Life continued on. Bev was on pins and needles waiting to see what retribution Chuck would demand. She had already signed the agreement letting him act like a single man so she couldn't even comment if he found some strange pussy to keep him satisfied. She could watch to see if he was stepping out. So, she would pick up the boys at their school every day and then go to his office and wait until Chuck left and then follow him. She told the boys that it was a game that they were playing. It helped keep them in line while waiting. Chuck made it easier as he had turned in his rental car on Monday morning and was again driving his venerable old sedan with the strange bumper stickers.
Chuck would leave the building at 5:30 and go immediately to his car. He didn't ever seem to hang around and converse with any of his co-workers. Bev was relieved that it seemed he was not setting his sights on any women in his office even though there were many good looking single women there.
He would drive straight to his apartment building and then enter without dallying about with anyone entering or exiting the building. Some twenty minutes later he would return to the entrance dressed in casual clothes and then go for a walk around the neighborhood. His route varied. Bev would try and guess which direction he would go and park ahead of him. She hoped he would see her and the boys and maybe they could engage in a conversation while he enjoyed his sons on a different day than Wednesday and every other weekend.
She was frustrated, though, because he always seemed to start one direction and then turn and go another direction. By the time she could get around the block to get ahead of him he would disappear only to reappear about an hour later. He would look worn out and sweaty from his walk. He would then enter his building and not be seen again. Bev would drive home with the boys upset about being so near their dad and not able to be with him.
Tuesday was different. Bev parked near the company parking lot after picking up the boys but couldn't see Chuck's car. She waited and waited but didn't see him come out of the building. She noticed a bald guy walking briskly down the street but didn't give any thought about it until Jeff said that the bald man looked like his daddy. Bev was surprised to see that it was true. Chuck had shaved his head and had a day's growth on his face. This was entirely new as Chuck had never expressed an interest in growing a beard and had lamented on his premature hair loss.