Husband: Can I ask you something without it turning into a big fight?
Wife: I can't promise that. Given how things have gone in the past.
Have you been seeing him again? I keep seeing his cable van pull away from our neighborhood when I'm coming home from work. And I've noticed you freshly showered a lot when I get home. Like in the days when you were doing the whole thing with him. It's okay if you are. Don't get so tense. Just tell me honestly. Talk to me. No, please don't clam up like that.
Should I have my lawyer present? Will you bring this up in a custody hearing?
I'm just looking for honesty and clarity. We have built a life together. I think it entitles me to some answers. The truth. I'm not thinking divorce. Yet. But I do need honesty. You owe me that after all these years. I will try not to get angry, I promise.
That's what you said last time. But then you had a meltdown over the whole truth. And started calling me a whore. Just because I slept with other men, you think I don't feel hurt being called a whore?
You can't blame me for being upset over deception and infidelity. You can't deny my sense of betrayal.
I suppose not.
Can you just answer the question? Have you been seeing him again?
...
That's an answer I guess. How long?
Three months on and off. I didn't go seeking him. I swear. You won't believe me I know. I was very good for almost two years. I would see him working in the neighborhood but never even smiled at him after the first affair. He also generally kept his distance.
So what happened? He came sniffing around for an easy lay?
No, that's what I'm saying. It was a coincidence. Happenstance. I was in the bus back from Charlotte. As was he. With a couple of family members. That's what we had first started chatting over. The bus was mostly empty. He avoided me for an hour. But then came over after his cousins fell asleep. We started talking.
Talking or fucking?
Just talking. All that ride, we just talked without any attempt at hanky panky. He apologized for going overboard, especially about how many people he brought in to fuck me without any vetting and the videos floating around. The videos ended his marriage by the way. His wife found out, filed for divorce, got custody. He was feeling chastised. Regretful.
What a saint! I'm touched?l!
I understand your bitterness. But he really was just talking honestly. Talked about his kids. The new business he was starting on the side. Small updates about some of... the others.
The other men who fucked you day in and day out?
Please, honey! You want me to clam up?
Sorry. Go on.
He asked me before getting off the bus if I wanted to join him for a drink. I was tempted. But that idea gave me anxiety. Plus you and the kids were waiting at home. I said no, but next time he was in the area for a service call, send me a text and maybe stop by for coffee.
Coffee? To do what? Sudoku? You invited him over hoping that it would lead to something, didn't you? Why else would you tell him to text first except to make sure I or the kids weren't around?
Yes, I admit it. Yes, I broke our deal.
How did you break our deal? Say it explicitly.
Our deal was that if I start feeling my urges again, I should honestly tell you and we would explore things together. No hiding. No lying. I broke the deal. I took the easy way out of sneaking around. Again. Hiding and lying again. I'm sorry.
Good. As long as we are clear. So you invited him over and?
I invited him around hoping something would happen. And it took a little time, but it did happen. He kept his distance and stayed respectful as I made the coffee and we had it. Conversation was still about family and other benign stuff. For about an hour, like a respectable housewife and service provider. But the tension was obvious.
Who made the first move?
Please don't take my kids away from me.