I would like to thank my proofreader MrsIntJ and for the beta-reads from 26thNC and Danoctober. They worked hard to improve the quality of this story.
This is a three-part story. Each part will be submitted within a week of the other.
I hope you enjoy it. As always, comments are welcome.
**-**
I'm sure this was, for most, a typical suburban evening in my neighborhood. It was early fall, with that temperate weather between summer and winter that is so enjoyable. I had cooked Chris's favorite meal, and we were just about finished eating.
Our home was four houses down on the right of Sunrise and Perch Streets. Most would consider it a modest home. Nothing fancy, but it was big enough to raise kids even when they became teens and needed their 'space'.
Earlier in our marriage, when we had only been married a year, we both had stable jobs. After some long discussions about the risks of committing to a house payment, we decided we wanted to buy. It was one of the best decisions of our young lives. Owning a home made our decision to have kids much easier. We had found a new subdivision under construction on the edge of town and picked a home from the models. They would build it to spec. Ours would be just like the model, except for the few customizations they allowed.
Chris and I were overjoyed with our new home. We knew, on the outside, it would be just like many others in the neighborhood but, with our choices of countertops and carpet, it seemed like it was uniquely ours. Many weekends in those early years were spent customizing the landscaping. Now, thirteen years later, we were a typical family of four, Chris and I, and our two kids, Josh and Josie.
We were a typical family, yes, but tonight, in our household, it was going to be anything but a typical evening.
**-**
I had been married to Chris for 15 years. We had met in college, fell in love, and married soon thereafter. I won't bore you with the details, but it seemed like a fairytale to us.
Throughout our marriage, we found ways to quickly move past any issues that came between us. We were what most would call 'comfortable'. With both sets of grandparents nearby, we found time for ourselves, even in the early years when our children were young. But recently things had changed, and that was the reason for tonight's conversation.
Yes, we were comfortable, but tonight, comfort wasn't going to happen. Tonight was going to be the beginning of something different in the Hatcher household.
It was a Thursday evening in the summer and the kids were with Chris's parents. My in-laws, Carl and Jenny, were going to take them to the zoo tomorrow. They loved having kids around and I needed them out of the house. The stage was set. Dinner was over. It was time to start what I knew was going to be a difficult conversation.
"Let sit for a minute and have another glass of wine," I gestured at the table.
"Honey, can we talk about something important for a minute?" I paused a few seconds to indicate the seriousness of the situation. "I know this is going to be difficult for you to hear," I paused, giving Chris a little time to think. "But, I.. I don't want to hide anything from you." Again, I paused. Serious conversations such as these shouldn't be rushed.
"Our being truthful to each other is too important to me... to us. It is the foundation of our marriage," I said.
"What? What are you saying?" Chris looked at me, confused.
I continued.
"You know I've mentioned Vic from work a few times, right? Well, we've been having lunches for the past couple of months and we've become, well... close." I looked into Chris's eyes, and I could see the confusion deepen and maybe anger start to creep in. Chris started to speak but I interrupted.
No... we haven't done anything inappropriate. But that is why I wanted to talk tonight. We've decided to go on a date." This time I didn't pause. I needed to get the remainder of this conversation out quickly now.
"I know you are going to be upset, but we married when we were so young and I just need to explore a little. I'm not going to disrespect you by sneaking around behind your back. We've always been honest with each other. You know I love you and would never cheat on you. Our date is set for tomorrow night, but I'll be back to you Saturday morning." I guess that last part made my intention for the date clear.
I expected screaming at this point but Chris just looked at me, unable to speak, stunned. I knew this was going to be a real shock and that is why I just spelled it out. I didn't want there to be any confusion as to my intentions.
"It's not anything you've done, or haven't done. We have great sex together. You are wonderful. I just need to have this experience, only for a short while and then we can go back to normal. Nothing will change between us. Soon I'll be back to only you. I just have to try this. I need to do this for myself."
I sat there, looking into Chris's eyes, trying to look innocent, acting like I was trying to minimize the damage. But that was just it. I wasn't trying to minimize the damage, I was trying to maximize it. I knew Chris wasn't going to accept me going on a date.
You see, Chris, Christine, my WIFE, had always been a very jealous person. Very jealous.
She may have been speechless but, just as I had anticipated, the anger had been building in her eyes. Then it came my direction. I may have been injured had I not anticipated her reaction. She grabbed the drinking glass from in front of her and threw it with all her might. Even as prepared as I was, I barely got out of the way as it passed by my head. I heard it smash the wall behind me. Ouch, that was probably going to leave a mark. Drywall repair was probably going to be required.
**-**
I know, when you first started reading this sordid tale, you were probably expecting that it was the broken man listening to his wife declaring she was going on a date. Isn't it the woman that usually needs to go "find" herself? Not this time. This time, it was me, the husband, asking this most damaging and hurtful question in a marriage.
But, please, before you start considering me the ultimate bastard, listen to my story. Yes, I knew my question to Christine was going to devastate her. I knew it would change our marriage forever. Hell, I wasn't sure our marriage would survive this ordeal but I needed to do it. It was the only way I could think of to save our marriage.