innocent-until-proven-guilty
LOVING WIVES

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

by lja644
16 min read
4.19 (60700 views)
adultfiction

An overheard conversation.

I wrote two slightly different versions of a 750 word story, one I expanded into this longer one. On the advice of a mate, I published this one. I write technical reports for a living and that suits 750 style. I like writing short, punchy stories that suit 750 words. There are more twists in this longer one than the 750 word as befits a LW story.

The Oxford English dictionaries define fiction as "Something that is invented or untrue." This is fiction.

Please do not tell me 'It would not happen like that' because you are right. It probably would not. So please do not complain it is not real. If you want realism, go and watch a documentary or the news or even the History Channel, although history is written by the winners.

It is just a story, please enjoy it.

My wife Jenny and I, my name is Dave by the way, moved into a nice cul-de-sac. A new-build set of houses on the outskirts of town about four years ago. It didn't take us long to form a clique with our neighbours. We are all about the same age. Most of the other couples have children. We do not, yet. But after watching our neighbours and seeing how having children completed a family, and our parents kept telling us now was the best time so they could enjoy the grandchildren whilst they were still fit and able. We thought about it, we were both settled at our jobs and we decided now was a good time and Jenny had come off the pill a few months ago. We were keeping this to ourselves for now, we didn't even tell the parents.

There was Jim and Linda, they were the eldest of our group of friends. They both did some sort of engineering and had two children Sean and Carrie. Then there was Deborah and Charlie, she was a school teacher and Charlie did something in finance, they had two children, twins, Freddie and Zoe. Then there was Geraldine and Frank, they had a son Mark, who was only nine months old, Geraldine didn't work. Frank did something with insurance. That left Carol and Brian, they had a daughter Felicity. Jenny worked in a bank and I was a Project Manager in a local building contractor, we had built these houses. Jen and I were the youngest of the group. We were all at Brian and Carol's place for one of Brian's fantastic BBQs. There were several other neighbours around as well, but these were our very good friends.

The men all got on together, we regularly played golf and the girls would go out on a girl's night out once or twice a month. When the girls went out the men would bundle all the children into one house and have a pleasant evening to ourselves, just shooting the breeze with a beer or two. Then around nine, we would all disperse to our own houses because the children would be tired. Even though we haven't got children yet, I was still invited anyway.

Even the children got on. It was all very civilized.

At the BBQ we gravitated to our own groups, the men standing by the BBQ so we could chat with Brian, also that is where all the drinks were. He had gone all out on the meat, there was marinated Piri Piri chicken, seasoned pork loins. Herby marinated lamb slices and smokey BBQ sauce spare ribs. The children will make a mess with those. There was even some fish for the vegetarians amongst the crowd. No burgers. Brian said they were a bit too common, but he did have some very nice pork and apple sausages with a hint of mixed herbs for the heathens.

There was a load of salad and a selection of bread rolls from the Artisan baker in town. The girls have planned to go out next Thursday and I'm pretty sure when we came around on Thursday we'd be eating the leftovers there were so much.

Carol was helping Brian by bringing him food to cook and keeping the beer topped up from the fridge for us men.

The ladies were gathered beside the garage together laughing having partaken in alcoholic beverages. Gerald, the neighbourhood lothario, left the group he was talking to and wandered across to the girls. I saw him chatting to them, he slipped an arm around Jenny. She shrugged him off and glared at him. She saw me looking and gave me a small nervous smile.

Gerlad took the hint and left to chase other prey.

We were discussing the round of golf we had played this morning, Brian had done particularly badly and we were taking the mickey out of him, then he reminded us that he had control of the food and the beer. We all laughed at that and said he was just unlucky. Brian asked me to fetch some more charcoal from the garage. He liked proper charcoal for cooking, not briquets nor gas and he kept a supply at the back of his garage.

I slid carefully past Brian's car, picked up a bag of charcoal and I noticed I could overhear what the girls were saying as the garage window was open slightly.

I heard Lin say. "So, Debs, how is it going with Ralph?"

"I'm going to dump him, he's getting too clingy and Charlie is getting suspicious. I will miss the sex though. Ralph is a bit quantity not quality, but it is exciting doing it over his desk at work."

"How about you Lin, how are you doing with the football bloke?" Debbie asked.

"He's okay, Jim is better in bed, but it's the excitement, I might have to dump him soon as well. He's not worth risking losing Jim over."

Debbie said to Gerri. "I suppose young Mark has slowed down your adventures?"

"Yeah, I'm too tired to play around, anyway Frank keeps me satisfied, well, for now." She giggled.

"Do you still hear from Harry?" Jenny asked.

"I get the odd text, he keeps asking if we can meet again? If I wasn't so tired I might."

"How is your sex life Jen?" Asked Gerri, I felt there was a giggle in her voice.

"Dave is brilliant, but he could teach my boyfriend a thing or two, like Lin says, it's the excitement."

I could only just hear Debbie when she said quietly. "Hey, just don't let Carol hear about our fun or she would drop us right in it. Lin will you be there Thursday night or you meeting your footballer?"

"I'm not sure, they've got an away match this week, he might not be available Thursday. Hey Debs, it'll give you a chance to see Ralph. Will you break up with him Thursday after a final bout?"

"No, the boys are going away for a golfing weekend next week. If one of you will babysit the twins, I'll have a last couple of days with Ralph and then knock it on the head. Jen, could you do it for me? Practise for when you have a brat of your own"

"Okay, I will, but don't you mean the last couple of nights?" Jen said, that brought out a lot of laughter.

I was having problems hanging on to the charcoal.

I made my way back outside and gave the charcoal to Brian. I suggested to the lads we join the wives to see what the laughing was all about. I had a fixed smile on my face as we walked over to them, I was trying to keep a lot of anger bottled up. I decided not to take any drinks with me, that could be dangerous.

We got there and stood next to our spouses. "What's so funny girls?" I asked.

"Nothing." said Gerri. "Just chatting."

Looking at Debbie. "Chatting about how you are going to spend a couple of nights with Ralph whilst we are away playing golf next week and then you're going to ditch him."

"What! Who is Ralph?" Debbie asked, fear on her face.

📖 Related Loving Wives Magazines

Explore premium magazines in this category

View All →

"Ralph, you know, I think he works at your school. You like doing it over his desk. But you're going to dump him because he's getting too clingy and Charlie is getting suspicious, but you will miss the sex. I hope Charlie can step up."

Charlie was spluttering. "Ralph, Ralph that fucking arse wipe of a Headmaster!" He exclaimed.

Mouths were hanging open. Nobody moved.

Looking at Linda I continued. "At least you will still have the excitement of running around with your football player, even if Jim is better in bed. But not this Thursday because they've got an away match." I looked at the other girls. "That'll save you all lying to Carol when Linda doesn't turn up for your girl's night out because she's with her football player."

Jim was glaring at Linda.

There was spluttering now from the girls.

Looking at Geraldine I said. "Have you made plans to catch up with Harry? I am sure he could get your adventures back on track." Looking at Frank I said. "I guess a DNA test is next on the list mate?"

There was a hush in the crowd.

I reached out and took hold of Jenny's left hand, she tried to pull back, I squeezed it. She screamed in pain. The garden went quiet, and everyone was watching us.

I pulled the wedding and engagement rings from her finger. "And I have no intention of teaching your boyfriend anything. Now you will have time to babysit Freddie and Zoe next week whilst we are away playing golf so Debbie could have a last fling with Ralph. Oh, you might as well look after young Mark as well so Geraldine can restart her adventures with Harry sooner than she planned. Unless you have something planned with your boyfriend?"

I felt a hand on my shoulder pulling me around. "Leave her alone." It was Gerald, was he her boyfriend?

Not that it mattered, my right fist caught the side of his face. It hurt like hell as her rings dug into the palm of my hand when it came into contact with Gerald's face. He fell back into the crowd that was watching the show.

I walked away taking my wedding ring off. As I passed Brian's BBQ I dropped all three rings into the hottest part.

The garden was silent.

Jenny caught me up halfway home. "There is no boyfriend, I was just keeping up with Debbie and Linda. Trust me there is no boyfriend. You are my only one."

"Prove it."

"I can't. Please trust me."

"No."

"I am innocent. Innocent until proven guilty, right?"

I nodded, but continued walking.

I got home first, went in and locked the door behind me. There was a lot of banging on the front door. I sent Jenny's parents a text telling them what I overheard whilst I was in the garage. Then I turned my phone off. Her parents live twenty minutes away. About fifteen minutes later there was a much louder banging on the door, a man's banging. It could be her Dad or maybe Gerald.

I turned my phone on and phoned her Dad. The banging stopped, as soon as he answered I said. "Ask her if what I said in the text is true?" I hung up and turned my phone off again. The banging did not restart.

I went online and started the divorce process. I assume Jenny went to her parents.

It was two days later when Jenny, her Dad and my Dad turned up on the doorstep.

"David." My Dad said. "Can we all talk about this?"

I let them in and we all sat round the kitchen table. I did not make tea.

Her Dad started. "She is not having an affair, she has no boyfriend, she was just saying that to keep up with her friends. They may be having affairs, but Jenny isn't and hasn't. She wouldn't do that to you, she loves you. You can't prove she has a boyfriend. Innocent until proven guilty, right?"

"Okay, let's say I agree that you do not have a boyfriend. Not even Gerald."

Jenny gave a small smile.

I leaned over the table and looked at her, I said. "You lied to me about the five of you going out when there were only four of you because either Debbie or Linda and maybe Geraldine were with their boyfriends?"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"You helped them hide their affairs from their husbands?"

She nodded.

"So, you condoned their affairs?"

"Well, I suppose I did."

"So, keeping up with your friends, trying to look good in their eyes is more important to you than being honest with your husband?"

🛍️ Featured Products

Premium apparel and accessories

Shop All →

"I just didn't want to be left out, to be the odd one out."

I got a tad angry. "You wouldn't be the odd one out, because Carol was not cheating on Brian."

Looking down she whispered. "I guess so."

"You lied to your friend Carol to cover up for the other three, she is the only honest one amongst you."

She nodded.

"So, you see nothing wrong with a wife cheating on her husband?"

"I would never do that to you."

The Dads could see where this was going.

"Are you guilty of lying to me?"

"Yes." She nodded her head.

"Are you guilty of hiding your friends' affairs from their husbands?"

"I guess I am."

"Are you guilty of covering for your friends so they could have affairs?"

"Yes, I'm afraid I am."

"Are you guilty of condoning a wife having an affair?"

"I suppose I am."

"Guilty as proven by your own admissions, I'm not waiting around for you to think it's acceptable to cheat on me. I think I will cut my losses now."

As I pushed the divorce paperwork across the table I said. "Jim is divorcing Linda. Charlie is divorcing Debora, I can hear the arguments between Frank and Geraldine from here most evenings. I don't think they will survive. Frank is having DNA tests done on Mark. Four families ruined. Brian and Carol don't seem too happy at the moment either."

Jenny's Dad helped her out of the house.

It was three weeks later when both Mothers turned up with Jenny. I invited them in and we sat around the kitchen table again.

My Mother started. "David, there is something you have to know. There's no beating around the bush with this. Jenny is pregnant with your baby."

It was Jenny's Mother's turn. "You have to take her back and bring this baby up, she made a mistake, but she loves you, she hasn't slept with anybody else. This is your baby."

That was a bit of a shock. Without asking if they wanted it, I went and made a pot of tea. It gave me time to think. I put the tea tray in the middle of the kitchen table and indicated to my Mother to pour. She did. After she had finished pouring, I said to them. "Get a DNA test done as soon as you can, if it's mine I'll pay child support. If it is not, she should find the father and get it from him."

There was a look of shock on the three faces opposite me. Jenny's mother opened her mouth. I lifted my hand. She closed it.

I had had time to think whilst making the tea, this was going to be a long one so I took a sip and looking at them, I started.

"She lied to me, she lied to her friends, she lied to their husbands, she hid affairs from those husbands, lying seems to come easy to her. So who's to say she's not lying about having a boyfriend, Gerald was very friendly towards her at the BBQ, perhaps the baby is his?

"She thinks that having affairs is okay. If she didn't she would have told me or told the husbands. She would have tried to dissuade the wives not to cheat on their husbands. But 'no' she tells us she made up another lie that she was having an affair, yet she tells us she didn't. I'm not sure which of those two statements is true.

"If she didn't agree with cheating on her husband, she would not have agreed to babysit Debora's children so she could have a couple of nights with Ralph. Therefore, obviously in her mind it is okay to cheat on your husband. So, if she hasn't cheated on me, it's only a matter of time before she does, because she thinks it's okay. Well, I do not and I'm not taking the risk. Send me the DNA evidence if it's mine then I will pay. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do to try and get this house ready to sell." I stood up and walked to the front door and opened it inviting them to leave.

Two days later Linda, Deborah and Geraldine were at my front door. I invited them in but I did not put the kettle on for tea or coffee. Any alcoholic beverages were right out the window. They told me Jenny was not having an affair, they knew she was lying to keep up with them. I asked them why they didn't dissuade her, because if I found out about her having an affair or lying about having one, whichever was true, would damage our marriage. I didn't get an answer, they obviously had not thought about that. They asked me to think about taking her back for the sake of the child I told them I would.

I thought about it for the length of time it took the door to close behind them when they left. The answer was still the same. Why would I believe them anyway?

The baby was mine. But the trust and love had gone. My mother didn't get it. She was angry at me for a while, Dad understood where I was coming from and in time he talked Mum round.

I was there for the birth of our beautiful baby boy and I vowed to be part of his life, but Jenny? No that was done.

The girls were so close that Brian had problems believing Carol didn't know about the affairs that were going on. We heard Brian had sent for a DNA test on Felicity because he had lost trust in Carol. Carol was angry at Brian because he didn't trust her. Felicity was his. Now even the completely innocent were drawn into the fracas. Their marriage was damaged. I heard from Brian later there was a lot of talking and apologising. Maybe their marriage will survive. I hope so. I am certain the others including mine will not.

With so many houses coming on the market in the same cul-de-sac at the same time the prices plummeted and nobody could afford to sell their houses, it became one of the most miserable places in town.

Please let me know if some of you would like the 750 words published.

Les

Enjoyed this story?

Rate it and discover more like it

You Might Also Like