chair tilt back I thought I was going to fall backwards. My eyes popped wide open my hands grabbing for the arm rests. My legs windmilling trying to get my balance, I heard the words screamed out “CUM FOR ME YOU FUCKER!”
Eyes now filled with terror, seeing my husband standing over me, one hand gripping the back of the chair pulling back and holding my laptop in his other hand.
Screaming into the video feed then firing the laptop across the room smashing it against the far wall. My chair drop backward to the floor, ass now exposed in the air with my knees over my head. Stunned for a moment, yet as quickly as possible scrambling to my feet. Just in time to see my office door slam shut as my husband, Mark, stormed out of the room.
Tying my rope shut and running down the hallway and out the front door. Not fast enough, in time only to witness my husband’s car taillights leaving the end of the street from my stance on the front porch.
Oh no oh no no no… What have I done, shutting the front door. I frantically run to the kitchen to get my cell phone. I sat down at the island table. Planting my elbows firmly on the table to try to steady my shaking hands. Grabbing my cell, I try to call and received no answer, then texting with no reply. Looking at the time realize my daughter will be home soon and decide to wipe my tears away, freshen up and try to pull myself together. Quickly pulling on a pair of sweatpants and an old baggy shirt. Just as I am exiting the bathroom I hear the front door open.
“Mom, I’m home!”
Meeting my daughter in the front hall, she looks into my face and immediately realizes something is wrong.
“What’s wrong, Mom? You don’t look good, your eyes are so red.”
“That’s okay honey, I just had a rough day. I am not feeling well, how are you doing Sweetheart, did you have a good day?”
“It was okay, why don’t you sit and relax Mom! Do you want me to make you a cup of tea? Don’t worry dad will be home soon to look after you.”
Just hearing those words I burst into tears again. “Maybe I will lay down for a minute, I would love a cup of tea, thank you, Sweetheart.”
Opting to lie down in the living room on the sofa curled up in a fetal position, I could hear our daughter, Tiffany, making me tea in the kitchen. What have I done, have I screwed up my marriage? Just imagine what my daughter would think if she knew what was really going on.
“Here you go, Mom,. your tea, wow you look really tired. Maybe I should text Dad and tell him to pick up pizza for dinner. I’ll let him know that you’re not feeling well.”
As she spoke Tiffany was already texting her father before I could even say yes or no.
“Dad says he will pick up the pizza.”
I can not believe he answered her text immediately. Does he have me blocked on his phone? I am relieved he answered her at least, I know that he is coming home again but what will that bring? I do not think he will bring it up in front of our daughter.
I can just imagine what he is thinking, probably that he had come in and interrupted the home video version of a full-blown affair.
I decided to quickly get back to my home office and clean up the broken pieces of the laptop. Grabbing the main piece and throwing into the garbage can in the garage. I went back with broom and pan cleaned up the pieces. Stood my office chair back up. I began to cry again thinking about what I have done, I need to find something to cover the hole in the drywall so my daughter does not ask questions. Placing my back against the far wall and pushing with my feet I was able to shimmy the filing cabinet over enough to just cover it. I could hear Tiffany running down from upstairs when I heard the front door open and close. From out in the hall, I could hear them talking in the kitchen.
“Hey, my Sweetie, how was your day do you have any homework to do tonight?”
“Yes I have a little homework, it was good Dad. Thanks for picking up pizza, Mom is not feeling well.”
“Why don’t you take your pizza to your room and do your homework! Then you can come watch TV with your dad tonight.”
“Okay, sounds like fun.”
I quickly scooted into the bathroom to check my appearance before I had this talk with Mark. Coming out and heading into the kitchen, no one was there. I open the pizza box and looked at the pizza, I felt too sick to eat. I stood there listening and could hear the sound of the television coming from the basement’s finished playroom. I hesitantly creep down the stairs.
Mark was watching television with his back to me. I reluctantly tiptoed around in his peripheral vision and sat down on the end of the sofa. He never took his eyes off the TV. I sat silent for a few moments, tears now running down my face again.
Croaking out the words, “Mark, can we talk?”…….(silence)……” Mark!”
He shut off the television then slowly turned and looked at me, his face looked furious yet his eyes looked teary.
“Mark, I know how you must feel.”
“YOU… Do not know anything about how I feel right now.” He said in a low trying not to yell growl. His face was beet red and spittle was flying into my face. My body recoiled, I have never seen Mark angry or raise his voice at me ever and now twice in one day.
“Now you leave me be and I will talk to you when I’m good and ready.”
I quickly jumped up crying and ran up to the main floor and then up to the upstair’s bedroom. I crawled into bed in a fetal position and cried and cried. A minute later Tiffany peeked her head in the door.
“Mom, are you okay, should I get Dad?”
“No Sweetie, no I am okay, I just need some sleep, go down and watch a movie with your father.”
I had a horrible night sleep tossing and turning thinking about what I had done. Mark must have slept downstairs. Putting on my dressing-gown in the morning and slinking through the house trying to find him. It soon became obvious he had gone to work already. The pizza was in the refrigerator, coffee was made. I poured myself a cup sitting at the kitchen island and grabbed my cell phone sending him a text message
(I’m sorry, I love you, thank you for the coffee, have a good day at work.)
I thought to myself did he even go to work today? I did not even see him change his clothes or take a shower. I had to work in the office today myself, deciding to take a shower before waking up our daughter. I had a good cry in the shower again then came out and called Tiffany to get up for breakfast, checking my cell phone no return message. I do not dare even think about going on to any website or reaching out to Hunter in any way today or ever again. I just wanted to put all of that behind me like the broken pieces of that laptop. When I got downstairs, Tiffany was having a bowl of cereal. I poured myself another cup of coffee.
“Are you feeling any better Mom?”
“A little bit thank you, did you and your dad enjoy your movie last night?”
“Yeah we watch Blade Runner 2049, it was good, Mom, you should have seen it. After the movie, I went to bed, Dad stayed up and watch the sports news . I guess he has already gone to work?”
“Yes Sweetheart, you better be getting off to school yourself, do you need a lift?
“Thanks Mom and don’t worry about my lunch, I’m going to take some cold pizza.” As she started rummaging in the refrigerator.
“That’s not a proper lunch young lady, but I am not in the mood and in a hurry so let’s go.”
We were busy at work and that was a godsend. It kept my mind off things and then around lunch the inevitable happened, the phone call.
“Stephanie Stevens speaking, how may I help you?”
“Hey Steph, it’s me Hunter, what happened, are you okay? I haven’t been able to reach you, I don’t know your cell phone number and you haven’t been online.”
I held the phone away from my ear like it was on fire…a look of shock on my face, putting the phone back to my head whispering into the phone.
“Hunter never call me, and never try to reach me again.” Hanging up the phone I rushed out from behind my desk to the ladies’ room as quickly as possible before bursting into tears again.
After regaining my composure, I made myself a cup of coffee. Checking for messages from Mark, there were none. I sent another text.
(Please Mark, I love you, can we talk?)
Returning to my office, I smiled at my coworker. Sat back down and got back to today’s work.
Driving home that evening I decided to stop at the supermarket to pick up supplies to make a nice dinner. In that moment realizing that I have not eaten myself in over twenty four hours. I decided to make chicken parmesan for dinner, something they both enjoyed. When I got home, I started preparing things. Then freshen up a bit in the bathroom. There was a damp towel on the floor and some of Mark’s clothes from yesterday. Meaning he had either slipped back into the house after we left this morning or never went to work. Either way he was definitely avoiding me.
Shortly after, my daughter came in the door. She was all excited about some marks that she had received on her math test. I gave her a big hug, “Oh, Tiffany, I am so proud of you, Dad will be too.” It was good to see her in such a bubbly good mood, it made my mood improve and kept my mind off of things. By the time dinner rolled around Mark was still not home which was very out of the ordinary. I sent him another text message (nothing). My daughter and I decided to eat anyways being now a half hour later. Not that I was hungry I ended up just picking at my meal having a couple of bits. Tiffany asked me where Dad was I said I was not certain he seems to be running a little late tonight. She pulled out her phone and texted him immediately getting a response, this was getting annoying.
“Dad says keep his dinner warm, he will be home within the half hour. Mom are you guys fighting?”
“No, not fighting dear, just a little situation we are trying to work out, nothing for you to worry about.”
Mark finally came in the door and we both went to meet him he was carrying a bag from an electronic store.
“Dad, you’re home, what did you buy us?”
“I bought a new laptop to replace your Mother’s, hers got..”
Quickly talking over Mark, “I BROKE IT.” I shouted over him, “You know me I dropped it on the floor, it was nice of you to replace it, Mark.”
“Well actually it will be sort of a central family laptop now, your mother can work out here in the kitchen at the island where it will be kept all the times. None of us have anything to hide now do we? Besides I think we will turn mom’s office into another bedroom.”
As he spoke he stared me down each word like daggers. I looked down at the floor and answered. “Good idea honey, I will probably be a lot more productive being out here rather than tucked away in that room. Plus I would be closer to the coffee machine.” I laughed nervously making light of the situation.
“Doesn’t matter to me I got my own tablet to do my homework, Dad, anyways I should probably do that now.”
Off she went to her room as Mark began setting up the new laptop. I got his food out of the oven and put it on a plate beside him. He started eating and working on the laptop at the same time, then looked over at me said “Have you eaten?”
“I had a few bites. I am not very hungry, Mark…….can we talk?”
“Give me an hour and we can talk later.”
“Okay, Mark, I will leave you in peace to eat your meal and set up the computer. I am not feeling good, think I will go take a bath and then come down and make us some tea.”
He did not even look up at me, just shrugged his shoulders. Upstairs I turned on the bathtub water then went into my daughter’s room to ask her if she needed to use the washroom beforehand. Peeking in on her she asked me if everything was okay? I said, “Yes, everything’s fine.”
After my bath, I went into the kitchen to make tea. Mark’s dishes were in the dishwasher. He had already moved to the basement leaving the computer sitting ominously on the island with sleep mode swirling around. Carrying two cups of hot tea down to the playroom, it was the moment of truth. I set the tea down in front of us and sat there staring at him. Can not say for certain what he was watching on television. I was just trying my best not to cry. After a few minutes of silence he clicked off the television to turn towards me.
“Stephanie I do not owe you anything but I am going to do you a big favour. I will tell you what I know……Well I will tell you partly what I know anyways. Holding other parts back to see if you are lying to me.”
………There was a long pause as he stared at me and I began to cry ringing my hands in my lap I stared down submissively.
“Sunday night when our daughter was ill and she was calling out to you. We both ran to see what was the matter you may remember. Realizing that she had been sick and thrown up on herself you took her into the bathroom to clean up. I changed the sheets on her bed, knowing you would be putting her into the shower I stayed clear to give you two privacy. As I walked back down stairs I realized your office door was wide open where you had been working prior. In all the commotion you had forgot to shut down your computor.”
“Oh God no no Mark.”
“Yes Stephanie, before my eyes was a picture of a man with his cock in his hand on your laptop. So I sat down in your chair and decided to read through your conversations on your WhatsApp.”
“Please, Mark, let me explained.”
“You will get your chance,” he said with a stoic face.
“Then I heard you calling my name, so I went and helped you out with Tiffany. I suggested that she sleeps in our bed with you so you could keep an eye on her and I would go and sleep in hers. I knew in that moment that I did not want to feel your body next to me in a bed that night or any other night in the future for that matter. When you asked me to get her a drink and some gravel. I slipped back to your laptop to gather what information would be needed in order to access it later and finish my investigation.”
“No no no no,” I cried so hard I could hardly breathe.
“Later seeing that you and our daughter were sleeping peacefully, I went back to read and finish my investigation. Then onto your Facebook, your history everything I could find. I even checked your cell, it did not have a passcode. Obviously there is nothing there because it was a work phone. You at least knew enough not to make that mistake. Regardless, there definitely was a mountain of knowledge on your computer.” I sat staring at her for a moment then continued.
“Using a little zip drive I saved all the information for the future. That is how I knew about your plans to do your video camming. So I decided to come home early and see if you would go through with it, catch you before the act. But I was a little late the show had already begun…….Anyway I also learned a lot about your boyfriend, Hunter.”
“He Is Not My Boyfriend!”
“KEEP your voice down and wait your turn…..Like I was saying I have learned about his wife and kids. His wife is a lovely looking women, she has a Facebook page herself with all kinds of information even where they live. Once I forward some of these pictures and conversations that the two of you were having I am sure he will be too busy to play with his dick, trying to save his own hide from divorce.”
Hearing the word divorce I started crying frantically dropping to my knees in front of him. “PLEASE do not leave me please, Mark, do not give up on us, let me try to explain.”
“Keep your voice down unless you want to have this as a three-way conversation with our daughter. Okay now it is your turn let me hear it from the beginning and do not dare lie to me, I held back plenty.”
“Okay okay I, I, I am sorry…Hunter, like you probably already know used to work at our office until about six months ago. He was only there less than five or six months before that. He would flirt with me alot at work. Nothing ever happened I swear to you, Mark, nothing I promise it was always just flirting talk. We… we did have lunch one time but but Kathy from the office was with us. You can ask her. Nothing happened she was there, the three of us.” After crying so long I drew in a hiccuping breath, then continued.
“Then on his last day working for the company, he said we should stay in touch, even though he was moving to another state. So we exchanged Facebook accounts.
I did not give him my phone number I swear to you we texted on Facebook Messenger time to time. I thought of him as a friend someone easy to talk to. Then one day he suggested that we go to a WhatsApp site where we could text, talk and he sent me the link.” Continuing my confession, I could no longer keep eye contact and looked at the floor.
“Thinking now he probably wanted to get away from Facebook because that was the medium that his wife used. That is when I probably made my first M m m maybe second mistake and… and like you read the flirting started. Only this time more sexual and more graphic. Hunter wanted me to send pictures but I was feeling apprehensive, scared. I also did not want anybody to have pictures of me, it was getting out of hand. I knew deep down in my heart it was wrong but got lost in the fantasy. Then he talked me into the video chat instead and no I am not putting the blame all on him. I was the stupid one that went along with it. Somehow convincing myself it was harmless because I was not with him physically. How stupid of me, I was sharing my body with him if he was in the room or not. I am remorseful, Mark, and so sorry. I would do anything to take it all back and I will do anything to fix this, Mark, please forgive me.”
“You have no idea the shocking abandonment I felt in that moment. I thought I knew you, I bared my soul to you. Yet I had to hold it together in front of our daughter and in front of you until I had all the facts. I feel rejected, you deceive me, do you expect me to sacrifice my dignity by erasing these memories. Stephanie you cheated on me, this would be no different than me walking down the stairs in the middle of the night and you dancing naked in front of him as he sits on the sofa watching. Your flirting is an emotional assault on our relationship of the last six months and an attack on my manhood itself.”
“No, Mark, please please please let me fix this please it is all over I am sorry I’m sorry.”
“Stephanie that computer stays in the kitchen where you do your work from here on and your phone stays on that kitchen table as well. There is no secrets, there is no reason for either of those devices to be locked ever! I am going to work with you in the morning and you are going to open up your computer. We will take a few minutes just to see what you have in there before your boss gets in.”
“Sure sure, Mark, anything you say there is nothing in there I promise, Oh and I forgot Hunter called me at work the other day at lunch and I told him I never want to speak to him again I told him, Mark.”
“Don’t you worry about him I will take care of him.”
“Mark, please do not do anything that is going to be illegal. I need you, our daughter needs you.”
“We will talk about this again I need some clothes for tomorrow for work I will be putting some stuff down here in the basement to change and some toiletries.”
“Mom, Dad, are you guys down there, are you watching TV?”
I jumped up off the floor start wiping my tears away, I shut off the lamp on the end table to try to dim the light so she would not see my face. Tiffany came down the stairs and then threw herself onto the couch like teenagers do in between us.
“What are we watching?”
The three of us sat there quietly watching a movie together. When the movie was over Tiffany had fallen asleep in my arms, I tried to wake her but she would not budge. Either in a deep sleep or pretending to be in one. Mark shut off the TV and then came around and cradled her up in his arms. He picked her up and carried her up stairs to her room. She may be thirteen but she was petite in stature just like I am.
Her long brown ponytail swinging side to side as he easily carried her in his big strong arms. I felt a hint of jealousy as I followed behind them. I did not know if Mark would ever hold me in his arms again or would his anger subside. They continued down the hallway I turned into the master bedroom grabbing my nightie and entering the bathroom to freshen up for bed. As I came out my husband was standing with some clothes for tomorrow and enter the bathroom to grab his toiletries.
“Please, Mark, do not do this, please sleep in bed with me tonight.”
“Stephanie, I do not think you have any concept the shock that I felt when I read what I read and saw what you did. My eyes were reading my wife’s words I was looking at my wife’s actions. However my mind was trying to comprehend who was this person. This is not my wife, my Stephanie. In that split-second the woman I knew disappeared and I was living with a stranger.”
“Mark, please it is me, your wife, I was stupid but it is me, I’m here. I am so sorry I was a fool please forgive me I have learned my lesson. Let me make this right.”
Crying profusely snot running from my nose. He just proceeded about his task, then left and went downstairs. I laid on the bed and cried myself to sleep. I woke to the sound of my alarm then got up and proceeded down the hall. Knocked on my daughter’s bedroom door, opened it and told her to get ready. I slipped downstairs and check to see if Mark was in the basement. He was gone to work like the day before, coffee was in the kitchen already brewed. I made Tiffany toast, cereal and juice and then proceeded to make her lunch for school.
“Good morning, Mom.” Stephanie sat with me and ate her breakfast after a few moments she said, “Mom is Dad still mad at you?”
“I suppose so but we are working it out, do not worry everything is going to be just fine.”
“Don’t you worry, Mom, Dad’s been mad at me before but he always forgives me because he loves us.”
I did not want to but hearing those words I broke down and cried. Tiffany came around the island, hugging me and started crying herself.
“I’m sorry, I am just feeling emotional this week you know how it is, look at us silly girls. Finish your breakfast and I will give you a ride to school.”
We both hugged for a little while longer then wipe our tears and got ready to start the day. After I dropped Tiffany off I called into my work and told them that I would be working from home today. I then sent a text message to my husband telling him that I was going home to work. The first time since that horrible day. I just want him to know. I was surprised that he never stuck around in the morning to go in with me to look at my work computer. I cleaned up the kitchen and then logged onto the laptop there was no lock out on it nor was there going to be and I was fine with that. As I proceeded to do my days work I wondered if there was a tracker on here so he could follow what I was up to. I also wondered if he was logging on to the camera in front of me and looking at me right now.
I called Kathy at the office to have her forward me some work notes at one point. I was actually having quite a productive day and was feeling a little bit better putting things to the back of my mind. when I heard the doorbell ring.
“Stephanie Stephens!”
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“I’m sorry you’ve been served.” Handing over the envelope he turned and walked away.
Oh my God I can not believe this is happening, holding the envelope in my shaking hands tears streaming down my face. I have to talk to him I have to stop him from leaving me. I am so scared, what have I done, I have destroyed our family, my daughter will be distraught as well. I have been avoiding calling my mother I did not want to bring her into this mess. It is my mistake though I have to talk to someone. I can not take this any longer, I am having a nervous breakdown. I know this is a waste of time but I must speak to Mark. Grabbing my phone and push his number. My hands trembling so much, tears streaming down my face. (ringing )
“Hello!”
“Mark! Mark, you you answered, thank God Mark, I got the papers please do not leave me please please.” (uncontrollable weeping)
“Stephanie, calm down okay listen to me, Tiffany is going to be home soon. I need you to pull yourself together. Tomorrow is the weekend, so she does not have to go to school. Call your mother and see if she can look after her tonight so we can talk….Hello do you hear me?”
“Yes, yes I hear you I am sorry, I will do that you, are coming home right?”
“I will be there.” click
“Mom, it’s me can I bring Tiffany over tonight? Mark and I need to talk.”
“Are you crying dear, oh my God what happened, are you two okay?”
“Mom, please no questions right now, can we discuss it another time, I will bring her over right after school okay?”
“Okay sweetheart I will see you soon.”
When Tiffany got home, I pulled myself together to some degree. I told her I was taking her to Grandma’s house tonight so your father and I can do some talking. Once again she asked me if everything was okay and I told her everything was going to be just fine. She is a smart girl and I know Tiffany was not really buying it, but did not push me on the issue.
When I got to my mom’s house she greeted us at the door I could smell pasta cooking one of Tiffany’s favourites. A minute later my Dad greeted us at the door and gave Tiffany a big hug and guided her into the house. My Mom gave me a look of concern but did not question me any further. On the drive back I wondered if Mark spoke to his Mom about our situation. I know he talks to her on the phone fairly frequently now that he does not see her as much. She lives a few hours drive away but he always wants to make sure that she is okay since his dad’s passing. I was surprised when I went to pull into the driveway and realized Mark was already home. In the driveway I quickly gathered my things and tried to get out of the car, forgetting to take my seatbelt off at first.
I rushed into the house calling his name and headed for the kitchen, dropping my cell phone and my purse on the counter. Mark was sitting there in front of the computer, I assume checking up on me today to make sure that I was being good.
Before I could even squeak out of word tears streaming from my eyes already he said “Sit down Stephanie.”
Mark told me to go onto the computer and clear off contact on Facebook and any other apps or sites while he watched. He got up opening the refrigerator he took out a bottle of wine then got two glasses poured half a glass each.
“Stephanie, let me speak okay let me get this all out and then you can say your piece.”
“Okay, Mark, anything you say I am listening.”
“Stephanie, I took the day off work after our little situation and I did go to a lawyer and have a talk. I was so angry yet sad at the same time. In that moment I was certain that I no longer wanted to be married to you and I wanted a divorce.”
“Oh, Mark, please, I do not want a divorce let me try to fix this.”
“Stephanie, let me finish. Like I said to you the other night when I read what you had on that computer a thousand thoughts went through my mind. How long is this affair been going on does she love him what did I do to deserve this. I had no idea who you were, no longer being the woman that I have been married to for years. Then when I saw you there exposing your body to that man. The body that I held precious to me and me alone and yes I know you did not have sex with him so you say, but that does not mean that the pain is any less. Seeing you splaying yourself out there for him getting off.” (Pausing then taking a deep breath.)
“I take pride in the fact that I am the man that won your heart, pride that you are my wife. When I married you, we were no longer two people but one sharing mind set values. So like I said I filed for legal separation. Now I have had some time to think and I want to tell you my mindset right now.”
He paused again and took a drink I went to say something he held up his finger to shush me….”Even though my thought patterns have changed slightly, Stephanie, the legal separation stands. I need you to understand the severity of what you have done.”
Sliding his chair back on the floor a bit Mark continued talking.
“BUT for my part I am not moving out, we will stay in a separate rooms. I do not feel that I could be intimate with you at this point. I would hope that you agree that little should change in this household at this time. We do not want to upset our daughter any more than we probably already have. I do not think it is necessary for you to humiliate yourself to Tiffany, our family or our friends by going into detail as to what you have done. I know I am nowhere near perfect but I will not be the bad guy here. You will make it quite clear to all that this is not my doing, if the subject comes up.”
“Mark, can I say something now?”
“I am not completely done but go ahead.”
“Mark, I promise you I will do everything to make this up to you and I will never speak to this Hunter again please do not divorce me. I want to go to counselling and I hope you will come with me?…Mark, will you be dating other women now that we are separated?”
No longer able to hold it together I broke down and started crying putting my head down in my arms.
“Stephanie, that is not what this is about, I have no intention of dating. I would be very honest with you if that situation was to change. I support the idea of you talking with a therapist. I just do not know if that is something I am open to at this time myself.
You humiliated me in that moment, you cuckold me. If treating you like a princess and putting you on a pedestal made you believe that I was weak you are sadly mistaken. I will not tolerate disrespect from you.”
“No no, Mark, you are not weak, I do not know what came over me I am a fool I am the weak one.”
“I have forwarded a short transcript of your infidelity with this Hunter character to his wife through Facebook it is not fair that she be deceived anymore than I was. I will leave it at that with no further contact. They can work out their own situation. I do appreciate your honesty that you told me of his contact with you the other day and there will be no contact from here on in, am I clear on that?”
“Yes, Mark,… what do we tell Tiffany?”
Saturday the two of us will sit down with Tiffany and discuss this rationally, we will explain to her that this is no different then when she is angry at us, We give her space to go to her room while she thinks her thoughts through. You and I are no different we need to be in separate rooms in order to think. We both love her wholeheartedly and always will. You could say we are having problems with our friendship right now.”
My mind was racing, I had a million thoughts. I was sick inside thinking of us being legally separated. Seeing the pain on my husband’s face and I saw the tears in his eyes. I was worried about how our daughter and families where going to take this. Even felt deeply distraught for a family I never knew, Hunter’s family.
Though I knew it was Hunter’s doing I played my part. I finished my glass of wine and stood up. Was about to ask Mark if he wanted me to make him some dinner. I felt strange….dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, field of vision, white out.
“Stephanie, speak to me are you okay, STEPHANIE!”
Had I fainted, now laying on the sofa Mark was over me I could hear him calling my name. My eyes fluttered as I focussed in on his face and could hear his words.
“Yes, yes I’m okay.”
When Mark heard me speak he left me for a moment, I was trying to sit up when he returned.
“Stephanie, lie still for a minute.”
He helped to lay my head back down on a pillow then he placed another pillow under my legs and had a cold compress in his hand from the kitchen. He placed the compress on my forehead and held it there with his hand.
“Are you hurt anywhere? You fainted, just relax I carried you to the sofa.”
“I am okay, Mark, thank you. I guess the wine hit me to be honest I have not eaten lately or been sleeping well.”
“You scared the hell out of me, I will be right back.” This time he returned with a glass of grapefruit juice. “Here sit up slowly drink this. When you are ok I will make us something to eat.”
Sitting up slowly then finishing the drink I handed him the glass and then began to cry. “Look at how you take care of me and how I treated you I don’t deserve you.”
“That is enough about that, We both have had a rough day. You just relax for a few minutes.”
After a little while I was feeling better and got up and went into the kitchen to see what he was up to. Mark looked at me and smiled and then placed a bowl of hot tomato soup in front of me, then a grilled cheese sandwich. I smile back neither one of us said a word as he sat down and we both ate in silence.
After dinner I did the dishes and Mark retreated to watch some television and I decided to take a shower. As water cascaded over me, I thought of the events of today. I had to save my marriage I was determined I was going to speak to a therapist. Get to the bottom of whatever caused this.
I could not get over the fact that I alone caused this man so much pain yet when I needed him he was there to look after me. Finishing my shower I put on pyjamas and went down to the basement to watch television with him. I kept my distance and sat on the opposite end of the sofa. We sat there in silence intently watching I do not know what, lost in my thoughts when I heard him say.
“Are you feeling any better?”
I sat for a moment thinking before responding. “Still feeling a little weak, I do not suppose that you would sleep in our bed tonight in case I need you? I do not expect you to touch me just thought it would be nice if you were there.” Mark did not reply. We had watch television for a long time it was getting late when Mark stood up and shut off the TV. He stood there for a moment in silence staring at me.
“How about tonight I sleep in Stephanie’s room right next door that way I will hear you if you need me?”
I stood up behind him following him up the stairs croaking out the words “Thank you” I did sleep slightly better that night I do not know if it was because I was exhausted or because he was in the room next door.
Waking to the smell of bacon and coffee. We sat down and had a reasonably quiet breakfast together. I told Mark I would do the dishes and I had to start a load of laundry. His contribution to the conversation was that he was going to fix the hole in the wall in the office with some plaster from the garage before we picked up our daughter. Gathering Mark’s laundry from the night before and taking it downstairs to do a load. Picked up the T-shirt he had worn the night before and held it to my face I could smell him. It’s subtle scent for what ever reason had a calming effect on me.
Around eleven o’clock I told Mark I was going to call my Mom and tell her we would pick up Tiffany shortly. He responded by saying he was going to call his mother as well, like he did every Sunday. I pondered as to how that conversation was going to go today.
We picked up Tiffany and my mother gave me an inquiring look I just grimaced a smile. Mark had decided on the drive to my mom’s place that we would talk to Tiffany in the car on the way back. No use holding her in silence about this any longer.
The conversation went basically just as Mark and I had discussed earlier in our conversation. Mark did a majority of the talking, I did my best not to cry. Doing my best to hold it together, dab my eyes a couple of times. It was interesting that he never brought up the fact that he had filed for separation. Tiffany sat silent when we pulled into the driveway and came to a stop she jumped out of the car and ran to her room. I got out and followed her reaching her close bedroom door I gently knocked.
“Tiffany, can I come in?” (no answer) I went in anyway she was lying on the bed face down crying. I took her in my arms and started crying too.
“What happened, Mom, why is Dad so angry?”
“Oh sweetheart I was stupid and made a big mistake but I am going to fix it. Do not worry sweetheart your Dad loves you so so much. I will leave you alone for a little while, come out when you are ready.”
Just before dinner I told Mark that I had to go out and do the grocery shopping.
“I will ask Tiffany if she needs anything, Is there anything in particular you would like me to pick up?”
“I think she is angry with me I will ask her if you do not mind. Tiffany, your Mom is groing grocery shopping, is there anything you want?”
“Yes, Daddy I want us to go shopping with her, let’s go.” She said as she came out of her room and walked past me down the hall….
“Oh ok then.”
Off the three of us went at Tiffany’s request, she did everything at the supermarket to try to get us to engage in conversation. Even though Mark kept the conversation
short and to the point. Mark did what he could to appease our daughter. Not wanting to upset her but knowing full well what her motivation was. In contrast to when Mark and I were alone he was cordial to Tiffany. When he spoke to me it was very sharp and expressionless. I felt terrible that Tiffany was putting this kind of pressure on herself.
Sunday night Mark return to sleeping downstairs. Monday morning was like the weekdays before he was already gone to work by the time Tiffany and I had risen. On days like today that I did work at the office I always like to get in an hour before everyone. When I pulled into the parking lot the only other car there was my husband’s. He was sitting in the parking lot waiting for me as I got out of my car, Mark got out of his.
“Did you think I forgot, I am here to look through your computer” He spat out the words coldly. I was shaking like a leaf not that I had anything to hide I just felt shaken by his cold demeanour. Once in the office he stood behind me. I nervously put in the passcode verbally saying the words out loud.
“Here you go Mark look I have not cleared my history recently or anything.”
When I looked up at him he was staring at me rather than looking at the computer. He had the strangest look on his face almost like he was embarrassed. But he should not be, he had every right to doubt me. Then Mark walked away and left without saying a word.
I sat and cried for a while then I heard Kathy come into the office. She could tell right away that I had been crying she asked me what was wrong. I was never one to air my laundry at work. I did consider her a work friend and in that moment I broke down and told her. Without getting into any detail stating Mark and I were having problems.
She was a sympathetic ear and it felt good to be able to talk to someone about this. We shared a tea break in the cafeteria and then got about our day. During my lunch I called my Mom and had the same vague conversation regarding my personal life. In both conversations with Kathy and my Mom I made it very clear that Mark had every right to be angry.
That afternoon when I got home from work I went onto the computer and looked up a marriage therapist. I ended up booking an appointment for later that week. When I had a moment alone that evening with Mark I told him that I had booked appointments and when the dates were. He looked at me acknowledging what I was saying but uttered no words. I was hopeful that these meetings would help me understand why I did what I did. Also to get through to Mark and hopeful he might come to one of them.
A few things surprised me at my first therapy meeting. First off the therapist looked somewhat like Mark’s mother. She introduced herself as Margaret, made me feel at ease almost immediately. In her office instead of a desk she had a round table and we sat there.
She offered me tea or coffee. Margaret started right away asking me about the history of my relationship. How the two of us met, what initially attracted us to one another, how the relationship developed. She asked our current situation including relationships with extended family, children, work and daily stressors. I told her every detail of my interactions with Hunter and Mark’s reprisal and legal separation.
When I got home, I felt emotionally and physically drained. Mark and Tiffany were in the basement watching television. I poked my head into the room and told them that I was tired and that I was going to go to bed early. Mark looked up at me and asked me if I ate. I told him I was not hungry and walked away. I decided to take a hot shower before turning in. When I got out of the shower I threw on my robe, I could hear the two of them talking in the kitchen. Not able to make out what they were saying I lay down on the bed and open a book to read for a bit. My daughter came into the bedroom carrying a bowl of stew and a roll on a tray.
“Dad says you have to eat so we heated you some stew.”
Once again I felt overwhelmed by the kind gesture and started to tear up. My daughter sat with me while I ate, asking me how my meeting was. I was not exactly sure if she knew that I was at marriage therapy or what that even entailed. I smiled and told her that everything went very well. She kissed me on the cheek and said she had homework to do and left the room. When I was done I carried my dishes to the kitchen. I could hear the television playing downstairs so I grabbed my cell phone off the counter and texted Mark. (Thank you for the stew, I love you. ) Returning the cell to the charger I went off to bed.
The rest of the week played out pretty much the same. Wednesday I decided to work from home and put together a roast beef dinner. Tiffany and I did all the talking, Mark was basically silent. She asked if she could have one of her girlfriends come over and stay for the weekend. I just looked over at Mark and sat silent wondering what he would say under the circumstances. We all knew full well that anytime she had a girlfriend over that they would sequester the basement play room for their sleepover.
Without any hesitation he said why certainly sweetheart whatever makes you happy. My first thoughts were was this Tiffany’s way of trying to push my husband from downstairs and back to our pryor sleeping quarters. Secondly would it work, might my husband just concider coming back to our bed?
The next day after work I had another therapy meeting with Margaret. We talked again about Hunter, about when he used to work with me and the coquetry between us. She asked about my relationship with my father and previous men that I dated before my husband. I told her that Mark was a lot like my father that he treated me like a princess.
I also told her that I dated a lot but I was not sexually promiscuous. I only had one serious boyfriend before Mark. That guy turned out to be a real player, sleeping around with all kinds of women behind my back. Margaret was very curious and asked me a lot of questions about my pre Mark boyfriend. I told her how he always knew how to say just the right thing, he knew exactly what I wanted to hear.
He was mysterious he never talked about himself much, but he knew everything about me, my likes my dislikes. He never idolize me anymore than himself, but if I change my makeup or my hairstyle he intuitively knew instantly and complimented. If any other boy showed an interest in me he would always tell me about how they just wanted sex. Friends of mine told me that he was cheating with other women but I never believed them. Then one day I caught him and that was the end.
Margaret asked me if I saw similarities between my old boyfriend and Hunter! I thought about that for a long while and then I said, “Yeah I believe you’re probably right.”
She then switched gears and asked me what it was like to be treated like a princess by my father if that was stressful. To be honest I told her it made me anxious I always felt as though I could not live up to his expectations.
“And when Mark treated you like a princess is that not similar,” Margaret retorted.
“Same I guess…..scared that one day, Dad, I mean, Mark, will wake up and decide they do not like what they see. Now here I am Mark does not like what he sees and my Dad would be so ashamed.”
I began to cry as Margaret handed me a tissue. She got up and made us a cup of tea and left me to my thoughts for a good five minutes.
“Margaret, I am so afraid I have lost Mark, he does not touch me and we barely speak. I am so scared, he means everything to me.”
“Do not worry Stephanie we’re working on that, ask him again if he will come see me. I know you don’t want to hear this but if worse comes to worse, the courts will appoint him to attend. That is enough for today, we will talk again next week.”
My daughter Tiffany and I sat eating lasagna that Stephanie had made earlier in the week. I could not help but notice my daughter was particularly quiet this evening when she all of the sudden she started to tear up and said, “Dad, two wrongs do not make a right?”
“Of course not honey why do you ask?”
“Cuz I don’t know what Mom did to hurt you, but you not talking is really hurting her,
she cries all the time.”
“We talk….I did not mean to hurt her in any way.”
“I am home.”
“Hi Mom, we’re having lasagna, are you going to join us?”
“I’m not hung… (cold stare from them both) yeah sure okay.”
“Umm how was um therapy?”
“It was good, Mark, thank you for asking.”
Tiffany proceeded to talk about having her girlfriend over on the weekend and how excited she was. After dinner us girls washed up the dishes rather than putting them in the dishwasher, Mark had disapeared somewhere. Tiffany received a phone call probably from her girlfriends and disappeared to her room. I went downstairs looking for Mark, sitting down at the other end of the sofa keeping my distance. He looked up and asked me if I wanted to watch something on TV in particular I said I was fine with whatever he wanted to watch. As Mark was flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch. Tiffany came down and sat in between us and asked if we could watch the movie (Leap Year) together.
It was a cute movie I really enjoyed it. Afterwards Tiffany and I got up to go to bed. The three of us said our goodnights I looked at Mark and our eyes locked on each other momentarily but no words were exchanged. I took a bath and freshened up for bed then laid down to read for a little while. After about an hour I got up and just put on my robe and nothing else. Quietly creep down the hall and check to see if
Tiffany was asleep, she was.
I then creep downstairs to see if Mark was asleep. He was lying on the sofa asleep wearing nothing but his briefs, lit only by the light from the television. I dropped my robe to the floor and stood before him nude staring at him, and I lowered myself to my knees and placed my hand on his stomach. I then proceeded to let my hand run down outlining his penis through his shorts with my finger tips to my delight it began to stiffen immediately. Then to my surprise suddenly Mark jerked and his hand grabbed hold of my wrist I heard the word, “NO.”
He sat up and looking at me with a shocked look on his face. I was humiliated I jumped back grabbing my robe putting it on as I ran quickly upstairs to my room. I locked myself in the bathroom, sitting on the floor with my back to the door crying.
(TAP TAP TAP) “Stephanie…Steph, please open the door.”
“Please go away,” I whispered back. A few minutes of sitting there I did not hear anything so I stood up and opened the door then looked out. Mark was sitting on the bed waiting for me. I slowly made my way toward him putting my hands over my eyes.
“I am so embarrassed you think I am ugly you do not even want to touch me any longer.”
He put his arm over my shoulder and pulled my hands away from my eyes. “Stephanie, I am not ready yet, I just need some time to process everything. I do not want to give you mixed messages and I did not want to take advantage of you. Listen this weekend I am going to go visit my Mom and just have a few days to myself to clear my head. Leaving the basement opens for the girl to have their little weekend.”
I put my hands back over my eyes started crying.
“Listen don’t cry okay, I am going to go willing to therapy with you call her and let her know.”
I continued to cry “Okay, Mark, thank you, I will do that but please can you at least give me a hug?” We both stood up and he gave me a hug. After a moment he let go first, looked at me and smiled. He said we would talk later and off he went. I crawled into bed and eventually fell asleep.
The next morning I was in the kitchen making breakfast. I had heard Mark slip past into the bedroom probably to pack a suitcase, when I heard the doorbell. Tiffany came running down the hall. yelling ” I’ll get it.” Then I could hear the sound of teenage girls squealing in hall. Tiffany brought her friend Megan into the kitchen.
I inquired if she would join us for breakfast. Stating that she would, they took her bags to the playroom and then joined me. Mark came in exchanging an awkward smile with me, sat down to eat. If it had not been for the girls chatter the awkward silence between us would have been deafening. After breakfast the girls ran off to the basement playroom and Mark helped me with the dishes. He told me he would be home Sunday evening and that he could be reached at his mother’s. He then went downstairs and said goodbye to the girls. I waited for him at the door in the hallway. When he was about to leave Mark stood there with his suitcase for a moment, we awkwardly stared at each other. Then he said okay I will see you Sunday and off he went.
The girls and I ordered pizza then watched a chick flick (Marry Me) which kept my mind off my troubles for awhile. The next day us girls busied ourselves with shopping. We picked up the supplies to bake cookies and finished off our Saturday with some board games.
I had left a message with Margaret saying that Mark was on board for my next meeting but had not heard back from her. All I kept thinking was if marrage therapy does not work I have lost him for good. I know I brought this on myself and my daughter is suffering as well and that is all my doing. How could I have been so selfish and stupid! I wondered if Mark informed his mother how much of a disappointment his soon to be ex wife has turned out to be.
Sunday morning I realized I had a message from Margaret she said she was looking forward to meeting Mark tomorrow and would see us on Monday as scheduled. My stomach was doing flip-flops as I picked up the phone and decided to call Mark at his Mom’s. I was not certain how I would be received “Hello…KKatherine this is Stephanie is Mark available?”
“Hello Sweetheart it is good to hear from you, hold on a minute and I will get him.”
Oh my God she does not know, he never said anything!
“MMMark, I’m sorry to bother you I just wanted to know if you would be home for dinner…and to tell you we have a meeting at the therapist office tomorrow if that is still okay?” (long pause of Silence) “Yes… yes Stephanie, I will see you at dinner time… see you then.”
“Ok, Mark, bye!”
Later that afternoon my daughter’s friend Megan was picked up by her father giving Tiffany and I some time together before her father was home for dinner. I asked her if she had a good weekend with her friend and she assured me she did. Then out of the blue she asked me if I missed Dad. I told her of course I do I always miss him when he is away.
“I love your father with all my heart.” We gave each other a big hug.
“Why don’t we go for a walk together, then when we get back you can help me make a nice dinner for your Dad.”
It was nice to have some girl time together just the two of us. When we got back she helped me prepare a nice roast with potatoes and carrots. Mark arrived just as we were taking the roast out of the oven. Tiffany met him at the door gave him a big hug and told him that we made a nice dinner together. Mark reached into his luggage and brought out a card and a book with a note tied to it.
“Look Mom, Grandma gave me a gift card and look a book for you.”
I read the card tied to it:
( To my Daughter here is a book I read you may enjoy love you, come with Mark next time and visit.)
Tears in my eyes, “Mark, can I talk to you a minute…
Thank you for not bringing this up to your mother.”
“Stephanie for the time being this is our business only, okay let me see what is for dinner, I am hungry.”
I was really apprehensive about meeting Stephanie’s therapist but she put me at ease, finding her a congenial person. She informed me that she liked to work on a first-name basis and introduced herself as Margaret. She thought it best if we spent forty-five minutes talking getting to know each other. Then Stephanie can have her session after on her own. She asked me my interpretation of events, then informed me that the stories were identical as interpreted by Stephanie days before.
As predicted she asked me how I was feeling and I answered angry. Then Margaret basically told me that anger is easier pill to swallow. A blanket emotion for disappointment sadness humiliation and fear of the future. We discussed the differences between being sorry and remorseful.
I agreed with her I was feeling all those emotions and I do believe that Stephanie is remorseful. I told her how much I idolized my wife before this incident as a lover, wife, mother, and friend. Margaret paused and thought a moment on my statement then stated, “I know it appeared as though your wife had it all together but that is a hard persona to hold up to someone putting you on a pedestal. She is weaker than you think, Mark, she craves your approval and admiration as well just like you require respect.”
We continued our conversation and time flew by. “That is enough for today, Mark, thank you, I would like to speak to Stephanie for a little while.”
When I came out into the waiting room Stephanie looked scared. I informed her that I would see her back at the house and start dinner with Tiffany. We had both driven in our own cars, good thing I needed time to think on my own.
“Ok, Mark, I will see you at home.”
When I arrive home after my session I could smell of delicious dinner cooking. Mark and Tiffany were in the kitchen talking and laughing. It warmed my heart to hear their laughter after another gruelling session exposing my tainted soul. Standing in the hall removing my heels, glad to be home. I glanced into my former office and to my shock saw our laptop back on the desk. I entered the kitchen and joined my love ones and we did have a nice meal together. I thought maybe after Tiffany turned in for the evening we might talk about today meeting, But Mark went back to the basement and crawl back into his shell. I went into the office and return the laptop to the kitchen counter and turned in early to read.
When I got up in the morning I could smell coffee, got out of bed and freshened up before heading down. On my way tapped on Tiffany’s door and told her to get up and then proceeded to the kitchen. As per usual Mark had made the coffee before heading off to work. I poured a cup and then proceeded back into the hall about to yell up the stairs for my daughter to get her butt in gear. When the door to the main floor bathroom in the hall opened. I screamed, “MARK you scared the hell out of me what are you still doing home?”
“I am on my way I just wanted to speak to you before I left,” as he walked past me and poured himself a second cup of coffee. ” Stephanie, you did not need to bring the computer back into the kitchen.” He saw that I was about to speak and held up his hand to holt my words.
“Stephanie, I felt stupid the other day at your work when I asked you to open your computer. I feel stupid everyday monitoring you at home. But nowhere near as stupid, humiliated and sad as the day I caught you with that man online. I know we need to talk in order to move forward one way or the other and I am getting there. I have to go to work. We can discuss this more at the next therapy meeting.”
Just then Tiffany came bouncing down the stairs “Hey, Dad, you’re still home!”
“Heading out Sweetheart, have a great day, see you two when i get home.”
Nothing much new happened for the rest of the week, it was finally Thursday.
Margaret came out into the waiting room where Mark and I were sitting, not together but one seat apart. Just before she came in I was thinking this is an awkward silent, at least he is sitting near me rather than the chairs across the room. Margaret said if it was all right I’d like to speak with Mark alone for the first part and then together for the second. I smiled at her, Mark stood up and went into the room. I picked up a magazine to read.
(Marks Session)
Margaret offered me a cup of coffee which I accepted and sat down at the round table. She inquired as to how I was feeling and how the week had played out. I gave her the highlights. I told her about visiting my mother for the weekend. I also spoke to her about my daughter mentioning that Mom was hurting and two wrongs not being right. Told her about the laptop and she asked me why I moved it, which I explain exactly what I told Stephanie. I also told her about the incident in the downstairs where Stephanie tried to get intimate and I stopped her.
“Mark, do you desire your wife, do you love her?”
“Of course I do, but I am trying to do what is right, I’m trying to do what’s right for all three of us.”
“Mark, you realize that regardless if you stay with your wife or if you leave her the two of you are going to have to talk possibly argue or not!”
I know you are wearing that emotional blanket called anger. Mark, your daughter is not always around. There is times when the two of you can talk, She knows that she hurt you, Mark. Are you afraid that if you talk to her you will get angry, that anger might hurt her? Maybe you love her so much you do not want to hurt her?….That’s just food for thought, let us talk about how you to first met and what drew you to her.”
I told her about our dating life when we first met and how I was in love with Stephanie from first date. I told her Stephanie is loving beautiful warm smart understanding and everything that I want in a woman.
Margaret then asked me to describe a cute mannerism that Stephanie’s not even aware she does, that you notice about her. That was an easy one, when she is really concentrating or sometimes when shes stressed she wiggles her nose, it is so cute.”
“What is your wife to you, Mark?”
“Stephanie is my wife, a mother, she’s my lover, my best friend.”
“I wonder if friendship should be a little higher on your list. She seems to be starved for your attention, even before this incident that brought us all together…. Mark, would you please ask Stephanie to come in here. I would like to speak to the two of you at this point about something.”
Mark came out into the waiting room and asked me to come in. I do not think I have ever been this nervous in my whole life even when we married. Margaret greeted me with a smile and said “I would like to talk a little bit about the discussion we had last week.”
As the three of us sat at the table Mark kept his eyes directly on Margaret.
Margaret started off talk about flirting.
“Men have been known to be more motivated by sexualization and visual content; this alters their perception of a what the flirting intends, and causes them to be more assertive in approach. I describe men’s flirting like trolling, most men will cast out a line here and there no particular target hoping to catch a bite with their flirting. Women flirt to build friendships and to show their femininity, to prove to themselves they are still desirable, boosts self-esteem. Everyone flirts but in slightly different manners.”
Mark got up to pour himself a cup of coffee and Margaret stop talking for a moment till he sat back down. As Mark’s wife, I knew him well enough to know that he was agitated and wanted to know the point of all of this. I was wringing my hands under the table and looking directly at Margaret pleadingly.
“Excuse me Margaret but is there a point to this, we are all aware of what transpired.”
“Here’s my point, Mark, now I am not trying to defend Stephanie in anyway what she did was a major breach of trust. In my business you run across these characters from time to time. I call them spouse poachers. Finding sport in seducing another person’s wife. They are very good at what they do, Mark. Like for instance when you tell your wife she looks pretty.”
“A spouse poachers says, I love you in that blue dress you always look good in blue because he is not casting. Hunter targeted your wife, your wife only. He knows what she wears each day and the colours she chooses. Now I know what you are thinking, Mark, you compliment your wife all the time and that is a good thing.”
“These predators are working the art of seduction. He will notice every type of makeup that she puts on, how she wears it, what jewellery she wears. They are very specific about their compliments trying to get into her psyche. They believe in disparaging the husband but they will be very subtle about it. If he had said anything directly derogatory your wife would have caught on and he she would have lost her off the line. So to speak.”
“So what you’re saying is this Hunter character was targeting my wife to seduce.”
“Stephanie describe a couple of the situations that we discussed last week that I brought to her attention. Please tell, Mark, what you told me, Stephanie.”
I nervously cleared my throat and wiped a tear in the corner of my eye. For the first time since we sat down Mark was looking directly into my eyes.
“Well a long time ago back when Hunter was still working at my office. You know how I like to get into work early well one morning when I was leaving. I had noticed that you had forgot to put the trash out so I pulled the car back into the driveway went into the garage and put it out to the road. I really did not think anything of it until I got to work and I was a little bit late with my regular morning routine.”
“At that point Hunter came in the door and started talking to me and so did Kathy. Now because my routine was slightly altered and everyone was talking to me I was slightly irritated. Hunter asked me immediately if I was ok. I nonchalantly said I am off my routine. I had to put the garbage out this morning my husband had forgot. Hunter immediately said, “Well that was irresponsible of him.”
“Thinking back in that moment after Hunter’s comment I immediately became irritated with you, Mark, when I should have irritated by his opinion.”
Margaret jumped into the conversation at that moment “You see, Mark, even though your wife was not really upset with you. She understood you had just simply forgot. Hunter took that moment he knew Stephanie was irritated and needed her morning quiet time. Irritated by the fact that her co-workers were in her face and subtly brought it on you in order to cast her mood as your fault, Mark, very effective. Go ahead, Stephanie, tell him the part about Hunter discribing his Wife and what he told you at the restaurant.”
“I never really asked him a lot of questions about his personal life though he asked a lot about mine, Mark. I guess I was flattered that someone would have an interest in plain old house wife me. I do remember now after talking to Margaret last session. He did mention he had a wife at one point and that she travelled a lot and they did not have an active sex life and he wondered if she might be having an affair.
Margaret is fairly certain that these are all just lies that he spun in order to try to work on me.”
Mark’s eyes more sad than angry now and he asked me about this restaurant conversation.
“Oh yes one time Kathy, Hunter and I went to lunch. I was saying that you were going to take me to dinner at that burger restaurant we liked and Hunter piped up and said if I was taking you to dinner I would take you to that new Piano Bar, music, wine and dancing. Once again I never really caught on but Margaret was saying that was his way of disparaging the restaurant that we like to go to and making it sound like a life with him would be much more luxurious.”
“So a recap, Mark, what I am hearing is yes, Stephanie made of major mistake here, that we all agree she is remorseful for. As married couple do after time, we end up doing lip service to each other. A wife may say her husband is handsome, but she does not say what in particular she is talking about that makes her make that statement in that moment. Like for instance that is my favourite suit that you wear. That blue tie goes perfect with it. Or a husband might say, I love the way you twitch your nose I find that so adorable.”
I looked up at Margaret and then I looked over at Mark, my Dad used to say that I twitched my nose!….Do I still twitch my nose, did Mark say that to Margaret? She stood up and said.
“Okay that’s enough for today you two, I am giving you homework, talk to each other.”
Mark and I walked out to our cars together in the parking lot. I asked Mark if he would call Tiffany and tell her not to eat anything and I will pick up dinner for us. He smiled and said “Why do you not give her a call and let me take care of dinner this time and I will see you at home.”
Tiffany seemed extremely excited to see us tonight and asked us if we had a good day. Mark gave her a hug and kissed her on top of head and said, “Yes Sweetheart, we should eat while it is hot.”
After dinner, Mark, suggested the three of us go for a walk, Tiffany immediately rolled her eyes. He added we can go to that ice cream shop a couple blocks down. That immediately changed her attitude as she hurried to get ready. I looked at Mark and smiled saying. “That is a wonderful idea I think I will change out of this dress and put on a pair of jeans.”
“Stephanie the dress you are wearing, is that not the dress you wore at the Christmas party last year? You look amazing in that dress, it is one of my favourites.”
I was taken back by Mark comment felt my face turn red. “Yes it is Mark, thank you for noticing should I leave it on?”
He stood up and as he was leaving the kitchen stating “No jeans are probably more comfortable for a walk and if they are the ones I am thinking I like the way your ass sways when you walk in them.”
I stood there dumbfounded, did I just hear him right? A large grin appearing on my face I rushed off to the bedroom to change. As we walked along Tiffany carry the conversation. We turn the corner on to the next street the sidewalk was narrowed taking Tiffany’s hand and walked in front of Mark. One foot In front of the other, accentuating the pivot of my hips. Reaching the ice cream store we sat at a booth.
For some reason I felt nervous almost like I was on a date. During the conversation I informed Tiffany that we will call Grandma when we get back and thank her for the gifts. I told Mark that I was thinking that maybe we should take that office space that is not needed any longer and turned it into a proper bedroom that your mother could use. I was nervous bringing up the subject of that room but I knew that we had to do something, it was slowly becoming a shrine to my mistake.
“What do you think sweetheart, if we let her know that the room is available to her anytime she wants to stay.”
“That is a very nice gesture, Stephanie, while we are on the subject of grandparents. I was thinking maybe we should give your parents a call and ask if Tiffany can stay at their place tomorrow so we can have some time to talk more.”
“That’s a good idea you two should talk.” Tiffany said with a smug smile on her face and continued to lick her ice cream.
When we got home Tiffany called her grandmother and we both thanked her for the gifts. I did not bring up the subject of the spare bedroom leaving that for her son to tell her. Mark in the basement and Stephanie retired to her room I took a moment to call my parents. Surprisingly my Dad answered the phone. I nervously took this moment that I was speaking with him to say, “Dad, I know you have always treated me like a princess and I could do no wrong but I am not perfect, Dad. I am and always was afraid of disappointing you.”
“I know you are not perfect honey no one is, though you will always be perfectly my little girl I love you.”
” I love you too, Dad”
He handed the phone over to Mom and we talked about her and Dad picking up Tiffany tomorrow after school which she happily agreed to.
Getting off the phone I informed Mark that I was going to take a shower and he was welcome to join me. After taking a shower on my own I was still hopeful and slipped into some lingerie. I laid there waiting for him for the longest time but he never showed.
The next day at work I got into a conversation with Kathy, it turns out we do have a lot in common, We have even read some of the same books. She talked to me a little bit about her up and coming wedding. In that moment I thought she would probably make a good friend not just a co-worker. I asked her if she would like to come over one afternoon. She readily agreed and said that we definitely put that together for next week.
I return to my desk to work. I was nervously looking forward to talking with Mark tonight, especially after the disappointment of last night. When I received an even bigger disappointment. A text message from Mark saying that he would be an hour late getting home that he had to swing by the lawyer’s office. Receiving that texted made me a nervous wreck. By one o’clock I informed Kathy I was going to take the rest of the day off.
On my way home I stopped and picked up a nice red wine. Back at home I busied myself putting together a nice meal for Mark and I. Even though in that moment I have no appetite feeling sick with worry. Dinner in the oven I decided to put on a nice dress and wait Mark’s arrival. I decided on my three quarter length black tight chevage dress black stockings and heels. I had no idea why Mark was at the lawyer’s office or what we were going to talk about for sure. But I wanted to pull out all the stops. I cannot remember the last time I wore a sexy dress for him around the house. If I was going down I was going to go down fighting for his love.
Mark finally arrived, I was so nervous, I was shaking, meeting him at the door. He smiled and said he was sorry that he was late we stood awkwardly staring each other for a minute. I so desperately wanted to kiss him but I thought it would be ill received under the circumstances.
“I am happy you are home, I put out a bottle of red wine, would you like to pour us a glass? I will check on dinner.”
“Sure, Stephanie, by the way you look great. Your wearing the necklace I gave you when we first started dating.”
“Yes it is, Mark, thank you, so sweet of you to remember.”
We sat down quietly ate our dinner together. I commented that I enjoyed the wine, Mark agreed and complimented the meal. To say the atmosphere was tense was an understatement. Taking a sip of wine he smiled at me and laughed.
“I don’t understand why you’re laughing at me.”
“Your nose is twiching, I find it cute.”
Self-consciously put my hand to my nose then giggled like a little schoolgirl.
“Stephanie, leave the dishes, fill our glass of wine, join me it the livingroom, let’s talk.”
I nervously followed him to the livingroom, this was it the momment of truth. We sat sideway on the sofa to face each other.
“Stephanie, I know I have been moody and quiet for awhile now, but you really shocked me and I was so hurt and disappointed. I have been thinking about a lot of things like this house and what a home is. I have been thinking about the good and the bad in our relationship.”
“Mark, I hurt you and I can never forgive myself. Our original relationship is broken and I can not fix it. Can we build a new one on top of the love that we share, taking all the pieces of what is great in our relationship? PLEASE MARK… I love you.”
“Well a house is what you live in, you, Stephenie, and Tiffiny that makes this a home. There is so much about you that I love, too much give up on you. I went to the lawyer;s office tonight to sign a application to withdraw. Stand up, come here.”
I was in shock, I do not even know if I heard him right. I stood up almost robotically and walked over stood between his open legs as he moved forward onto the edge of the sofa. “Mmm..Mark, did I hear you right? Tears of joy this time, “Please say it again, please tell me we are going to be alright!”
“Steph, we got work to do and we are not done with Margaret. But we will get there, we will get there together.”
Standing between his open legs he placed his hands on my nylons caressing my thighs and started running his hand under my short skirt. Exposing the top of my thigh highs as he rose my skirt above my hips. Seeing the hunger in his eyes as he stared at my black lace panties and flat bare tummy. Standing with my legs pressed tightly together they started to quake, Mark lean forward and started putting bunny kisses on my bare belly. I almost had an orgasm just from his touch. Mark looked up into my eyes, then stood up, pushing back my hair turning my head to the side I felt his lips and hot breath on my neck. Sending shivers down my spine I heard him whisper.
“I hunger for dessert, feed me, I hunger for you.” He then pressed his lips on mine, my tongue darted into his mouth gently moaning…..My petite build against his strong and manly frame. I wrapped my arms around his neck and jumped up wrapped my legs around his waist. Mark’s hands immediately grasped my almost bare bottom supporting me in his arms.
I looked into Mark’s eyes and said, “Carry me upstairs and let me show you my gratitude for loving me tonight and every night that you want me.”
THE END