All the signs were there, I just didn’t catch them at first. I was half heartedly listening to the television show that the wife was watching. It was about some guy discussing with his buddy about the signs of infidelity in a marriage. Thinking to myself my wife checks some of those boxes.
Texts that were either denied or blown off. But when asked to see them she quickly hid her phone, then acting as if they were nothing. That being said don’t we all want to be trusted. I know I have nothing to hide but would I not be annoyed if she where to look over my shoulder? Then there where phone calls where she would leave the room, I thought she was being polite. Diminished sexual activity (that really described the last several months) but we have had dry spells before. Absences that were different from the daily routine but when ask she always had a good answer. The eye opener is when I caught her in a lie, that had me thinking and looking.
It happened innocent enough. I ran into a good friend of hers, Helen, at the supermarket parking lot. Let me clarify we did not actually run into each other. I actually saw her getting into her car with her groceries. It was my turn this Saturday to pick up a few things. I had just finished picking out some burgers, and some fresh corn on the cob. We were going to have a barbecue tonight. I stood there stunned for a minute in the center of the lot, thinking my eyes were tricking me. Stacy, my wife, had told me that her and Helen we’re going to a craft show together. Did I have it wrong? Did she actually lie to me and this leads me back to that absences. She’s been hanging out a lot with her friend on Saturdays recently. I could feel my heart pounding with my paranoia getting the better of me.
When I got home I put the groceries away and the bottle of wine that I picked up earlier, trying to calm myself down trying to come up with logical answers. I need to talk to somebody, I don’t know who to talk to. Calm down let’s go on the computer see if I can find any more evidence. Nothing, nothing, nothing. I started looking around the house in the closets including the bedroom. I didn’t even know what I was looking for. Going through her dresser, I found good memories lingerie. I haven’t seen her wear this stuff in awhile and low an behold her little vibrator.
Stacy was still hot at 48, she was always conscious of her figure. Those C cup breast still reasonably perky, even after having had our daughter and those legs! She loved to wear sun dresses in the summer. Her shoulder-length wavy brown hair still shone, she always had good back scratching fingernails. But my personal favorite was her ass mmm. God I loved everything about this woman please be wrong.
Then I saw it tucked behind the dresser. Pulling it out from behind, still in the bag Victoria’s Secret. New lingerie still in the box. Putting the box back where I found it, I couldn’t even stand I began to cry. What should I do should I call Helen? Should I call my wife? Is that who I should speak to? Should I confront either one or both? Do I call my buddy? Yes sitting down with him with tears in my eyes telling him how much of a loser I am, can’t even hang on to my wife.
I decided I had to get out of the house for a little bit and go for a walk. Not certain as to where I went or how long I had walked, I was startled by the cell phone ringing in my pocket. Nervously I retrieve the phone, my hands were shaking. It was my daughter ” Hey sweetie, what’s up it’s so good to hear from you.”
“Hey Dad it’s good to hear from you too”
My voice shaking and out of breath “What’s up baby girl”
“Dad I’m not a ba…., Are you alright Dad you sound funny?”
“I’m okay I’m just out for a vigorous walk.”
“Oh okay, Dad the reason I called is mom invited me over, you two are having a barbecue tonight.”
“You were talking to your mother? Did she say where she was?”
“Yes just a little while ago, and no I didn’t ask” “Why?”
“Never mind I’m glad you’re coming over tonight, your mother and I miss you so since you got that little place of your own.”
“I’m looking forward to it too, mom said you’ve been acting weird lately. Is it because you miss me!” Laughing.
How fucking dare she! I thought to myself. I’m acting weird! Nervously laughing back. “That’s it Hannah, I love you and I’ll see you tonight”
“I love you too Dad bye”
I’m so glad she’s going to be there tonight. I miss her so and she will make a great buffer until I figure out what to do. I made my way back to the house poured myself a glass of wine, started at the grill. A few moments later the sliding back door opened
Stacy stepped out, glass of wine in hand “Hey Bobby how was your day? Did Hannah call you?”
I grimaced my best smile, as she kissed my cheek “Yes” I replied.
“Are you okay if I go upstairs and take a quick shower I’m all sweaty? You okay honey you look a little pale?”
(and the hits keep coming) She walked away before I even responded, I sat down for a moment I was feeling sick. Where had I gone wrong she was my best friend the love of my life the mother of my child. I love this woman with All my being, there has to be an explanation.
I soldiered on at the grill, Hannah loves shrimps I have some in the fridge I’ll add those to our evening family soiree. Entering the kitchen I realize my daughter had arrived.
“Hey Dad it’s good to see you, I brought more wine” as she approached and gave me a big hug. I kept a smile on my face and hugged her back kissing her forehead. acting normal, not wanting to spoil the evening. As the evening went on the girls talked and talked, I contributed a word here and there nothing out of the ordinary. We ate, we drank, then we settled in for the evening. The ladies watched Gilmore Girls on TV I stayed out of the way cleaning up letting them be. Maybe my wife would come to some clarity of the family she was destroying. When I was done I settled in on the far side, my daughter between us. After a bit I got up and kissed both girls on the head and stated, “I’m heading up to bed.” ( I was mentally exhaust )
“Are you sure you’re okay Bobby?” said my Stacy.
“I’m good.” and off I went.
“I’m staying the night, I will see you in the morning Daddy, love you.”
“Love you back”.
When my wife finally came up to bed I was still awake. She didn’t know. I was relieved she did not bother with me. I was happy in the morning, the three of us went out to breakfast. Outward appearance is everything, I seemed to be normal but inside me a volcano. That evening after my daughter went home I was sitting on the sofa reading, when my wife came and sat on the opposite end and lying down with her feet across me clicking on the TV.
“Honey do you mind if I watch?”
I smiled “No go ahead.”
That night when we went to bed my wife started dragging her nails tickling my back gently, that makes me crazy horny for her. “Can we put it off tonight I’m just not feeling a hundred percent.”
She spooned up against me and whispered in my ear, “I am making you a doctor’s appointment. I’m worried about you. I love you.”
My eyes teared up “I love you too.”
Another weekday and back to the grind for the both of us. I had now come to the conclusion that I need to see and find out who it was that she had chosen over her family I would follow her this time. Our evening played on as per usual the odd time she was on the phone, now I be listening carefully. I tried to get a peek at her text messages to no avail. Everyday it would check the lingerie box behind the dresser when she was out of the room, so far it was there and nothing had been moved. On more than one occasion I caught her staring at me with a concerned look, or was it look of guilt. Then again it could be a look of concern of being found out.
She did mention to me one night that she had made a doctor’s appointment for the following Monday for me. Fat Chance of that, there is a good possibility I would not be living here by Monday, that brought another frightening thought to my mind where am I going? I’ve been with this woman half my life. I have no other identity. Friday night Stacy announced to me it was her turn to do the grocery shopping but she was going to run out and do some shopping in town beforehand.
SATURDAY I was no P I, but I put together a half-ass plan I rented a small cheap car the day before and parked it in the parking lot at the end of the Street. My stomach was so upset I could not even eat breakfast. I was already hopped up on three coffees, doing everything I could to keep away from her. I didn’t want to tip her off, peeking in on her in the bedroom when she had her back to me. I could have swore I saw her stash some sort of clothing item into that bag she calls a purse so she needs a change of clothing? Then she went into the bathroom, I quickly checked the box still there. When it appeared to me that she was about to leave the house, I yelled to her from the other room that I was going to go for a walk for exercise. I heard her yell back “why don’t you wait till tonight I’ll go with”…..I shut the door before she could finish and started running towards the car I had stored near by.
I put on a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses I felt stupid but necessary. I slowly drove past our house her car was still in the driveway but decided to circle the block. I started second-guessing myself should I be doing this? Do I want to know the answer? Suspicious Mind started playing on the radio I teared up shutting it off. As I was coming up on our street, I saw my wife pull out and turn the opposite direction I kept my distance following I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. We had only travelled a few kilometres when I witnessed her turning into a subdivision. From the opposite end of the street I seen her turn into a driveway By the time I got there I saw her standing on the front stoop, her car sat in the drive next to a new Mercedes no less. I quickly turned into the driveway directly across the street. Putting the car in park removing my glasses adjusting the rear view mirror in time to see the front door open. A man in his mid-30s, tall compared to my wife. My wife passed through the open door the man closed it behind her.
There it is, what more did I need to know? Should I go across the street pound at the door and demand my wife back? No being there was her choice. What would that do just add injury to insult? At that moment the man in the driveway where I was parked open the front door that caused me to panic. I memorized the number and street of the house she went into. I pulled away and raced back, returned the rental car and walked home. Trying to gather my thoughts upon returning home I opened my laptop and started doing some research reverse address lookup a name now Facebook. (Brandon Harrison married to Jody and baby son) I ran to the washroom and vomited I was sick. My wife was having an affair with a married man.
There was nothing left to know, I grabbed the picture of my wife and me off the dresser. I looked at it briefly then threw and smashed it. I removing the box from behind the dresser, opened it and laid the lingerie out on the bed my heart was pounding my eyes full of tears. I reached for a notepad and pen writing down my final message to my wife. I had to pack what I wanted looking around I was trying to think what do I want. I know what I want, I want my fucking life back. I want the best friend that I married. I love of my life back before this nightmare began. Settling for toothbrush, toiletries, a few changes of clothes in a small travel bag. My cell phone and laptop, there’s nothing else in this house that once was my home that I want.
Laying the pad of paper on top of the lingerie on the bed I proceeded out the front door. Driving away never looking back, around and around for almost an hour. Not knowing what to do, where to go. I figured the right thing to do was to go and see my daughter and tell her. I didn’t know how this was going to play out but I didn’t want to lose her too. I didn’t have any idea as to how her mother was going to explain this and I wanted to make sure she knew my side as well.
I made a call to my daughter “Sweetheart I need to see you right away.”
“What’s wrong daddy? You’re scaring me.”
“Don’t worry sweetheart I’ll explain everything when I get there. I’ll be there within the hour.” I then shut my cell phone off.
When I arrive she met me at the door with a hug, she could see my pale complexion my teary red eyes. She practically dragged me inside, we sat on the sofa. I held her hand in mine and I slowly told her everything from my suspicions to what I now know. She began to cry but her face looked angry, “This can’t be right and I’m going to get an explanation for you Daddy.”
“No Hanna please let it go for now.”
“You stay put dad, my home is your home. I’m going to talk to Mom right now if I can’t reach her, give me that address and I’ll get her.”
At that exact moment Stacy stood in her Master bedroom staring at the lingerie on the bed reading the note with tears in her eyes, her hand over her mouth. Her cell phone was ringing in her back pocket, too stunned to react at first then realizing, bringing the phone to her ear. Her shaky voice croaked out a “Hello.”
“Mom it’s me are you home if so stay put.”
“Oh God Hannah yes I’m home your father’s left me.”
“He’s at my place mom stay put I’m on my way.” ( die air)
THE NOTE Hannah arrives “Oh my God how was your father? This is such a disaster, it’s a big mistake.”
“What’s going on mother?”
“Nothing I swear to you both, this is just a very embarrassing big misunderstanding.”
“Sit down Mom let’s talk let’s get to the bottom of this.”
“Your father wrote me this note starts out going on about texts and phone calls. The phone calls were Helen mostly and I wasn’t texting most of the time. I was playing a game on my phone it makes me crazy when he doesn’t trust me and looked over my shoulder Oh God this is so embarrassing, yes our sex life has diminished. We were in a bit of a rut that’s why I decided to do something about it”
“God mother how could you?”
“No no listen to me, I bought some new lingerie I had hid for a special occasion to surprise him but he found it first. I found this woman in town (here is her pamphlet) that was giving private Exotic Dance lessons to spice up your sex life and exercise, in her home. I was going to, you know, put on an outfit and dance for your father. I would put a small change of clothes in my purse when I came home I would take a shower cuz I was all sweaty. It’s all there in the note Hannah he’s leaving me he seeing a lawyer on Monday he thinks I’m having an affair with Jody the dance instructors husband for some reason.”
I could feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. This was too much information about my parents’ sex life. So relieved for myself and my father “Oh mother this is all just a misunderstanding then?”
“Yes yes God yes he’s the love of my life and always will be. Come Hannah let’s go to him now. I don’t want him to suffer another minute he still has his cell phone shut off.”
In the car driving back to my place to clear this whole mess up “Mom I don’t think you’re going to need lingerie or a fancy dance once this is all straightened out and Dad gets you home tonight ”
“He might need to keep that doctor’s appointment on Monday after I’m done having sex with him all weekend.”
“MOM, too much…..just drive.”