Our usual group of four couples was having the normal once a month party. It was a Saturday afternoon start to the party and we normally partied well into the evening. We were having one hell of a good time having a few drinks and telling all kinds of wild stories. It was my wife Judy and I (Ray Staebler), my sister Pat and her husband Bruce Vincent, Nancy and Jim Seiver and Jill and Wayne Bissler. Pat, Nancy and Jill all worked with my wife at Conner Construction, Inc., a well known regional construction firm specializing in public buildings, schools and churches.
Pat had introduced me to Judy four years ago and after a short courtship we became a couple and three years ago we had gotten married. I thought we had a very good marriage and I know I loved her with all my heart and felt she reciprocated.
As I said, the stories were flying hot and heavy and the drinks were being poured strong and often. It wasn't too long before a couple of us were feeling no pain at all. Jill was pretty drunk by this time and was going on and on about how she had gone on a date with a guy named Jamie and got caught by her steady boyfriend Phillip. Phillip was pissed so of course that ended that relationship but she didn't continue to date James. Some time later she met and dated Wayne and eventually married him.
My wife Judy piped up, "Wow Jill that had to really be awkward. I never had any experiences like that, getting caught doing something I shouldn't have been doing."
Jill in her drunken state responded, "Are you kidding me Judy? Hell, you almost got caught with Carl's black baby in your belly after you fucked him for that whole week two years ago while Ray was gone."
Everyone in the room was shocked by that comment and I heard Judy gasp and then Wayne said, "Jill, why don't you just shut up."
I was clearly in shock at that comment and jumped up saying "What the f..."
The next thing I knew I was laying on the floor. I apparently had been unconscious for a couple of minutes and was just starting to come out of it.
I found out later what had happened to me. I had what is called a vasovagal response having to do with the vagus nerve. It comes about as a result of stress, sudden onset of extreme emotions and standing up too quickly. There are other triggers as well and one of the most recognizable is witnessing medical procedures. That is what causes soldiers to pass out while standing in line waiting to receive their shots. In that circumstance even watching another man pass out can cause one to pass out.
Anyway, I was stressed, had an extreme emotional event and stood up too quickly and there I was lying on the floor. They were taking care of me and as I slowly started to come out of it I overheard some of them talking.
"Jill, why the hell did you have to say that?"
"I just don't know Judy, I had too much drink and I am so sorry. I never wanted to do anything to hurt you and Ray. I am so sorry."
I decided to play it cool for a couple of minutes to see what else I might learn.
My sister Pat said, "Well the cat is out of the bag now and we just have to pass this off as a drunken babble on your part."
All of the others agreed and said, "We don't even know if he will remember what was said, so just play it cool and let's see if we can get past this. If he does remember we will just say Jill is drunk and stupid, agreed?"
I was finally feeling better and sat up. I knew I needed to relax for a few minutes so I just sat there and didn't say a word. I spent that time thinking about what Jill had said and figuring out what had gone on. When I was pretty sure I was going to be okay I slowly got to my feet and straightened myself out. Everyone was looking at me with questioning looks. I just played it cool for a minute while gradually working my way toward the door.
Judy asked me, "Baby? Are you alright?"
I looked at her and then glanced at everyone else in the room. "No Judy, I am not alright. I just found out that my wife is a cheating slut. I just found out that she fucked Carl Jackson for a whole week probably while I was away at Air National Guard training two years ago. I just found out that you were pregnant with his baby and probably had an abortion. I know now that you didn't have a miscarriage like you told me but you actually had an abortion. So NO, I am not alright."
I could see the tears streaming down Judy's face but at the moment I had not a speck of sympathy for her. "What's more I just found out that all of you, including my own loving sister, knew about it and no one bothered to tell me. No, I am not alright. I am getting out of here. Don't any of you follow me, don't talk to me and don't call me. All of you just stay the hell away from me."
I had to get away so I got into my truck and drove. I knew that I had to be alone for a while and think this all through. My truck was a bright red Ford F150 with a ton of chrome so I knew if I continued to use it I couldn't stay hidden from their prying eyes for long. My friend Jack lived on a farm about twenty miles out of town and he had a large machine shed that I could put my truck in. I knew he would be there for me so I drove out there. I let him know that I was having some problems with Judy and he agreed to help me out.
We parked my truck in the shed and Jack gave me a ride back into town and dropped me off at the Hertz rental facility next to the airport. I rented a nondescript Chevrolet Impala for a couple of weeks. I figured by then I would have made decisions for the rest of my life and wouldn't need to be "gone" anymore.
I checked into a decent hotel, the Courtyard by Marriot, on the outskirts of town with a lounge and restaurant. I had enough to drink earlier and I didn't want to be any more impaired than I already was. I sat around thinking about what had happened and some things gradually became clearer to me. It took a while but soon I think I knew exactly what had happened.
Two years ago at Judy's Christmas party Tonya Jackson had come on to me. She sidled up to me and said, "Ray, you are one hot guy. How would you feel about giving me go?"
I was shocked but truthfully flattered too. Tonya is a very hot woman with beautiful auburn hair and a body that would inflame desire in any man. If I was willing to have an affair, I could see she would be a lot of woman to handle. I kind of figured she was pretty drunk and really didn't mean it but I was flattered none the less. I told her however, "Tonya you certainly are beautiful and sexy as can be but I am not a free agent. Sorry, I just won't do that to Judy."
She smiled at me and said, "Oh well I tried. When you are ready for me just give me a call." I was a little confused by that comment but just let it slide and got back into the party. I must confess it made my night though and didn't hurt Judy's night too much either when I was extra attentive in bed later on.
In a repeat at this past year's Christmas party Tonya came to me again. "Are you a free agent yet Ray baby? I sure would like a shot at you."
I let my male ego get stroked for a minute but I told her, "You know Tonya this is getting old. I told you I wouldn't do that to Judy and I would appreciate it if you didn't do this again."
Tonya said, "Well that is too bad Ray because I think you and I would have a great time together. I won't bother you again but when you are ready, just call."
Now I realized that Tonya knew all along that Carl had fucked Judy and she was trying to get even with him. I decided to call her to talk.
After I had thought things through I looked up Carl Jackson's phone number and made the call. Fortunately Tonya answered the phone and not Carl. "Tonya, this is Ray Staebler. I am ready to talk. If you can get away I would like to meet in the lounge at the Marriot Hotel."
She told me that she would be there in thirty minutes.
"Great, I will be waiting there for you."
Right on time Tonya walked into the lounge and every eye in the place was on her. She was as beautiful as I remembered from the Christmas party. She had on a modest but very attractive dress and her long auburn hair hung down her back. I think everyone in the lounge turned to look at her as she walked up to me at the bar. I gave her a gentle hug and we took a booth in the back of the room because I wanted a bit of privacy with what I wanted to talk to her about.
"Tonya, I called you to talk and I am pretty sure you know the reason. Just tell me straight out, did you or did you not know about Carl fucking my wife Judy?"
She got a mischievous smile on her face and said, "Ray of course I knew about it. Why do you think I wanted to play around a bit with you? I wanted to have a fling with you and rub it in Carl's face and I still want to do that."
"Well I just became aware of that little dalliance today Tonya and I am not certain you and I playing around as you call it would be in our best interest at this time but I really do want to know everything you know about the situation."
"I know that they did have sex because I actually caught them in my house. I was supposed to be spending some time with my mother but decided to come home early. I caught them fucking in my bed Ray.
"They didn't know that I saw them because I left and went to stay with a friend of mine for the night. I didn't want to confront them together until I had time to think things through. I figured a night with my friend would let me clear my mind. If you need to verify that I will give you her name and telephone number.
"Anyway when I came home the next day I confronted Carl about having an affair. At the time I didn't know the woman's name and Carl tried to lie his way out of the whole thing but I told him I actually saw him and no matter how many lies he told me were going to get him out of it this time"
