Dear reader, this is a tale of a marriage gone stale and the horrors that can bring. Is redemption possible? Warning, there is some violence in this story. Enjoy.
"Hey Paul, it's Tony. How are you doing?"
"Hey Tony! What's up? You going to the ballgame this afternoon?"
"Yes, home opener and I haven't missed one of those in ten years! What seats have you got?"
"First level, fifth row, first base side, an aisle seat."
"Dude you are the man! I am up on the third level, right field. You want to have a beer after at Gio's?"
"Sure thing, see you after the game."
Paul and his wife Faye and Tony and his wife Helen had been friends for many years. Paul was a forensic accountant and Tony a real estate broker. They met through their wives.
Faye and Helen had grown up together, went to college together, ended up working at the same insurance company. Physically they were no where near the same. Faye was a brunette with ample curves and tall at 5' 10". Helen was 5"2 blonde and pixie-like. As different as they were physically they seemed to understand each other and share things with each other more like twins.
The ballgame was a close one with the home team batting a home run in the ninth inning to chalk up the first win of the season. Paul made his way over to Gio's and got a table. It would take Tony a bit longer to exit the stadium from the third level so Paul ordered a beer for himself and one for Tony so he would have ready for once he arrived.
Tony came through door and saw his friend.
"Ah, nectar of the gods!" He said sitting down and lifting the mug to his lips and took a deep swallow. "Hell of a home opener."
Tony stared at the table, sighed and drained his beer.
"Paul, are things ok between you and Faye?"
"Where in the fuck did that come from? Why would you ask that Tony? Things are great."
"Paul, you and I are like brothers. We have each others backs right?"
"Sure I have your back and you have mine. Why are you asking about my marriage?"
Tony was obviously nervous and wasn't answering quickly. Certainly not quick enough for Paul.
"Look Paul, have you ever sneaked a peak at Faye's socials?"
"No of course not. We have a high level of trust between us."
"So do Helen and I but the other morning Helen left a note on the kitchen table for me. She told me to to check out her laptop She had left it up and running and open to a document that contained parts of text messages to and from our wives. You know how close our wives are, they probably have synchronized their menstrual cycles. Well, Faye had been telling Helen how frustrating she was finding her marriage. There was even a hint, more than a hint, that she was looking for something different outside of marriage."
Paul looked like a fish out of water with his mouth gaping open. He struggled to find the words.
"I find that very hard to believe. We have had a great marriage and she has never given me reason to doubt. I know I am a workaholic and I have worked a lot of hard hours to build up my business. We should have spent more time together but you know how hard it is to build a business in this town."
"I know it sounds crazy to you Paul but I copied the messages so you can read them for yourself. From what I can tell Faye has been unsatisfied for a while now. Take a look at them." he handed Paul a thumb drive.
"I don't know what to think or say Tony. I will have a look I guess."
Paul finished his beer and paid the bill. He went back to his office, closed the blinds and locked the door. He pulled out his personal laptop and inserted the drive not knowing what to expect.
There was as a "read me first" file so he opened it and read.
Paul these are messages going back two years. Earlier messages were purged so I don't have anything older. If you have time and want to get a more complete picture you should start at the oldest and work forward. If you have limited time then skip to the end. From what I have seen in the messages and knowing the two of you I recommend reading from the start.
Remember brother, I have got your back.
Tony
Paul texted Faye that he had an assignment that needed to be closed asap so he wouldn't be home till late. Faye responded with a terse "fine."
Paul opened the file to the earliest entry, two years ago, three years into their marriage.
Faye
Helen, what do you have on tonight? P is working late again. Planned seeing Les Mis but I guess that is out the window. Wanna come with?
Helen
Sure thing. Late at work again? They must be doing a hell of a business.
Faye
Sometimes I wonder if it really is business. Love the man like crazy but it seems like he is never home. See you tonight.
Paul remembered that evening. They we're trying to prove that someone at their client was cooking the books and they needed to find the offending employee pronto. He reflected on that. He was pissed that he had to miss the show that night. He and Faye had been planning that evening for some time. Funny that she never let on how much it bothered her. He moved on to the next exchange.
Faye
Last night was a blast! Great show. P didn't get home till after midnight. I was shocked that he didn't sleep with me that night. I heard him in the bathroom but he slept in the guest room. Lame excuse was he didn't want to wake me. I call bullshit on that. I swear he loves his business more than he does me. I am lucky to get an hour with him.
Helen
You are becoming very suspicious of P. Don't you trust him? I can't imagine him treating you like that. He loves you so much.
Faye
Does he really? You wouldn't know it from the way he treats me. I swear the man looks for reasons to avoid being home with me. He sure doesn't seem to be sexually attracted to me.
Shit. How can she think that? He has been busy yes. The firm was growing fast and demand for their expertise was going through the roof. Did he overwork, hell yes. Did he try to find excuses to stay away from home? No, he missed having quiet evenings with his wife.
He forwarded to the next entry.
