I woke and was up by 7.30, my head throbbed some but I was otherwise OK. The shocking events of the weekend had left their mark on me, I was exhausted but felt wired at the same time, was kinda weird really. Patty made a hearty breakfast which I wolfed down.
"Today is the day then Rick?"
"Maybe, I will check out my place but I expect her to show up at some point, I can't avoid her forever can I? But it won't be until she comes clean with her parents first, and she will tell them believe me, or I will with nothing held back."
"Are you sure this is what you want Rick? I mean is there no way back? Whatever you want to do you know Alfie and me are behind you all the way but please think about it before you go so far that there is no turning back."
"Patty I have had time to think about what she has been doing, my PI has sent me photos and I am waiting for video evidence this morning. I know what she has done, I don't know why though. That's the thing what is it I have done to cause this?" I felt my emotions getting out of control again and my eyes were misting up as the ache in my chest built thinking of her with those bastards. "I made a plan to screw up their weekend, I know it was childish but better than ending up in jail for murder, although I still feel like doing them all in."
Patty hugged me tightly, I needed that so much right then too, I was on the edge. I needed to stay calm and strong, but today was going to be difficult. I wanted nothing more than to strangle the bitch and chop up her lovers into small pieces and feed them to the pigs. I was angry, yes maybe today was to be the day.
I turned my phone on and sat in Alfie's home office as I hooked up my laptop to the wifi. I heard Alfie chatting to Patty as I opened my mail account. Alfie put his head round the door, "You OK Rick?" He looked over my shoulder and saw what I was doing. "You sure you want to see what's in there mate?"
I nodded to him grimly as I opened the message. The PI's message gave a brief report and indicated a more detailed report was attached along with a zip file with photos and video. I started to sob as my heart pounded, Alfie's hand was on my shoulder as I clicked on the photos, the screen filled with a slide show that started with Helen and George outside the hotel then with Brian and his wife in the bar. They all seemed very comfortable until there was a change of partners, hugging and kissing as they danced. This group were very comfortable with each other obviously. The pictures proceeded until there were shots from inside one of the rooms. I felt queasy, my stomach churned as I watched as the photos progressed my marriage towards divorce. I heard a gasp behind me, Patty had followed Alfie into the small room, I turned her hand was over her mouth and tears flowing freely down her face, she looked at me. In seconds we were all sharing tears and a group hug as I sobbed at the end of my marriage. Alfie turned the slide show off.
"I am so sorry Rick, so, so sorry. What the fuck is she thinking? And with those two fuckers!"
I could not answer him as I gasped for breath and tried to regain some control. My heart felt like a huge lump of stone in my chest now, I felt dizzy, I couldn't move, frozen in my heartbreak.
"This settles it as far as I am concerned, I am not having that bitch back, no fucking way! I am going to ruin her fucking life as far as I can."
My friends saw my sadness morph into a white hot anger and they feared for me, so did I but I didn't give a shit for the consequences now. My phone's ring tone broke the moment, its loud cheerful tone signifying it was Helen, I didn't hesitate, I grabbed it and pressed answer.
"Yes?" I said brusquely.
"Oh thank God Rick are you OK? I got back last night and someone has trashed my car, so I got a cab home but then the lock on the front door seemed to have jammed. I couldn't get indoors and I tried ringing you but didn't get through! Are you still fishing or something? What is happening?"
"Yes, something has happened." I answered without emotion.
"Rick, come on, what's going on? Are you home now or on your way? I need to get in and change or I will have to call work and take a day off."
"Yes Helen, you might want to do that, I won't be home till later, I haven't decided yet." I let the words hang in the air, she was silent for a few seconds.
"Rick, is there something wrong? You seem a little strange is all."
"I am going to be fine, it has been a stressful weekend that's why I spent some time with Alfie and Patty. I needed to think something through."
"Think what through lover? What time will you be home? I can't even get in the front door."
"My future."
"Your future? Why discuss it with them? shouldn't you be doing that with your wife?" Helen's voice rising as she was starting to get a little frustrated with my cryptic comments. I think she was also beginning to sense something was very wrong, after all that had happened in the past day or so, she was slowly starting to join the dots together.