Dear Readers,
I'm flabbergasted by the sheer volume of your votes and comments. I appreciate all of them. However, I would like to clear up some misunderstandings. Many of you who commented read more into 'Confrontation' than I intended to convey. It was simply the rant of a wronged husband to his unfaithful wife β which, was exactly what I wanted to portray. Some of the comments suggested that this was an unrealistic scenario; obviously I disagree. I never intended it as plot or character development. That Gary was cold and unfeeling towards her I think was understandable. Given the nature of the first chapter, writing it as a monologue in the husband's part was unavoidable.
Regarding my English language skills I appreciate your blunt honesty, and I also appreciate the many compliments (especially with my epic long romance story) that I've received regarding my writing skills. I am addressing your point by sending out drafts of my stories to a few additional readers to get feedback before I put the stories online.
I have been very grateful to my former American editor for his diligent effort and his valuable advice. I'm happy to tell you now that a semi-professional American editor has agreed to improve my work.
Please be patient and let this tale run its course. I promise you're in for a big surprise β like it or not!
*****
Gary looked at his distraught wife as she tried, by taking deep, long breaths to hold off her imminent panic. She wasn't crying, but he hadn't expected her to. She was an intelligent, confident woman, and he hoped his confronting her wouldn't cause her to have a nervous breakdown. She was highly educated and had quit her well-paid job as a PA after their first child was born. The children needed a mother who wasn't just a shadow of her former self. Yes, Gary still had feelings for his wife, but he wasn't the kind of man who could let her betrayal go unanswered. Jane wouldn't be a part of his life now without Linda's deception.
His first encounter with Jane at a coffee shop was totally unintentional. It happened a few days after he had discovered Linda's affair with her college boy. His mind was still in such turmoil with regard to what his options were, as far as his marriage was concerned, that Jane didn't draw his attention at first sight. But as they repeatedly exchanged glances he saw an internal glow on her face that intrigued him. She was far from fashionably dressed, but he couldn't help wondering what kind of body she was hiding under those plain clothes.
Their eye contact became more frequent and Gary felt he was on solid ground as he approached her table and said, "I want to have a second cup of coffee, but I would very much like to share your company while I have it."
Her face lit up, "Please! Please sit down! I would like to join you in another cup of coffee!"
The excitement in her eyes told Gary everything he needed to know.
"Thank you. I noticed you sitting here alone and thought that perhaps we could introduce ourselves. So I came over. As the SAS says, 'He who dares, wins!'" he said with a smile.
"I saw you as well when you came in from the street. You looked rather unhappy. I hope it wasn't anything too serious. Not that I mean to pry. You seem to be happier now," she concluded, blushing a little bit as she realized how forward she had been to this handsome stranger. It simply wasn't like her at all β no one would normally call Jane 'bold' or 'aggressive.'
After Gary sat down and they got another cup of coffee from the waitress he smiled at his company and confessed, "You're right. I'm happier now sitting here with you. I've got personal problems, but that is a sad story to tell you at another time. My name is Gary Young. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Jane Harper," she replied. Jane was all smiles as she said it.
The conversation with Jane that day turned out to be a soothing break for Gary's troubled soul. She was a wonderful, enjoyable conversationalist with a wide range of topics. Her beaming face assured him she was attracted to him as well. That made him happy and distracted his thoughts from his unfaithful wife, at least for a while.
As they prepared to leave, Gary's face became more serious.
"Jane, I must admit that I'm attracted to you. I've got a very busy schedule at work, but I hope we can meet sometimes or at least talk by phone."
"I would very much like that," she answered with a look in her eyes that convinced Gary that she really meant her words.
When they parted they exchanged phone numbers. As he expected, Gary's busy schedule and Jane's work as a first- and second-grade teacher didn't leave them much time to meet at the coffee shop. Instead they used every spare minute to talk on the phone to get to know each other. Their happy conversations easily created a deep bond between them. It also made them open up to each other to talk about more sensitive personal issues.
Gary learned that Jane had been married for three years in her early twenties, but after it turned out she couldn't have children, her husband divorced her. Her cruel ex-husband insisted on a fertility test for his new bride-to-be before he would marry his second wife. It was brought to Jane's attention by a common friend that her ex's fiancΓ©e was angry at having to prove her potential fertility, but she finally agreed to it. Whether this was a good beginning for a marriage is anyone's guess. Jane had stopped keeping track of her ex's marriage so she knew nothing very recent about their life. She assumed that having children would make them happy. After her divorce she doted even more on her young pupils, who, in return, loved her very much.
Jane was saddened when Gary explained his wife's betrayal with the young college student. They had a few spare minutes and were sitting on a park bench near her school. Her heart leaped out to him as she saw the anger and pain in his eyes.
"My wife is a very attractive woman and there have always been men flocking around her. Truth be told, I always trusted her but in some ways I wasn't as surprised by her betrayal as I would have expected. I know that she had a number of lovers before we met, but I'd always hoped that, as the old song says, I would be the last."
Jane could hardly look Gary in the eyes as she confessed, "I really can't relate to Linda's sexual needs or urges. I only had sex with two men before my husband β and none of them gave me the kind of pleasure that other women seem to get from sex.
"With my husband I really tried. But he came from a very old fashioned religious family. When I would buy a sheer bra to wear for him, he would insist that I immediately change back into one of the 'armored bras' β you know, thick white material covering everything up. If I wore a skirt that was above my knees, he wouldn't take me to see his parents because they would be scandalized! Can you imagine? There I am, a young, newly married woman, expected to dress like my Grandmother!" She laughed at the thought.
"To be honest, I suspect that my Grandmother had more satisfying sex than I did with my husband. She had eight children and she and Grandpa would go to bed early and lock the door behind them!"
Jane suddenly realized that now, when she looked in Gary's face with its enticing, appealing features and his engaging smile, she responded to his charming personality as never before with any other man. Then she felt his anger rising.
"I think that one of the things that makes me the most angry, is knowing just how much my wife seemed to enjoy fucking this Brendan guy. At least for the last five years I can't remember her ever being so vocal with me, or begging me to fuck her. God only knows, I must've been a terrible lover that she enjoys sex so much more with another man.
"I mean, I don't know how I can ever compete with someone as young as he is; plus I've been working my ass off with my business for the last five years. I know that β I'm in lousy shape physically. At least THAT I can do something about; join a gym and starting working out. My business is thriving so I'm in the process of finding two new employees. That should enable me to reduce my workload. But I can't take the years off. Of course, neither can she, but I admit that she has stayed in better condition than I have."
Jane was instantly determined to cure him of his insecurity as a lover.
"Gary, I doubt that you, being out of shape, caused your wife to go out and find a lover. That isn't really how most women think. I suspect that your wife is simply an idiot who has grasped the chance to spread her legs for a young, energetic lover without thinking about consequences. It is almost arrogant on her part; she is doing it because it has never occurred to her that she could get caught, and she thinks that she will get away with it! Gary, let me assure you you aren't badly out of shape. Gym work will correct the flaws quickly."
She was silent for a moment before she began to speak again.
"I'm no psychiatrist, but I'd be willing to bet that your wife is less excited by the sex act itself with this Brendan character than you think. It is the illicit nature of getting fucked by a young college guy that excites her. Just think of the thrill: she is doing something totally wrong β something really naughty and dangerous. But that kind of thrill can't last. After awhile sex with Brendan will become hum-ho too. And then what?"
They parted on that thought.