I went to work on Monday a little hungover but surprised myself by being fairly productive. This fact helped me be with my confidence. Maybe I could navigate the world without Chris? Maybe after a time, I could rebuild my life without her? I knew, whatever the outcome, the kids were my foremost responsibility. Whether I split with Chris or we stayed together, I needed to find a way past my anger and resentment.
Alone in my hotel room Monday evening, sadness felt like a weight crushing me. It was like a giant boulder was trying to crush my soul into dust. I wasn't sure I could get past the cheating. Even if she hadn't screwed the guy it still felt like she HAD cheated. She had cheated. She had forgotten the 'forsaking all others' part of our vows.
I worked so hard to execute my date-plan. I told myself it was to save my marriage but maybe it was about revenge? Maybe it was all about inflicting pain on her? Had I rationalized my behavior just to watch her extreme pain? My thoughts just added to the mass being pressed upon me.
Now, after our initial confrontation, I still doubted if there was a path forward with Chris. Could I ever trust her again? Church-lady, my ass. Did I really know her? I obviously wasn't enough for her sexually. Could I ever be enough?
Anger flashed back into my mind. Fuck it. If I wasn't enough, Chris could just go on her way. She could fuck whoever she wanted. She could go get her jollies. I was going to focus on the kids. I would find a way to get custody or at least fifty-fifty. I would focus on them. Between work and the kids, my life would have focus. It would be enough. It would have to be enough.
I fell asleep that night from sheer emotional exhaustion but woke up feeling better. Work, the kids, with or without Chris, it was going to be enough. Besides, I had my parents. They would be there for me.
I saw Vic on Monday afternoon and she asked me how my talk with Chris went. I told her pretty much as expected. I assured her that Chris understood that our date was all a deception that resulted from Chris's behavior. Her very real deception was our only issue now.
**-**
Wednesday morning found me at the doorstep to our house. I knocked, then slowly let myself in. I could immediately smell cinnamon. Chris stuck her head from around the kitchen door. I could see the anxiety on her face.
"Can you come into the kitchen, Ron?" She disappeared back into the kitchen.
On the table was a big pan of homemade cinnamon rolls and a carafe of coffee. She hadn't dressed sexy, just a t-shirt and jeans, but they were tight on her body. I couldn't help but give her the once over. She was a beautiful woman. I couldn't help but think how I could lose her this morning and those conflicting emotions filled my head.
"Ron, I'm not trying to bribe you with cinnamon rolls and coffee." She knew this was my favorite breakfast. "Ok, maybe I am... a little." I could tell she was trying to lighten the mood and I appreciated it.
"I just couldn't sleep and I needed something to do." Her nervousness caused her to speak faster than casual.
I held up my hand. "It's okay, Chris. Bribe accepted," I smiled.
We both sat down, grabbed a roll and coffee, and started on them.
"Ron, I.." I held up my hand again to stop her.
"Chris, before we get started, is there anything you want to know about my so-called date?" I know it was cruel, but I needed you to understand just how hurt I was before we had this talk."
"Oh my god, Ron. You have no idea. I was crushed." She stopped and put her hand over her mouth. "I guess you do have an idea don't you, Ron? That was your whole point, wasn't it?"
She paused, now obviously considering her next words.
"It felt like my life was over, like my whole world had fallen around me. I was devastated when I thought of you with Vic." She paused again.
"I... you..., oh Ron, everything's a mess. My stupidity has fucked up everything." The tears were welling up in her eyes. "I couldn't just..." She couldn't continue. Crying overtook her ability to speak.
I just sat there and let her cry it out. I realized, for the first time since I had read those stupid emails, I felt some sympathy for her. As she cried, I thought about my 'date' plan. I went for maximum pain and it worked. But now I had to admit to myself I had gotten satisfaction knowing the pain it caused. Now we were on the brink of ending our marriage.
I could feel myself tear up. This wasn't what I wanted. Both of us sitting across the table crying like idiots. Chris heard me gasping and looked up. She could see me about to cry and I could see her eyes filled with tears.
Now I couldn't stop. The tears began to roll down my cheeks.
"Ron, baby, don't cry. It's all my fault. Please, baby, I'm so sorry. I'm so very, very sorry."
Perhaps she deserved the fake-date, but I knew I wasn't blemish-free in this mess. I tried to calm myself.
"No, it's not, Chris. Somehow I know this isn't ALL your fault. I must have done something or maybe I didn't do something. Why couldn't I be enough for you? Why, baby, why?"
I slumped forward on the table, bawling as much as Chris. She jumped up and ran around the table and wrapped her arms around me from behind. She laid her head on the back of mine and we just cried it out.
I started with the intent to shock Chris as a path to saving my marriage. Now, here it was, both of us sitting at the table, our marriage in utter turmoil.
A couple of minutes later I was recovering and motioned for Chris to go back and sit down.
"OK, Chris. Just tell me everything from beginning to end. Don't lie or sugarcoat anything. For us to have a chance, you have to lay it all out there. Before you start, I want you to know that I do want to save this marriage, and I'm sorry about my date stunt. It was cruel.
"No, Ron. It wasn't cruel. It was exactly what I needed to understand my stupidity. The thought of you going out and screwing some woman about killed me."
Now, both cried out, our conversation seemed to take a turn. We got down to the business at hand.
**-**
"I don't know what happened, but it started a couple of years ago. I was talking to Layla, you know, from work. We were at lunch and she was telling me about her crazy sex life. She's divorced, and I think she sees four guys regularly. Anyway, she was telling about giving blowjobs, anal sex, and all sorts of things. Layla said that when she was married, she didn't do any of those things but now she loves them.
"The conversation made me realize that maybe I was missing something. I realized I didn't know that much about sex. Sure I knew the basics, I knew what a blowjob was, after all, I've given you a few, but the way Layla described them, deepthroating and everything, I understood I didn't really know anything."
I knew Chris was bearing her soul so I didn't interrupt. Chris went on to explain she started watching some porn and reading erotica and the sexy side of her came out. She bought toys and started fantasizing about various sexual acts.
"Honest, Ron, at that point it wasn't about hooking up."
"Cheating, Chris," I said angrily. "You call it hooking up but that's cheating."
"You're right. Cheating. I wasn't thinking at all about cheating. I wanted to do those things with you."
"Why didn't you just talk to me or attack me in bed."
"I tried."
I felt my anger rise and Chris could see it coming but before I could speak-.
"Ron, remember that night after the holiday party. Remember some of the crazy things I did that night?"