I am playing with the idea of adding a chapter 2 to this story, to lay out where their lives go from here, but I haven't convinced myself that it's needed. That is the reason I didn't put in an epilogue, or go too deeply into Linda's reasons for cheating and all the other word blither that I have a tendency to write. So, for now, lets just leave it at this and I hope you find it interesting or satisfying, or at the least, not a waste of your time. If not, go ahead and lay waste to me in the comments, with at least an attempt to give me something helpful and constructive as I try and improve my writing and storytelling skills.
*****************************************************************
A betrayed husband ends his 23-year marriage
I was awakened early by the morning light and the singing of Mountain Bluebirds. I could hear the scamper of what was likely chipmunks, running around the campsite trying to clean up any left-over crumbs from my previous nights freeze-dried backpacking meal. The piece and joy I felt being out backpacking after so many years quickly dissolved as the reality of what my day would bring came over me.
The air was crisp and cool up here at 6,000 feet and as I exited the tent I was engrossed by the beauty of the alpine lake, ringed by snow-topped mountains at my camping site. I wanted to stay longer, wished I could throw out my fishing line with a spinner or a fly attached, but I knew that today was the day I had dreaded for the last month; the confrontation that I needed to face quickly and with finality so I could begin again.
I made some semblance of an egg/sausage breakfast over the propane stove along with some thick black coffee. As I sat and finished my fuel for the six-mile hike out, I marveled at how beautiful and peaceful this moment in time was. I reminded myself that yes, there can be beauty and enjoyment of life on the other side if you just keep moving forward with the right attitude. I knew I would certainly be getting back into camping, hiking, fishing, and sailing; just some of the hobbies I had let slide over my 23-year marriage to the love of my life. Well, make that the person I once thought with all my heart was the love of my life. Now I hoped there would at some point be another.
The hike down was pleasant and uneventful, and I came across no one on the trail or parked at the trailhead as I packed up my car with my gear and started to drive out to the main highway. I turned my phone back on, after being off-grid for the last three days and knew that when I got into range of a cell tower the texts, voicemails, and e-mails would begin.
As I pulled out onto the two-lane paved county road, I got the first beep of a text, and looking down saw it was from my 21-year-old son Ryan. Ryan and I were not only father/son, but we were now actually the best of friends and confidents, having passed through the trials and tribulations of his wild teenage years and come out the other end respecting and loving each other greatly.
Ryan's text was short and to the point, "Dad, I love you and support you. Good luck today and stay positive. Somewhere, sometime there will be a light at the end of this tunnel!" His pledge of support brought a tear to my eye and helped me justify what I had to do.
The next text message that I opened was from my daughter Krista, and it too was a promise of backing and love. "Dad, I wish I could be with you and hug you and tell you it will all be okay. You have been the best father we could have ever imagined, and always put us first. Now you need to put yourself first, whatever that may be, and know that Ryan and I love you and will always be there for you!"
Krista had always been a Daddy's girl, and although she was the spitting image of my beautiful wife Linda in her younger days, Krista had my quest for adventure, love of the outdoors, and a crazy sense of humor, none of which Linda had as attributes. At least I had been blessed in my 23 years with children that I loved, respected, and would be the best legacy I would ever leave behind at the end of what I hoped would once again be a happy and fulfilling life.
I pulled into a rest stop to give my texts, e-mails, voicemails, and missed calls a thorough review. There were ten missed calls from my wife over the last three days, the first seven or so likely from her three-day banking seminar and supposed business trip, to Vegas, and the last three appeared to be from her return yesterday evening and then again, this morning. I could imagine how pissed she was when I wasn't at the airport to pick her up and when I didn't return any of her calls or texts. I didn't bother with the voicemails; I deleted them all and moved on to the balance of my incoming messages.
Sure enough, Linda had texted me about twenty times over the course of the last three days, and again, I had not returned a single one. I skimmed through them, with the first few being her pronouncement of her never-ending love for me (what a crock of shit, I thought, probably done out of guilt) and the last several being venomous; dripping with indignation at me for not responding to her, not picking up her calls, and leaving her waiting at the airport for over an hour before she finally figured I wasn't coming. The last text from her was simply a "WTF JACK", all in capital letters.
How our relationship had changed in the last month, although from her standpoint I don't think she even realized how the spark of love in me that had burned eternally for her was ever so slowly being extinguished. I really couldn't understand this, had she grown that far apart from me over her last treacherous four months? Had she really lost all conscious thought about me, my feelings, and the pain in my eyes that I was amazed she couldn't see? Had she that easily forgotten about her kids, our family, and the loving life we had shared for so long? That was perhaps more depressing than her affair.
Linda was still beautiful at the age of 44, and had incredible curves, shapely legs, pert and firm breasts, and knew how to work her body for whatever the occasion was, be it flirting at a social event, or playing the role of the rising star banking professional in the trust department of U.S. Commerce bank.
I had always been proud to be seen with her and I enjoyed the way men would stare at her as we walked by, barely able to contain their lust and take their eyes off of her. Knowing that she was mine and her and I were entwined forever gave me a huge rush of self-esteem and ego, as we passed the onlookers lustful gawks. I told her how beautiful and desirable she was, but she would always counter that she was getting old and she just didn't feel as young, vibrant and sexy as she once was. I could tell this bothered her, and I would try to assure her that her light was getting brighter, not dimmer, but she would just disregard my compliments by saying, "you just have to say that cause you are my husband and you love me." Perhaps the why for all of her lies and deceit was buried in those feelings of fleeting and lost youth, but I was pretty sure I would never know. Maybe she wouldn't either.
Whatever the reason, her younger boss, John Monroe, had somehow become the new light of her life, at least in a sexual way, if not in a boring but dependable best friend way, which I was now evidently relegated to. Although to me, we had even passed beyond being friends, but again Linda never noticed it.
John Monroe, was wealthy, as the Vice-President of the trust division, and he was lean, tall, and so self-confident that I found him obnoxious the few times I met him; but Linda thought he was the epitome of a great leader. At least that was what she used to say when we used to discuss her work life and him; but that abruptly stopped four months ago also. Looking back, I now assumed that was the start of her affair. The beginning of the end of 23 years together.
