"Dear Rick,
I'm a coward. And by the time you read this, you will know that I am also breaking our vows with Trey. But before you pass judgment on me, think about you and Diedre in Iraq. I have no proof, but I am almost positive that you and she had sex in Iraq.
How do I know? Well, you have yourself and the Army to blame for that. Remember how I helped you study for your classes when you switched to Army Intelligence Branch from flying? Part of that was the interrogation and interview class. If you remember, people who lie look away when questioned and if they are guilty.
And you, my dear husband, did just that not once, but three times when I brought her up. You are a terrible liar, Rick. But then I am no better. When Trey first put his hands on me, I never told you. Maybe I should have. And perhaps I should have had an affair or affairs during all those years that I was home alone and lonely while you were off playing soldier.
Lord knows I got hit on enough. Often by your own "friends" when you were out in the field or deployed. I was even tempted once when you were in fuckin Korea for so long. It was the only time I questioned being married to you. When I met you in Hawai at the six-month mark, you were smug and dismissed my home issues.
Our kids needed two parents Rick. I tried to be both mom and dad, but I am not you. Only you are you. And I needed my husband's touch, dammit! But I resisted being hit on and stayed true to you. Lord knows it was not easy.
Then you went off to Iraq, and your darling Diedre Kline came home before you did. The bitch came to visit me, and with a smug look, she told me that she "took care" of you over there and then walked off before I could ask what she meant. But when you came back, I knew precisely what she meant. Any doubts I had you cleared for me when you looked away in shame, Rick.
I know two wrongs don't make a right, Rick. I also know that there is a chance you and her did nothing. In which case, I am the first cheater here with Trey. But I don't think I am. I think you did it. Maybe you did before or not. Perhaps it was the first time or not. But I am done being the dutiful wife waiting at home and being chaste for her war hero.
When Leslie told me she had the hots for you, I talked to both her and Vincent about it. He admitted he lets her have men. They have an open marriage. It would appear that I won't have breaking up their marriage on my conscience. Just that I cheated on you.
So, here is the gist of this situation we are in. I go on this trip, and during my absence, I am not your wife, and you are not my husband. You have a six-week hall pass, and I am giving myself one as well.
The way I see it, if you and I still love one another, we will get past this when I see you on my return. If we don't, it will hurt, and I will mourn what you and I had and lost. But I can't see us being married and not doing this.
Know this. I was not seduced by Trey or forced into it. I am doing this by my own choice and free will. I don't love him, but I do find him attractive. He will be nothing but a memory when I return if you will still have me. What I do with him after you divorce me... well, that won't matter then, will it?
Know this Rick Weston. You have been and still are the love of my life. Even after you broke my heart, I still love you. It has been a privilege being your wife and mother of your children. But after all these years, I need a vacation from "us."
Leslie is more than willing to fuck your brains out until I return. Vincent would pay you to let him watch. But that is your choice and decision to make. I would suggest you fuck her until she is crosseyed and babbling. I know she will not leave Vincent for you. He lets her fuck many men. I doubt she wants to give that up.
I'll leave you with one thought, Rick:
"If you love someone, set them free. And let them come back to you."
I'll be back in six weeks.
Love you always and forever
Marcy
PS. Leslie was supposed to get tested for STDs before she came over for her first time. Make sure she shows you that. Trey and I were both tested before we left. I will get tested for you before my return and not touch him or anyone else until you and I meet. Then I will show you my STD test. Please have one done a week before I return and abstain as well. If you and I are to make a go of it after my return, this will be our first sign of trust.
I have reserved a room for us at the Ambassador Hotel near the airport. If you still want me meet me there two hours after my flight is due back. I plan on going there alone after my arrival. Please don't come to the airport when my flight lands. Please don't make a scene. Either take me back or walk away.
I plan on seeing you at the hotel. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby."
When I finish reading it, I noticed Leslie was at the kitchen island filling her glass again.
"Are you OK?" she asked.
"I will be," I replied.
She nodded and came back with the bottle and her filled glass. Sitting next to me this time, she refilled my glass and turned to look at me with those doe-like eyes.
"So, Rick? What do we do?"
This is the end of Kalaximos's scene setting, what follows is my vision of what happens next.
I imagine we have all experienced this, time slowing in moments of extreme stress, such as a car accident and we all know it is not time slowing, but your mind speeding up. In physical terms it is like an engine racing after taken out of gear anyway, my mind raced asking questions and coming up with answers to some of them.
I know my wife was off doing the bastard doctor.
I know she thinks it will be okay for her to do what she is doing because a, she suspects that Diedre and me were banging each other stupid when we were in Korea and if she was wrong she is hoping to salve her conscience by laying on a woman for me to lay.
Yes, I think that's how she sees it, a fair trade.
I look at Leslie, I can't deny she is gorgeous and she has just told me she wants to fuck me while Marcy is off fucking doctor slime. They both think I would be a fool to turn her down.
She moves toward me and reaches for me. Instinctively I jump back, away from her reach and say "No!"
She looks at me, I see emotions flicker through her mind, surprise, disbelief and finally anger. "What, you're turning me down, I don't believe you, wait, I know... you just need some time, as I said, Marcy was supposed to have told you of our arrangement before she left."
"Leslie, you are a beautiful woman to look at, but I am not going to do what you and Marcy and probably Vinnie all decided. I think you should just leave."
She looks at me, she is still smiling, but her eyes betray her, she is really pissed off that I have not succumbed to her charms. She begins to turn away, then looking back at at me she says, "You know where I live if you change your mind."
As soon as she is out of the door I close it and for some reason I turn the key and lock it. Any other day I would have watched her perfectly shaped bottom wiggle its way along the path to the road; today. I am just glad she is gone.
Taking a deep breath, I turn away from the door, pour myself a coffee take the notepad from the drawer and sit to devise a plan.
It takes a few hours and a few more cups of coffee but eventually I have a list of things to do.
Finances
Make arrangements to sell the house
Contact Deirdre
Intel
Get fitter
Arrange divorce
Look for new home
Make arrangements to move
R
Once the list is finished, I know I have a plan, I write down her expected return date and a short while after all the money that is in our account is now in mine only. Next I contact a realtor and arrange for one of their agents to come and look over the house, I agree to an appointment at 18;00 hours.
I call the contact number I have for Deirdre and leave a message for her to get in touch ASAP and then I begin to get the place presentable to show the realtor.