I Didn't See What He Was Doing

There are very few new things in the LW category, just reworks of similar themes. This is no different. There is nothing new here so please just enjoy the story. It is not real, it is fiction.

I was not sure which category to put this in, there is a wife who thinks about cheating, so that seems about the closest.

I needed Christine to feel extra good about herself. So I used the events in 'Wife Plans Impropriety'. You may recognise some characters from that story.

This is about poor communication. At least Julia and Alan had learned to talk to one another.

People are flawed, they make mistakes. If we were all perfect, there would be far fewer stories.

This is a story where the husband cannot make his wife listen to what he is saying. The threat is genuine if she carries on.

What does it take to make her listen?

I was in a quandary in this story, do I make it RAAC or BTB. It came down to whether I like the characters.

Christine and Stan.

James and Karen. Children.

Carol and Mark. Friends.

Debbie. Stan's former secretary.

Mandy. HR.

Derek and Suzie.

I didn't see it coming and I really should have!

Suitcase, Stan and divorce papers

I walked towards my car pulling my suitcase for my weekend away. My husband, Stan, was standing by my car holding the door open. He did not look happy, but he stood tall and proud, I had forgotten how good looking he was. In fact, he might have lost a bit of weight recently, why hadn't I noticed that before? Never mind, I'll find out more when I get back. I felt a pang of guilt with what I was planning to do. If he had smiled, I would have probably changed my mind. But I deserved this after all I had done for us. I got to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I reminded him I would be back Sunday morning at about eleven. It was Friday today.

He held his hand up the way he does, he was quite methodical, he was going to count things off on his fingers.

"Christine, you might need some more petrol depending on where you're going, you only have a third of a tank."

He never calls me Christine unless I've done something wrong!

And that was strange, he knew where the spa was that I was going to. It was 50 miles away, I had enough to get there, and back as well.

He started counting things off his fingers. "I've checked the oil, tyres, water, brake fluid. The condoms and the divorce paperwork are on the passenger seat if you go ahead with this."

What the fuck did he just say? I looked at him. He carried on. "I've not signed the divorce paperwork. The signed one is at the spa you told me you were going to for the weekend."

I dropped my suitcase and fell onto it. "Shit, shit, FUCK, FUCK." I started crying. This was going to be foolproof.

He didn't help me up. He always helped me, not this time. He put his finger under my chin and lifted it so I was looking at him straight in the eyes through my tears. "Well, that got your attention at last, that's the first time you have really listened to me in about three months, so I hope you're crying for the loss of your marriage, not your weekend away with Derek. I don't think he'll be there anyway, his wife has a copy of the photographs. They're in the divorce package, not that I need them. But I want your family and friends to know why I'm divorcing you."

That certainly got my attention, what the hell was he talking about. What photographs?

I was not planning on having sex with Derek. Oh I knew he would try, but I would stop it, wouldn't I?

Stan just walked back to our house. I scrambled across the car, on the passenger seat there was an envelope. I picked it up and underneath it were several condom packets. I ripped open the envelope and there were the photographs. Me and Derek were holding hands across a table, there were date and time stamps, it was lunchtime, I remembered it was Derek and me in a hotel restaurant. I don't remember holding hands. Then there was another one from when I went out last week with Carol, my best friend.

But who took these photos and how did Stan get them?

I had not mentioned that Derek was at the hotel when I went out with Carol.

Oh bugger. Should I warn Derek? No, if I was going to salvage my marriage, I would have no contact with him. That would be difficult, we worked together. I would have to sort that out Monday.

I sat there in the car looking at the divorce petition, it didn't say much, you don't need a reason these days. There was a post-it note stuck to the top sheet. "The condoms are so you don't catch anything. You don't know where Derek has been. His wife tells me you're not the first." I got out of the car and walked back indoors dragging my suitcase with me.

As I got to the front door Stan came out, he had his rugby club blazer and tie on.

"I'm going to the club, there's a committee meeting and there are some membership issues to sort out. I'll stop for a few pints to give you time to think. I'll be home in about two hours. You better have a damn good excuse for what you had planned to do, or not be here, and at the moment I don't care which." That comment hurt me. He walked towards the car and closed the door that I left open. And without looking at me he walked away, he still had a slight limp.

The Rugby Club.

Meanwhile, Derek had been summoned to a rugby club committee meeting, it was implied that he was receiving something. Derek turned up and made his way to the committee room. He thought he would just have time to fit this in before he drove to the spa hotel to meet Stan's wife. Just the two nights would be good, it should give him enough time, with a bit of help, to finish his seduction. But if he could have more of her after the weekend, that would be better. She was a fine looking woman, and his boss. He would have to be discreet. Stan was a big man and not stupid, that was part of the fun of it.

When he got to the club there was a single chair in front of the committee table. The Chairman, the General, as he liked to be known, well, because he was a retired General, indicated for Derek to sit down. All the committee members were already seated including Stan, Derek smiled inwardly to himself.

Then he thought to himself that this did not look like a presentation.

The General was sitting in the middle, Derek sat down, he started to feel uncomfortable. The General harrumphed and said. "Mr. Wilson you know, Mr Vincent, Mr Collins, Mr Wright and Mr Harris." He nodded, thinking to himself, that he would know Mrs Harris better tonight than he knew her husband if his plans worked out.

That was when Mr Harris's phone gave a text notification. He apologised and did something on his phone. The General harrumphed again and glared at Mr Harris. Looking at Derek he carried on. "Standards man! Standards, you must have standards, and they must be maintained. Standards of behaviour. You have not maintained the standards of behaviour that we expect from a member of this club. There have been several complaints about your inappropriate behaviour within the club. Mr. Jones and Mr Wilkes have both complained to you about how you touch their wives. Their wives have complained to them. This has been reported to the committee. You have persisted in these inappropriate actions despite being warned by Mr Jones and Mr Wilkes. Last Thursday you stroked the arm of Mrs Vincent. She felt it was inappropriate and slapped you if I remember correctly. You have not taken the warnings therefore we are rescinding your membership to the club."

Derek did not wait to be dismissed, he just stood up and left. At least he would probably get to shag one of the bloody committee's members' wives for the next two days if his plan worked and he would try extra hard now, he patted his pocket to make sure the tablets were still there. He smiled inwardly.

That was until he saw his wife standing by his car with a face like thunder. She had an envelope in her hand. Her Dad was standing beside her. Fuck! This could be painful.

Discovering some of what I had missed

I went indoors and dropped the suitcase at the foot of our stairs. I will have to empty that before Stan gets home. I didn't want him to see the lingerie I'd taken. It was my old favourite, comfortable, it made me feel good, not sexy. I had other lingerie for that. Blast, he can't see that either. I went into the kitchen and put the kettle on for coffee. Whilst the kettle boiled, I rushed upstairs and unpacked the suitcase. I put my old lingerie back where it belonged. That was when I saw the new crimson corset still at the back of my underwear drawer. That wasn't for Derek, Stan cannot see that corset. It was for his birthday next week, something to perk him up a bit, he'd been a bit down recently after losing his job. It was expensive. I could afford to splash out with my bonus. But I bet he would think it is for Derek if he saw it, it wasn't.

I couldn't risk hiding it. I took it downstairs and wrapped it in a black bin liner. It went to the dustbin, and I shoved it right to the bottom. That was a pity, I looked good in it. Stan would have appreciated that corset.

Wearing it made me feel good, I had fleetingly considered taking it with me this weekend. But then it would seem like I was giving Stan Derek's seconds, that would never happen.

What was I thinking?

Shit. Had I been thinking?

I stood there with the open rubbish bin lid in my hand. Then I realised the bins were not in their usual place. Stan must have moved them. Before Stan got made redundant it was my job to do the bins. In fact, when was the last time I did the bins? I couldn't remember, it must have been months ago. Why had he moved them? Looking round I could see they were better here than where I had them, easier to get out on bin day when they were full.

Bugger, what else had I missed?

Standing there with the bin lid in my hand I looked around. The grass was neat, the flower beds were weeded, the apple tree had been pruned. Bloody hell! There was a vegetable patch, we had been talking about one of those for years. And runner bean wigwams. I love runner beans. Growing our own veg would save money. Why had he not told me about it, or had he and I missed it? Shit!

Had I been so wrapped up with work, I hadn't been paying attention to Stan? We needed the money now he was not working.

I carried on looking around. There were paint marks on the patio, that was where we planned to put the conservatory, but it was larger than what we talked about. We had talked about one but could not afford it after Stan lost his job.

What else have I missed?

Then a thought struck me. I was going to borrow some five-inch heels from Carol.

Stan would have noticed my five-inch heels missing, and why would I need heels in a spa? I had planned to borrow a pair from Carol. I didn't tell her what I wanted them for, I just told her that they were more comfortable than mine, well, that was true. I told her I was going out; I didn't tell her the whole story. I was due to call round and collect them. Bugger, I had better let her know. I sent her a text. 'This weekend is off. Will explain later.' I've got an almost instant reply. 'I know.' How did she know? I'd only just found out.

Carol phoned me straight away. "Mark thinks I'm helping you have an affair, that's putting my marriage in doubt. If I am helping you cheat, I would cheat as well. He thinks I might be cheating. You've dropped me right in the fucking crap. Don't ever speak to me again!" With that she hung up.

Shit.

She had met Derek. She probably put two and two together and came up with five. We were out having a drink in a local hotel last week. I was going on about how well I was doing and how Stan still had not got a job. Derek just turned up, there was nothing planned. It was just a night out with my best friend. She wasn't happy about Derek being there. That must have been where Stan got the picture of the three of us at a table, and the one of me and Derek dancing together, his hands touching places only a husband should touch a married woman. I had removed them seconds later and told him not to do it again. Later Derek told me he tracked my work phone. I always have it with me in case I get a call.

Whilst Derek was getting the drinks, I remember Carol said to me. "You're not having an affair with him are you? That would be stupid."

"No of course not!"

"He is trying to get into your knickers and in your state of mind, you might let him. You think you owe it to yourself for all you have done with your job and everything. Don't be so stupid."

"No, don't be silly." But I think the smile on my face may have given it away that I was thinking about it. I deserved it, just one night, well, maybe two I told myself. It was a fantasy. I would not really do it. I had too much to lose.

"I know you; you're thinking about it, I can read you like a book. Don't do it! Don't do it to yourself or to Stan. I will not help you with this. I will not cover for you and if Stan asks me a question, I will not lie for you." With that she got up and walked off to the toilet.

I remember sitting there thinking whilst Carol was in the toilet and Derek getting the drinks. Derek and I weren't lovers, I was aware that was his plan. But I would resist. Show my strength. But I wanted a rest, a weekend of relaxation and pampering and not to worry about anything. Derek was good company and good looking. I admit I was tempted. But I had too much to lose. I felt I needed to reward myself with a fantasy.

Carol got back before Derek, and I let her know that I had told him off for fondling my backside and told him not to do it again.

But she was correct, I did feel like I deserved it, but it was so wrong, and If I got caught it would ruin everything. No, it was not going to happen. I remembered as Carol drove home, I decided there and then. I would lose my family, my house that I loved and the man that meant so much to all of us. No matter what Derek tried it was not going to happen. But it all turned to rat shit.

I remembered when I got home after that evening out with Carol, I made it up to Stan, even though I had done nothing wrong, I rocked his world that night, he asked what got into me. I just told him I was randy, and I love him.

I bet after he saw those photos he thought it was guilty sex.

Carol knew nothing about my plans and spa trip, she was completely innocent. I would have to sort that out but first I need to sort out my own marriage.

Fuck, this is a shitstorm.

What have I done?

Whilst I was in the garden I went into the garage and there was our Triumph Stag, the bonnet was closed, and the cylinder heads were not on the bench. And the benches were tidy.

We had planned a week away in Scotland driving the Stag. but I had cancelled it as I had too much work, anyway it wasn't finished. The cylinder heads were off waiting for head gaskets. If they were not on the bench, there was only one place they could be. I lifted the bonnet.

Shit, could this get any worse? I went back into the kitchen and had a think.

The kettle had boiled but I didn't bother with that, I went straight to the wine. I don't think I tasted the first glass. Time for some self-reflection. If I could work out what I had done, I might be able to save my marriage. Fuck, my plan for going away was so simple.

If I had missed those things in the garden and the Stag what else had I missed?

How did I get here sitting in my kitchen with a Divorce Petition in front of me?

What led to this point in time.

Over five months ago or so Stan got made redundant, he was a senior production engineering manager in an engineering firm in Swindon. He worked his way up from the shop floor learning almost every aspect of the business. He'd been there over thirty years. He started as an apprentice tool fitter straight from school. The redundancy payment was quite good and used properly it would tide us over till he found a new job. We would have to cut back on stuff and not help our youngest, James, who was still at uni. And there was our daughter Karen's upcoming wedding next year. It is only a small affair, but it will still cost money. It was paying the mortgage that bothered me. I was worried about our house. We love this place, it would kill me to lose it. We would be alright. But things would be a bit tight financially for a while.

Stan's former company had acquired some new machines that did not need as many operatives and were more reliable. So, they had reduced the workforce. Stan was miffed at the company, but he saw the sense. He did predict problems with the older machinery that was still being used.

I worked for an insurance firm, also in Swindon, as a claim adjuster and estimate assessor. I decided to bolster our income a bit by taking on extra projects. As Bill, the other assessor, was retiring the company had recruited Derek. My company did not like the same person doing both jobs on the same policy. It was like marking your own homework. So, I took on a training role for Derek. He had experience in insurance, but not as an assessor. I managed to get a pay raise for training Derek, as training was not in my original contract.

Derek was not like my Stan. Stan was big, not tall, five foot nine ish, but solid in manner, bearing and attitude, upright, smart, rugged and utterly reliable. He could be very firm and very gentle, whatever he thought I wanted or needed, especially in the bedroom. I loved all those qualities in him.

Derek was the opposite, taller than Stan, definitely handsome and well built, but a bit effeminate. Some people in the office thought he was gay, until he showed us pictures of his lovely wife and two adorable looking children. That did not convince some people. He seemed a little soft.

He was married to Susie, and the children were five and seven, Derek was about ten years younger than me.

I was 43, Stan was a couple of years older and would be 45 next week. We both worked in Swindon and lived in Marlborough.

But the Stan I saw walk out to the rugby club didn't look that old. He went downhill a bit for the first few weeks after being made redundant, he just moped around the house looking scruffy until I had a go at him. Then he seemed to pick himself up. But by then I was up to my eyeballs in training Derek and visiting sites for assessments. I must admit to feeling tired, our social life dropped off and so did the lovemaking side.

I think I had subconsciously blamed Stan for not taking more care of me. Sitting there alone with a glass of wine I thought back, this was probably the first time in a couple of months or so that I had had time to sit down and think for myself, and not be dragged along by work. Getting the training programme in place for Derek, set him goals and standards and then double check his work as well as my normal job.

Derek was quite good at the difficult stuff but made simple mistakes on the easy stuff, he easily gets complacent.

Then it came to me. I think I've been putting Stan down in my mind because he had not got another job straight away. I thought I would have to work harder to cover the shortfall. Stan didn't seem to bother. I had noticed a few things changed around the house, dinner had always been waiting for me when I got in whatever time it was. All the washing was done, the house was always tidy, that would save me doing it on the weekend. That was the least he could do as he had nothing else to do all day, apart from maybe applying for a few jobs. I had seen little of that. That should have given us more time to be together on the weekends. But then I had used that time for writing up assessments and checking what Derek had done. Sometimes this meant an extra site visit so I could just get a feeling for a place. I remember Stan moaning about how I was always at work, and I shouted back at him, "Well at least one of us has a job." He stormed out.