As I sit across from my wife of eighteen years, I'm thinking she's as beautiful as the day I met her. After two children, she's kept her weight at just about where she was in college. Her breasts are barely larger than they were back then. We bottle fed our kids so her nipples and aureoles are just as cute and pink as they've always been, undamaged by the hungry little lips of children. The only lips that have been wrapped around those beauties are mine, as far as I know. Her legs are beautiful all the way down to her size six and a half feet and pretty glossy red toes. Our sex life was great if not awesome up until several weeks ago when she obviously became preoccupied. I noticed her smiling to herself a lot while working around the house.
I'm Jeff Cunningham. The gorgeous woman I'm talking about sitting across from me, looking at a magazine and trying hard to avoid direct eye to eye contact with me is Margot Cunningham. She's thirty nine years old with raven black hair and blue eyes that makes men run into walls trying to get a second look. Yeah, she's that hot and she's mine. So, I'm guessing she has something that she really wants to talk about but not quite ready to tell me yet. I know her well. Whatever is bothering her is important and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like it.
Margot is a buyer for a women's clothing outlet while I'm a criminal investigator for the local District Attorney. I work mostly days but have to take some night calls when the need arises. Margot travels a couple times a month to view the new women's fashions. Usually just overnight stays and then back home. We are not rich but make a living and can afford some extras from time to time while saving for the kids higher education which is only a year or so away. My son, Jack is seventeen and our daughter, Allison is fifteen going on thirty.
Now, back to Margot and her angst. I noticed she poured herself a glass of wine for some liquid courage I'm assuming. She finally sat down across from me and looked at me.
She began by asking, "Jeff, have you ever met someone that just fascinated you. Their stories and life experiences are so interesting that you want to get to know them better? Spend time with them?"
I said, "I most certainly have. I married her. Now as far as your life experiences, we were pretty young and most of those we created on our own with more to come I'm sure. I love spending time with you."
"I know, Honey, I feel the same way about you but this is different. I shared lunch with a colleague from another company the other day. I listened to them go on and on about the places they've traveled and the interesting people they've met. It just sounded so exciting. I think I would like to get to know them better."
"Margot, you know I've always encouraged you to make new friends. What's their name? Are they local or from another town. Maybe we could have them and significant other over for dinner some night. You're talking in plurality so I'm assuming there's more than one person."
Margot looked down at her feet, wiggling her pretty toes nervously.
She said, "Jeff, it's not a woman. It's a man. One man. We've met for lunch several times in the past few weeks. I would like to see more of him. He's so Interesting and fun to be with. He wants to take me to dinner tomorrow night.
She looked up at me waiting for my response to her announcement. My stomach knotted up but I was trying not to get angry.
I said, "Oh? I see where this is going now. Exactly what are you saying, Margot? Just how much more would you like to see of him? I'm hearing, me, your husband of eighteen years is no longer interesting or fun to be with so you've found a replacement. That's what I'm hearing, Wife! You do remember you are married. Right? So is your boyfriend married? I'm assuming he did notice your wedding ring on your finger or did you take it off for your "lunches"?
"Oh, God, Jeff. I'm going about this all wrong, aren't I. No, he's not married. He's just a friend like a girlfriend only male. We talk. I talk to him about you, the kids and our family. But what I have to contribute pales in comparison to his extensive knowledge of places, people and ideas. What's wrong with that? It's not like he's trying to have sex with me."
Yeah, I'm pissed now.
"Oh, please, Margot. Have I got stupid written on my forehead somewhere? Speaking of sex, has your boyfriend began subtlety mentioning the subject in passing. Maybe, complimenting you on your beauty, you're attire, maybe your hair? Maybe asking about our sex life which I've noticed has been sorely lacking the past several weeks. So tell me the truth, Wife. How long have you been seeing him and just how intimate have you been with him? Remember, the truth will set you free and you have no idea how close you are to being free right now."
"Ok, Jeff. Honestly, it's been more than a few weeks. Probably a couple of months but we've not been intimate in the way you're thinking. We've held hands and he's tried to kiss me but I haven't allowed it."
I said, "So, what did you tell him about tomorrow night? Are you going? I could say, not no, but Hell, NO but that would only cause you to want to be with him more, wouldn't it? Then you would accuse me of trying to own you and tell me I don't love you enough. Right? Well, that's not going to happen. Margot you're a grown woman, a wife and a mother. I'm leaving you to your own choices and the consequences of those choices. At the same time, I have choices too. I will be making some decisions myself."
She said, "What do you mean, Jeff? What decisions? Dinner with a friend is not going to hurt our marriage or our family. It's just dinner and talk. Surely you won't deny me this time with a friend?"
"Margot, I'm not denying you anything. It's your choice to make as I said. I've expressed my feelings about your date. It's already hurt our marriage. I'm sorry you don't see that. I've made my decision. You've got some of your own decisions to make. By the way, I don't think I've heard you invite your husband along to meet your "friend" so there must be a reason that you don't want me there."
Things were simmering to a boil for the rest of the evening. She was in the bathroom when I heard her cell phone beep with an incoming text.
I opened it and read, "Hi, Babe. Are we on for tomorrow night?"
I closed the phone and set it back down. No need for "Babe" to know I read her text just yet.
She came out and said, "Jeff, did my phone beep?"
"I dunno, Margot. I was watching TV. Are you expecting a message from your lover?"
"Jeff, he's not my lover. He's just a friend, Damn it!"
I said, "Yeah and the Pope ain't Catholic."
I watched as she opened her phone and read the text. She smiled as she closed her phone.
She said, "Are you coming to bed?"
"No, thanks. I'm good on the sofa. I'm gonna need to get used to sleeping alone, at least for awhile."
She snorted, "What's that supposed to mean?"
I replied, "It means when a spouse finds a new lover, the offended spouse winds up sleeping alone. I need to get used to it."
I heard the bedroom door slam. She still hadn't said for sure whether she's going on her date or not. I noticed her phone gone from where it was. I listened at the bedroom door as she talked softly. I assume she had to call boyfriend and let him know the situation.
I heard, "Yes, Yes, I talked to him, Simon. He's not happy. No. I know him after eighteen years. If I go out with you, my marriage will be in dire jeopardy. Simon, I have children to think about. Yes, I know they are almost out of the house but not yet. Yes, you are breaking down my barriers and I want to feel you inside me. I told him we are just friends and have only held hands. There's no way I can go further than that right now. Yes, I want too but I love my husband in spite of my libido. I'll let you know tomorrow. I've still got to justify this to myself and him. I know I've already hurt him. My marriage is on the edge. I feel it. Okay. I love you too. Bye."
Those last words brought tears to my eyes. I had no idea it had gone that far. I went back to the couch and fell into a fitful sleep.
