This story is complete fiction. I don't own a lake house and any fictitious sex, between fictitious characters takes place between consenting adults.
"Do you know the difference between a tornado and a divorce in the South? Nothing. Either way, someone is losing a trailer!" Robin Williams
I studied forensic science and have a PhD in molecular biology. Early in my career I did lab work for the FBI and then spent a couple years as a pathologist for a large hospital. However, I grew tired working for, "the man" so upon turning forty, I opened my own shop specializing in DNA analysis.
RHT Labs (Robert Henry Thomas, my full name) provides court admissible DNA testing for government agencies, businesses, attorneys, and private citizens. My love for science came from my mom and my head for business from pops. I'm not insanely wealthy, but I've opened three labs in a large midwestern city and am doing well.
My wife Melissa, (Liz for short) was my college sweetheart. We met the middle of our sophomore year and within a few weeks were exclusive. She studied biology and secondary education. We married six months after graduation during the break at the end of my first semester of grad school. She taught at the local high school. We were madly in love, dining on more than our fair share of Ramen Noodles, and off to a great start.
Four years into our marriage Tracie Lynn came along. Two years later, she was joined by RHT2 or Hank as we called him. Liz enjoyed being a mom but also kept her hand in teaching as a sub for our school district. Eventually, she went back to the classroom full-time when Tracie was in third grade and Hank was in first.
The kids were 12 and 10 when I went private. It was tough for the first year or so. Long hours and going through staff until I found the right combination of people who enjoyed hard work, along with good pay / benefits. They learned quickly they worked for an owner who was tougher on himself than anyone else.
Now at 47, marriage, kids, work and our lake cottage take up most of my world. We bought our place at the lake about ten years ago. It was pretty run down, so we got it for a bargain and didn't mind working together fixing it up. When school let out for the summer Liz and the kids spent 85% of their time there. I cut my work week down to four days June, July and August, so I can enjoy long weekends with our loving crew.
Over the years our marriage has had its ups and downs. Mostly ups but, like any other couple we fight from time to time. We can both be stubborn, but we rarely stay angry at each other more than a couple of hours. Neither of us like being out of sorts with the other, so we're quick to admit where we've been wrong and make amends. No marriage is perfect, but I wouldn't trade mine for the world. Until recently...
Tracie was in her second year at college which meant Hank would also be headed off to school in the fall. All of us were looking forward to the summer lake house because it was clear that our time with just the four of us would not last much longer. Tracie had a boyfriend and while neither Liz nor I thought he was the one, we knew it probably wouldn't be more than a few years before she'd bring that special one home for us to meet. We would welcome an expanding family when it happened, but we were also relishing the time we still had with our small, tightknit crew.
It was late spring, and Liz had spent the last two weekends at the lake getting the house ready to open. This had been her ritual for as long as we'd owned the place. She'd have time to herself which meant attention getting the cottage just as she liked it while still having a couple evenings to sit, read, and sip some wine without interruption from her husband or kids. The three of us at home came up with our own traditions which included an early season baseball game in St. Louis or Chicago.
Each of the last Sunday evenings when Liz returned from what she called, "prep and scrub" weekends she seemed a bit off. Nothing I could put my finger on, but my wife was defiantly out of sorts. On the second Sunday when she returned in the same frame of mind, I asked her if she was OK. She snapped at me, something she rarely does and left the room in a huff. "WTF?" I thought and gave her a wide berth for the next couple of hours.
Before we climbed into bed for the night she apologized for her behavior. "I'm sorry Henry, I shouldn't have been harsh with you earlier, please forgive my rude behavior."
"Of course, Liz," I responded, "I'm sorry if I did something to irritate you, I was just concerned you didn't quite seem yourself."
"I'm good Henry" she replied without looking at me, "I guess I'm just a little worn out from all the work at the lake."
"OK sweetness, how about a back scratch?"
"That would be perfect," she purred. Liz LOVES to have her back scratched.
After a few minutes of very platonic grazing her back, my hands began to wander. We're still very physically intimate and active. Sometimes the kids will come down to breakfast and catch us grinning from ear to ear holding hands. Most often it is Tracie that tells us "TMI" or "Please get a room and spare us!" Hank just turns a bit red and giggles.
Usually, when she comes home from being at the lake, she's in the mood. Tonight, when I began to initiate, she didn't even roll over, she just sighed deeply and said, "Thanks for the scratch, babe, but not tonight OK?" I wasn't shocked, I'd been turned down on any number of times, just like any normal husband. But, with our recent schedule, it had been over a week and that did surprise me. Sadly, it would be only too soon I'd learn what was up.
If you live in the Midwest, you live with threat of tornados. Much like earthquakes in California, or hurricanes on the East coast, folks in our part of the country are well aware of twisters and what they can do. In the spring it's never a question of if, it is always a question of when and where. This year it was our turn.
A class three tornado has winds up to 165 mph, class fives can hit velocities of over 200 mph.
It was Monday night after Liz returned from her second clean up trip that a class three hit a half mile from our place. I immediately called our next-door lake neighbors Eric and Bev Parson. Their place was about 100 yards down from us. They were retired and lived at the lake year-round. Eric answered on the second ring.
"Henry, it was a hell of a storm that just came through here."
"You and Bev OK Eric? Anything I can do for you?"
"We're good Henry, thanks for asking. No real damage to anything right around us. I took a quick look at your place and there are a couple of broken windows and lots of branches and shit blown all around the property, but nothing significant. The rain has passed by, so I'll board up your windows in the morning. No need for you to rush down here tonight."
"Thanks Eric, I'm relieved ya'll are OK. I'll be down first thing in the morning. I'll bring a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts for you as a token of my appreciation!"
"Save your money Henry. Bev will just find the damn things and make me throw them out. She can sniff out food she deems unhealthy a mile away. Drives me crazy sometimes!"
"Well maybe I'll just bring a couple and keep em over at my place. I can call when I arrive with a need for a helping hand."
"Well, that might just work Henry, good night, see you in the morning."
I let the office know I wouldn't be in for a couple days. Truth was, they probably got more done without me there. My assistant Shelby told me she wasn't sure how they'd get by without me, but they'd try. Liz offered to take off and help me, but once I explained we'd been spared most of the serious damage, she decided to stay home and work. We were also aware leaving an 18-year-old high school senior alone for a couple of days would be an accident looking for a place to happen.
I headed to the lake and spent the next couple of days picking up and arranging for three new windows to be installed. Eric came over and helped me with a few things and I did the same for him. If there was any consumption of Krispy Kreme's, my lips are sealed.
It was Wednesday afternoon, and all the major pick up / clean-up was complete. Liz had put the trash can out by the mailbox before leaving on Sunday since pick up at the lake was Tuesday. Due to the storm all its contents were still strewn around the yard. The trash bin was blown down the street. Once I rolled it back, I began my final task of refilling it with what had blown all over the lawn.
I was almost done when I spied what looked like a Ziplock bag on the far side of our yard. Upon closer inspection it was indeed a clear plastic bag. Nothing odd about that, but its contents seemed to be discarded clothing. I held it up and saw what appeared to be one of Liz's bathing suits, a blouse, and a pair of panties. When I opened it, my nostrils were assaulted with a combination of odors. Human sweat, and other bodily secretions had been closed tightly for at least three days. Remember, I'm in the DNA business. I recognized the scent was familiar to the aroma in our labs. I held the blouse up. Four of the six buttons were missing. Both the bathing suit and panties looked to have dried semen on them. I could feel my lunch pushing its way back up my throat as I fought to keep it down. I lost.
How could this be? Liz and I had not been together at the lake since Thanksgiving weekend and as I recalled it was a big family weekend, so sex wasn't on the menu. I knew enough to know the contents hadn't been in the bag more than a few days. Almost twenty-five years of marriage built on love and commitment was suddenly shaken at its foundation.
I carried my newfound items to our deck, sat down and forced myself to think. Clearly, Lis would have known I'd not be down at the lake before Tuesday morning when the trash collection came by. There was no need to hide anything since it would be gone long before my first visit of the spring.
But who? Our house was far enough away from Parson's that you could come and go without being detected. I also recalled how I felt Liz was off when she returned from both weekends. Was that because she was coming home after being with... him?
How long had she been unfaithful? Was it someone who lived here, or did they just meet here? Someone with whom she worked? A neighbor? Was he clean? Could I have STD's? My head was spinning, and I was having trouble breathing. I fought for composure, but it was tough. I was in no shape to go home.
After an hour I had an immediate solution. I called Liz to tell her there was more to do here and I'd already had a few beers. It would be better if I stayed put for the night and headed back to town early in the morning. The lake house was only an hour away so I could be up at six and be in the office by my normal 8 AM.
"I'm glad there isn't too much damage," Liz said when I'd informed her of my plan. "I just wish you were coming home tonight. I wanted to make up for my lack of enthusiasm on Sunday."
