Because of this story's length, I am posting it to Novels and Novellas. But it equally would have been appropriate in Loving Wives or Erotic Couplings. It is a story of adultery by each partner in a marriage, the first clandestine but the second with consent.
Chapter One
Wife's (Heather) Story
A quite good friend - but not so good that I'd call her a BFF - called me up. I often bump into her while shopping at the mall and, when I do, I'm always happy to sit and have a coffee with her. This time, she invited me to come to her house for lunch one day. That's something she's never done before. She tells me she is also inviting another of her friends that I might possibly know.
The invite is quite unexpected because I'd only ever been in Jennifer's house once when my husband, Jason and I went to a Saturday night party there. That was quite a big occasion; most of the neighbourhood was there. But never having previously been invited for lunch at Jennifer's, I am quite intrigued. So intrigued that I just have to say yes.
When the appointed day rolls around, I am still curious as to why, out of the blue, Jennifer would suddenly have me over for lunch. I arrive around noon, as Jennifer suggested. There is already another car on the driveway, so I park at the kerb. I walk to the front door, carrying only my purse and a bottle of wine. One can never go to a lunch emptyhanded.
Jennifer greets me warmly at her front door and leads me through the kitchen and out the back door onto an undercover patio where Jennifer and her family obviously do much of their entertaining. There is a barbecue off to one side and a large glass-topped table with 6 chairs ... only one is occupied.
A woman is already sitting at the table and on seeing us come through the door from the kitchen, she rises. Jennifer introduces the woman as Melissa, who I initially think looks close to our mid 40's age, although once I'm seated and I have a chance to take a closer look, I reassess her as possibly being a bit younger, mid to late 30's.
She seems pleasant enough and as she and Jennifer talk, I begin to rack my brain, trying to establish where I might know her from ... her face is so familiar to me. I eventually work it out before having to ask, this younger woman and I served on a school committee at one time. A while ago because my kids have graduated from high school and are both away at college now. It had been quite a large committee, that's my excuse for never attempting to get to know her better.
The spread that Jennifer lays out on the table is wonderful for just an informal get-together. We three manage to finish off the bottle of wine on the table, so Jennifer opens the bottle I brought, and we get into that as well. I make this point to convey to you - the reader - that an hour of convivial conversation passes and we three are quite jolly and carefree. It is obvious that Jennifer and Melissa are very good friends and possibly do this - a boozy lunch - quite regularly. By now, I am beginning to wonder where I fit in. Why have I been invited?
I am to find out once we have our desserts. Jennifer's voice suddenly adopts a more serious tone. "Heather, we're both so glad that you could make it here today, this is so pleasant having you here, and getting to know you better. I am sure I speak for Mel when I say you're so nice that it makes what Melissa has to say much harder," she casts a sideways glance at Melissa, as if checking whether to proceed. "Mel asked me to arrange a meeting once she found out that I know you quite well. She has something she wants to unburden to you. She's been a really good friend of mine for many years and I can vouch that she is a loyal and truthful person even though you might initially have your doubts when you hear what she has to say to you."
Despite having consumed copious glasses of wine, I feel myself tense up ... what is this all about?
Jennifer continues, "Mel, are you able to take it from here or do you want me to keep going for now?"
Melissa reaches for her glass and downs all that is left in it in one long gulp, then takes a deep breath. Jennifer and I sit staring at Melissa, waiting for her to start.
"No, Jen, I have to own this, so I should be the one." The woman turns toward me, "Heather, I ... err ... um ... I recently started having sex with a man..." She pauses and holds up her left hand, "and as you can see, I'm married, and so is he." She turns toward Jennifer, holding up her empty glass, "Can I have some more, please Jen?"
There is a long silence while Jennifer fills Melissa's glass and points the bottle toward me in a silent gesture that suggests I might like some more. I nod affirmatively but already my mind is whirling with what Melissa may be about to say. This must affect me? Otherwise, why am I here?
Jennifer tops up my glass and then Jen and I turn our attention back to Melissa, now seemingly fortified by having a full glass of wine in her hand to help her proceed.
"I don't normally do this ... what I mean is, I don't normally sleep around. This man ... is the first man other than my husband that I've had sex with since I got married over ten years ago. I had no idea who he was or even where he lived until last week. I became so ashamed of having this affair that I turned to my bestie here to confess my sins." She turns and gives a limp smile to Jennifer.
"This is sounding ominous; you have obviously invited me here for a reason. I must be involved in some way, and I don't know if I want to hear what I think you're about to say," I tell the pair as my head spins. Already, I am putting two and two together. It sounds like my Jason must be involved although I would never suspect him of cheating on me.
"You seem like you are ahead of me, Heather, but before I finish, I must emphasise that I never knew who he was, that he was someone whose wife I might know."
My heart sinks, figuring that she is talking about my Jason even before identifying her lover by name. "So, are you telling me that you're sleeping with my husband?" I ask, my voice cold and stern.
"Well, yes ... err, sort of."
"What do you mean sort of? You either are or you aren't?"
"Well, we've never actually got to go to sleep together. All we do is fuck ... like rabbits as the saying goes. And then we stay in bed, not to sleep, but only as long as it takes him to get it up again and then we go for seconds. It's just hot sex, and that's it. He goes to his home, and I go to mine."
I sit there aghast, wondering what to say next. My immediate inclination is to jump across the table and scratch her eyes out. But I don't! How dare she steal my Jason. My mind whirls ... a picture forms in my brain of Jason fucking this woman. What can I possibly say to her at this moment ...
'Oh, that's alright, Melissa, I'm glad you're enjoying him?'