Before getting into the story I need to acknowledge a couple of people who have helped me with the story. I was blessed to have the assistance of Robyn and Randi for all their thoughtful ideas and suggestions. Let's not forget editing. Without their help this would not have happened.
I also want to accept any blame for poor spelling or grammar. As hard as the girls worked I still tinkered with it when they finished. Mistakes are mine alone. You want to pick on somebody, well make that me.
This is a two part story and I hope the second part will appear within a couple of days of the first.
*
On her way to the second meeting for what was turning out to be a day from hell, Annie decided to stop at a hot dog cart for a quick bite. In the middle of a very busy day, she hadn't even had time to stop for coffee. Tapping her foot impatiently, she waited for her dog with the lot. Glancing down at her watch, she mumbled to herself, "Come on, come on already."
As she handed him the change, she noticed a familiar face. She nearly dropped her food as she stared open-mouthed at her husband Henry in the arms of some skimpily clad bimbo. Her mind spun crazily as she tried to fathom some reason why he would be in the arms of some other woman, but as he pulled her into a tight embrace and she reached up for his kiss, Annie's world collapsed. This was no first-time meeting, some random girl; this was like two lovers kissing, it was like when they were newlyweds. Her lips quivered knowing exactly what that slutty bimbo was feeling.
The kiss, the taste of Henry's lips, the little tickle from his goatee.
She stumbled a little causing, the hot dog vendor to rush around and grab her. "You all right lady?" he asked.
She looked at him with empty eyes, nothing made sense. "Yes, I'm fine."
He held her by the elbows, offering just enough support. "Yeah, well, you sure don't look fine."
Shivering, she glared at him and grumbled offhandedly, "I said I'm fine."
He dropped her arms and shrugged, returning to his waiting customers. Annie walked off staring at the couple across the street, still in their embrace. As she reached the intersection they untangled from the kiss, and Annie noted with disgust that he held her hand as they quickly walked away.
As she waited for the lights to change, she took a large bite of her hotdog and a stream of mustard spilled from the end, falling onto her new cream blouse, "Oh crap!" she moaned.
The guy standing beside her chuckled, "This ain't your lucky day, is it lady."
Giving him an icy cold stare, she snapped. "No it isn't, if you only knew the half of it."
The lights changed and she rushed pushed along by the gathered throng of pedestrians.
Late for her meeting, she ate on the run.
She wasn't quite a waste of space at the meeting, but her boss Harry had to ask several times if she was listening. Of course, she wasn't; her mind was out of control as she tried to figure out what to do.
The dirty bastard was cheating... she couldn't but help wonder if that was behind his lack of interest in sex... Their intimacy levels seemed to have dissolved recently, their love life had lost its heat.
It brought into question her feelings. Crap, the girls were only four and five, respectively, not even at school yet. As usual, the mere image in her head caused her mouth to curl into a loving warm smile. God, she loved the little bundles of joy and she thought Henry did, as well, but how could he... how could he love them if he was doing this? Annie had always prided herself on not being one of those teary-eyed women who cried every time something in her life failed. She liked to think she was strong, resilient and determined. Throughout her life, it held her in good stead. Every aspect of her life had relied on her ability to not need others; she learned long ago that her independence was important. But here... now the tears flowed. He was obviously planning on leaving her, and that hurt.
A cold shiver ran down her spine as she contemplated what that meant. The house was gifted to them by her Grandmother when she passed. There was only a small mortgage they took out to update the kitchen and bathroom. Damn it, that was her house; her grandmother left it to her for her family. If he was going to behave like some sex-mad man-whore, then he could leave. If she had to, she would buy him out.
She just couldn't get any traction; her mind just wouldn't clear. Damn it, she had only just gone back to work, and that was only because her Mom looked after the girls. Yeah, he liked the money, lashing out to buy a new car with her added income.
"Damn it, god damn it!" She screamed inside. The signs were there, the late nights at the office, his new gym membership. His new suits, yeah, the signs were there all right, she was just too stupid, too trusting, to see them. She trusted the bastard, well she used to. Now what?
On her way home, she called her best friend Tammy, "What... No, no, no I don't believe it, not Henry... Are you sure hon, I mean, how do you know?"
"I saw them together, kissing and carrying on in the street like fucking lovers," she snapped caustically.
"Jesus, girl, I can't believe it; he loves you, he always has. Shit, all the girls think he's fucking perfect."
"I saw them, Tammy, fucking saw them and it obviously wasn't the first time they've been together. That damn kiss... this has been going on for a long time."
"Oh, Hon, I'm so sorry, what a shitty thing to do, damn it what was he thinking?"
"Well, fuck him, he's not shitting all over our family."
"What are you going to do? Are you going to confront him? Do you want me to come over for support?"
"No, Babe, not yet. I have to get my head straight; I need to talk to Pop and get some advice. He is going to be so disappointed." She sniffled, the tears starting all over again.
Disconnecting the call, she pulled into her parents' driveway, and as always, the girls ran out, waving their arms frantically. "Mommy."
Kneeling down, she accepted the smiling little missiles into her waiting arms. There were lots of hugs and kisses as she held them tight.
Her mom came out to greet her with a hug of her own. "Hey darling, how was work?"
As they hugged, Annie gripped tight holding her mother tighter than ever, her sniffly nose buried against her neck, "Oh, Honey, what has happened?" She stroked her hair comfortingly, "Come on, Honey, something's wrong, let me help."
Annie stepped back and gave her runny nose a rub, relaying the whole story.
Alarmed and shocked, her mom made them both a cup of tea and they sat in the living room where the girls had their toys spread far and wide. Her mother glanced worryingly at Annie as she held her hand, "So what are you going to do?"
Confused and disoriented she grumbled, "I don't know, Mom, all I know is he's not getting the house, that was Grandmas."
"Honey, surely you must give him a chance to put it right."
"What?" she yelped, "You think I should just forgive and forget?"
With her hand stroking the back of Annie's hand she muttered, "Darling, you have been so happy together, he has been a good husband. All right, I agree he has let you down and his behaviour in this is despicable, but give him a chance to explain."
"Mom, you didn't see it. They were all over each other and on the main street, for god's sake."
"I am not defending him, Darling. No, he has behaved abysmally, all I'm saying is that perhaps if he owns up and begs, oh god yes, make the little shit beg, but marriage counselling might help."
"I don't know, Mom, I don't know what to do. How do you trust somebody after they have betrayed you like that?"
Her mom pulled her deep into her comforting arms, enveloping her in an aura of warmth and love: a mother's love.
Annie left her mom's feeling conflicted, angry, and overwhelmed with a sense of impending doom, wondering how she could even look him in the face without gouging out his eyes.
That night as she prepared their evening meal, she dreamt up at least a hundred ways of killing him in his sleep. She jumped, startled as his car pulled into the attached garage, wiping her eyes, which seemed to have a continuous drip at the moment.
The girls were screaming as they ran to greet the returning hero. "Daddy!" they screeched as they ran full tilt into his waiting arms. He fell over backwards as the girls clambered all over him and he pretended to wrestle with them.
"Mommy, help, Daddy's beating us up," Emma, the eldest, screamed.
Annie wandered out to watch the play fight. Henry smiled brightly. "Hi, luscious, how was your day?"
He kissed the girls a final time and walked over towards her. His arms opened as he approached for his usual kiss. Accepting his hug, she appraised his expression. God damn it, there was nothing. It was like every other day. Crap... how long had this affair been going on?"
She turned my head at the last moment and all he got was cheek. He gave her a confused glance, but said nothing as they walked into the kitchen, a daughter clinging defiantly to each leg.
"How was your day?" Annie asked brusquely.
"Better than yours apparently, what's the matter, luscious?" he whined, confused at her shortness.
He tried to pull her into a hug, but she bent down to pull a pan from the cupboard. "Nothing's wrong, did you have lunch?" she grumbled.
He grimaced, "Yes, I managed to get a bite; still hungry though, what are we having?"
Annie snapped caustically, "Food!"
"Jesus, Honey, what the hell is wrong? Have I done something wrong or something?"
