I like the loving wives category but it can be difficult to come up with something different and the comments are often ruthless. I try to explore alternate realities or situations with angst.
I don't work with an editor but I do spell and grammar checks and proof read but bound to miss some. If that bothers you too much maybe think about reading something else.
Also check the tags and avoid the themes that make you angry, otherwise I hope you enjoy them, they are free and they are just stories.
Best Wishes Satin.
***
"I am worried about you guys you seem to be drifting apart, are you ok?"
It was my daughter Rachel who voiced the first concern. I did the dad thing even though Rachel was 21 and reassured her we were fine, at the same time the cogs started slowly turning in my mind... were we? I trusted my wife Moira with my life, we'd been together 23 years, but Rachel was right, something was off. We weren't ever perfect but we were pretty bloody good. But since Rachel had left home we seemed to drift, I had tried, tried a lot actually, suggested dates, trips and time together.
A typical response to my efforts would be, "That sounds lovely Ian, but the next few weeks look busy, so let's do it next month."
Moira just seemed more interested in her friends, voluntary work and hobbies, she was out most days for lunch, if Rachel had noticed, it must be worse than I had thought.
Moira was an attractive woman, she had a great sense of style and a warm engaging personality. I did ok for myself, decent job and income, kept myself pretty fit as I headed toward the big 5-O.
I recalled happier times including our wedding day, I had felt like the luckiest man alive. Everything went perfectly, although the best man's speech was a bit more embarrassing than I would have liked, with references to the rather raucous stag do... not that I remembered much of it.
One thing about Moira's 'Hen Do' was a bit strange; her life-long best friend Vince Hurst went on it with all the girls. I didn't think too much of it, they were really close friends. I wondered if he might be gay as I hadn't noticed any girlfriends with him, then again I'd never seen any boyfriends either.
They often met up for drinks or meals out, I felt a bit uncomfortable about it, so asked Moira about their relationship. She reassured me that there never had been and never would be any romantic element to their friendship. I believed her totally, Moira just wasn't the lying type; she prided herself in being open and honest.
***
After we got married we moved towns for better job prospects, which worked out well. We both established a new network of friends and I wasn't upset with the idea of Mora seeing less of Vince, although they did stay in touch with each other.
We settled down to married life and our first and turns out only child Rachel came along almost two years later. Moira easily slipped into the role of doting mother and we couldn't have been happier.
Years later, just as Rachel was moving out to live with friends, Vince took a job closer to where we lived. Moira had lost touch with some of her old friends and seem to pounce on the opportunity to rekindle her friendship with Vince. It was lunches and drinks and catching up with each other's lives.
That brought me back to Rachel's comment, she was right, we seemed to be drifting and I felt a bit neglected, not helped by the fact we were both missing Rachel. Moira's posts on social media with Vince didn't help; neither did some comment enquiring if he was her husband.
Moira's 47th Birthday party at our house compounded my feelings, she was constantly at Vince's side, laughing and joking with their friends. Anyone who didn't know would think they were the married couple.
Our long term neighbour and good friend Linda caught me unawares, "Are you ok Ian, you look a bit off colour?"
I tried to deflect but she knew me well and pushed enough until I shared my concerns.
"You guys are ok though aren't you? I know Vince is a good friend, we can have friends of the opposite sex, it's the same as us when you think about it."
"I don't know Linda, it feels like if we spent as much time together as those two, we'd develop a deeper relationship, who knows where that would lead."
I guessed Linda must have mentioned something to Moira as a little while later she strutted over to me, "What have you been saying to Linda and what is this nonsense about being ignored."
"Just that my wife hasn't spoken to me all night, but has plenty time for everyone else."
"We're hosting, I have to get around everybody who came."
"Except you haven't, you can't seem to tear yourself away from Vince."
I could see the fury in her eyes, "What are you talking about, you're being ridiculous and petty, we're just friends, the fact he is male is irrelevant."
"Is it... you're all over each other, makes me wonder what else is going on."
"There is nothing 'else' going on and you need to get a grip!"
She took a breath and stormed away. Damn, I felt awful, it was her Birthday and I'd created an argument. We didn't speak for the rest of the night and it didn't get much better over the next week. I made an attempt to apologise and was promptly shot down in flames; there was certainly no contrition on Moira's part.
When we did eventually talk, it wasn't great. She announced that Vince wanted her to go on a weekend city break with him. I wondered if they had set this up to test me out and see how I'd react. The fact that crossed my mind, made me realise how much trouble we were in, once you lose trust, it's difficult if not impossible to regain.
"And you want to go! Are you serious, given where we are, you're going for this option, at this time?"
"We're friends and we get on really well; there isn't anything untoward, just a trip away and I could do with a break."
"I know, I suggested plenty of them and you turned me down flat, but you can make time for him. So just where and when you going on your break from us?"
Moira's gaze looked down "It's a special late deal, next weekend to... Rome."
"Fuck, so I can assume you've have already said yes then; and Rome was where we've talked about going for years, but you couldn't find the time, that's just charming."
Moira softened her approach, "Look I know it's not ideal Ian but it's just a few days. It's not sexual or romantic. You don't own me, you can't dictate who my friends are and it's only your jealousy that is causing a problem."
"I can't and don't want to control you, and yes I am jealous when he gets so much of your time and energy. You have an emotional relationship with him; he gets the best of you already: dates and now trips away."
"They aren't dates and it's not like that. I love you not Vince!"
"Do you really, it doesn't feel like it. Can I assume you talk to him about us, share details about our relationship?"
That tact threw her, "Sometimes, he helps me see things from your point of view and think things through."
"Yeah that's working out fantastically isn't it! I doubt he and I see things the same way and you're further away from me than ever. Do you talk about our sex life?"
"Not really, just snippets."
"Come on Moira even you must realise that is private, there's no way you should be talking to him about that stuff. You're sharing more with him; it sounds like your married to him rather than me."
"Come on Ian, that's not true, I am your wife but I can't let him down now."
"You're going anyway; the decision has already been made without my involvement. When did my opinion stop counting: you don't value it, you only value your own and Vince's.
As the trip approached we became more distant, I got the impression Moira had some regrets but didn't want to back down. I was pleased to be at work when she set off on Friday morning.
There was a goodbye text, "I do love you and do value you. I'll be back before you know it... will ring later."
I thought about going to a bar and getting smashed or going to my sister Janice's house, we'd often fought, but she was always in my corner when needed and would happily slag off Moira if she thought it would help me. In the end I did neither and settled for a quiet night in, thinking about my marriage. I had some decisions to make; I didn't want to go on like this.
***
I got a call from her that night and seriously thought about not answering, I swiped up with a monotone "Hey."
"Hi honey, we got here fine and the hotel is lovely. I just wanted to check in with you."
"Yeah well, thanks for the call, at least I know you are safe."
"We had a look around the Coliseum this afternoon and we are going to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps tonight... it's truly wonderful."
"Sounds great, all the places we wanted to explore and talked about."
"I'll throw a coin in the Trevi and wish to come back with you, you'll love it."
"It won't be the same Moira; I wanted to discover those things with you as a couple."
Don't turn this into another fight Ian, I am regretting how things are between us and sorry I left as I did. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. I'll say this again: there is N-o-t-h-I-n-g going on ... we are not having sex."
She spelled out nothing and said it like she was talking to a 2 year old. "Well you're in another country with a different man, so something is going on."
Moira shouted, "Arrghhh, you're impossible", then the line went dead.
***
I felt alone and shattered and there was no call Saturday night. Again social media posts weren't helping, Rome looked amazing. There were a few comments from family asking where I was, I noted the 'friends weekend away' response.
Rachel called; she'd seen the social media posts but was still shocked when I confirmed they were in Rome together. I provided a summary of our conversations and that her mum was always going on the trip regardless. Rachel wanted to call her but I insisted she stay out of it.
"It's pointless, she thinks it's my fault for being jealous; she isn't doing anything wrong and I am over-reacting. She seems to think that if they are not having sex it's all good."
"Well she might have a point dad, she's allowed friends and trips away with friends aren't anything unusual. Maybe you are being a bit you know... jealous."
I tried to bite back the irritation, "Like I say Rachel it's better for you to stay out of it, there is a wider problem that neither you nor your mum can see."
***
When she returned on Sunday tea time, Moira tried to hug and kiss me, I didn't stop her but it was a stiff half hearted effort. We tried to talk to each other but it was awkward with some false starts, I'd never had to think before speaking to her before; I sensed she felt the same things.
