[This story is about what one man does when he finds out his wife is cheating.]
*
I read many stories about spouses cheating. Usually the stories had me think about answering the question: Would I react the way the characters in the stories react. The only thing I was sure of was that I couldn't see myself forgiving my wife. Probably divorce would be a default result reaction. As I read I could usually feel my emotional reaction wanting me to want to physically hurt my wife and the man who screwed her. At the same moment I knew I'd find it very hard to hurt someone. Then while I was away in Salt Lake City I got a call from my lawyer. The thoughts about infidelity were no longer fiction, no longer "what if".
Donna had been seen entering the Red Lobster the evening after I left for Salt Lake. She was with my business partner and best friend Frank. They were seen by my personal lawyer, Paula Whitestone. To Paula they seemed more than friendly during their dinner. Taking her job as my lawyer seriously she had them followed.
The tail discovered they arrived at the Red Lobster together in Frank's BMW and when they left he drove Donna home. What wasn't Ok was that the next morning the BMW was still parked in our driveway.
Paula had her guy dig a little deeper and after Donna and Frank left for the day he installed a video camera and transmitter. He did it from outside the house. While he was at it he installed another camera looking into Frank's bedroom.
Two days later he had video showing Donna having sex with Frank at Frank's place and in our bed at home. She also entertained three of our other friends in our bedroom. All the photographic evidence was given to Paula and she called me.
I booked the next available flight home. Poor timing. As she called me Los Angeles was at the beginning of a rain storm and many flights into LAX were not flying. I sat in the airport for six hours ready to explode. It was bright and clear outside. On the schedule board it said, "Los Angeles... Flt 1088 Dep 12:15pm DELAYED".
After six hours I walked to a car rental desk and rented a car. The delay was scheduled to last another twelve hours, then the flight would take three hours. I was pretty sure I could get to Los Angeles before anyone waiting for the flight. I needed to be doing something. Sitting in an airport having been told my partner and three other men were fucking my wife wasn't possible. I got papers to a rental car and walked back to the flight gate.
I loudly said, "I have rented a car and I'm driving to Los Angeles. If you'd rather sit here, praying for the estimate of twelve hours before a flight to be accurate, then you're fine. If you'd rather drive to L.A. starting now, you're welcome to go with me. See me now, if you're interested."
Some people spoke to the person sitting next to them. Some looked at me like I was nuts. I waited two minutes, didn't see anyone moving towards me, picked up my carry-on bag and headed away from the gate.
I made my announcement at gate 53. The exit to the parking was after gate 50. As I got to the elevator I heard a voice say, "Wait, please." The voice was female. I stopped and looked behind me. I saw a woman about fifty years old, gray hair in a pony tail, wearing all gray pants and shirt. She was pulling a suitcase towards me. Draped on the suitcase was a gray raincoat. She was good looking.
When she caught up with me she said, "You're driving to L.A.?"
"Yup. Sitting here for a day isn't my idea of a good thing. I'd rather drive the twelve hours. You want a ride?"
"Yes. I would have said so back at the gate but I was in the restroom. When I got back a lady told me what you said. I'd like to go, however, I need to see your driver's license before we go."
I got my wallet out of my back pocket and handed her my license. She opened her cell phone and read my information to whoever she called. She explained we were driving a rental to L.A. Thirty seconds later she gave me back my license and she hung up the phone. We walked to the shuttle to the rental car pick up and got aboard.
At the parking lot I showed someone my paperwork and he said we could have any car in the second row. I said, "Pick the car you like." She picked a silver Buick. I put our carry-on bags in the back seat and we got in.
She stayed quiet until we were on I-15 headed south. She asked, "Ok to talk now?"
I looked over and said, "Sure. Thanks for letting me get out of the city and on the interstate."
"I'm Megan. Megan Thorne."
"Nice name. My oldest daughter was named Megan. I like it. Is it Miss, Misses or MS Thorne?"
"I was married, he died eighteen months ago. You married?"
"That's a really good question. When we get to L.A. I'll have to decide."
Megan stayed quiet for about twenty miles. I said, "I didn't mean to end the conversation. Maybe talking about what's going on would help me work out what I'm facing."
"Ok. How long have you been married?"
"Ten years, one month and two days."
"Kids?"
"We had two, Megan and Matthew. Megan would be nine and Matthew would be eight. Both died two years ago in a car wreak with my wife's parents coming home from Sea World in San Diego."
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too." Keeping my eyes on the road ahead helped me not hurt as badly.
"Is that the source of the trouble between you and your wife?" She asked.
"I'm sure it's part of it. I think the real problem is promises. When we got married we made promises to each other in front of our friends and family. Now, I believe she's breaking her promises."
"You think she's having an affair?"
"Yes. Affair is such a gentle way of saying it. I think she's sharing her body with at least one other person she isn't married to. My lawyer says it's four men."
"When we get to L.A. you'll confront her?"
"One way or another. I have to know."
We were quiet for a while then she asked, "Have you thought about what she'll say, what you'll say?"
"Yesterday I figured to just ask her, "Donna, are you having an affair?" But that reminded my of when I was a kid, an only child, and something got broken. My Mom asked me if I broke it. If she didn't break it, I had to have broken it. She asked so I could lie. My lawyer hired an investigator and instead of asking her if she'd been screwing I'll just show her the pictures and ask her what she plans to do next."
"Why are you asking her what her plan is?" Megan asked.
"You mean instead of telling her what my plan is? Because I'm not sure what my plan is."