This story was supposed to be posted with my first stories but was delayed after reading your comments. I have listened to several well-meaning and I believe knowledgeable commentators who don't care for where I choose to end my stories. The INTERMISSION point is the story's original ending. If you enjoy the original ending I suggest you stop there.
The second part of this story picks up at the original ending and takes an unexpected turn. At least it was unexpected to me.
The second half of this story turns darker and deals with child abuse and the darker aspects of the porn industry. Also, there are sexual situations. Please consider yourself warned.
A huge thank you to
sbrooks103x
for his great editing.
*
Bruce placed the final box in the back of his car. The move had gone much faster than he had anticipated.
His kids and their friends had helped him load up his belongings in just under three hours. Bruce thought it sad that what had taken over 25 years to accumulate, could be moved so quickly.
The move had not been Bruce's idea. The children had pushed him into doing it. He thought of his three children and felt a real sense of pride. The marriage had ended. But when Bruce saw the three wonderful people it had produced, he had no regrets.
Why were they pushing him to move? It had all started three years ago.
Three years ago, Bruce had caught his wife Helen in an affair with a co-worker. He had sensed something was wrong for several months. Bruce also realized that while this was the first time she had been caught, it was most likely not her first affair.
Bruce yelled, she cried. She lied, he cried. Bruce moved out and started the divorce process. He gave up on his marriage but his children did not give up on their parents' marriage.
Helen and Bruce's children were Troy, aged 20, a senior in college. Tina, aged 19, a junior in college and Zack, aged 13, a seventh grader in middle school.
One night they staged what could be called an intervention. They talked with Bruce like sane rational adults. To be honest, it was something Helen and Bruce had not been able to do. They shared with him all the good reasons Helen and him should stay together after 22 years of marriage. To seal the deal the kids promised to help Bruce move if Helen ever cheated on him again.
Bruce had not known about her latest affair. Unfortunately, it was Zack who had come home to pick up his baseball gear and found his Mother in bed with a strange man.
Zack left the house without being seen, and called his brother and sister. This had happened on Wednesday afternoon.
Troy and Tina came to see Bruce Wednesday night after Helen had gone to a real estate closing. Together with Zack their conversation started with these words "we will be here Saturday morning to move you to the cottage." Zack added, "I saw her Dad, they were in your bedroom."
Tina continued, "Mom is out of town with Debbie this weekend. We should have you out of here in one day. Also, I called Zack's school. The cottage is in the same school district."
"I am going with you," Zack added.
Bruce did his part by taking Friday off. He went to the same lawyer he had three years ago. Smiling a sad smile Bruce told her, "I'm back and nothing is stopping the divorce this time." She told him she would have a set of papers to him by 6pm Saturday night. Helen would be served Monday at work.
Next Bruce made stops at their bank and the investment firm they used. Helen was going to be very surprised come Monday morning.
Bruce thought it said a lot about Helen that she never realized anything was going on Thursday or Friday. She seemed to be preoccupied with planning her weekend. Bruce realized that Helen and Debbie's girls' weekend probably included a couple of male guests.
Troy had rented a 24 foot moving van. Bruce thought it was way too big but he had underestimated his children. They felt the new living room furniture would look great in the cottage. Also, the lawn furniture, the hot tub and the grill would be perfect for the deck at the cottage.
Zack wanted everything from his room. Tina wanted the same since the furniture had been her grandmother's.
Bruce didn't feel right taking almost everything in the house. Tina walked up to him and said, "I know what you are thinking Dad. We would take the walls and floor if they would fit. We are sorry for talking you into giving her another chance." She kissed him on the cheek, gently pushed Bruce back and rolled up the area rug he had been standing on. She gave it to Zack to take out.
After the last box had been taken out, the boys and Bruce did a final inspection. He had to admit it felt good, real good. Tina came down from upstairs and put a large knife back in the drawer. She said, "I just wanted to make sure she hadn't hid anything in the mattress."
It was a 20 minute trip to the three bedroom cottage. The house had been left to Bruce and his siblings by his Mother when she died two years ago. Bruce's Mother had not been in favor of Helen and him reconciling and thankfully had listened to some good legal advice and left her entire estate in a trust for her children. Nothing from her estate would be included in a divorce.
The cottage had a nice, quiet setting on a private lake with a pier and swing by the water. It had three bedrooms and a great family room with a view of the lake.
The caravan of cars followed Bruce as he drove the moving van. Everyone jumped out and in just two hours they had transformed the empty house into a comfortable lakefront home. Zack and his friends were jumping off the pier and swing. Bruce knew Zack was going to love it here.
Bruce ordered pizza and they had a great evening of swimming and dancing to music from his stereo. He had a turntable and a bunch of old LP's that the kids loved listening to. Helen had never let him turn up the volume. She never understood you had to crank it up to listen to Led Zeppelin.
The legal courier came and stayed for a few hours, enjoying the music and pizza. Neighbors came to introduce themselves bringing covered dishes and staying for pizza. The move had turned into a block party.
Tina introduced Bruce to two blushing single women from the neighborhood. He apologized for his daughter and they promised to get better acquainted in the near future.
Sunday afternoon Bruce returned to his old house. It was no longer his home, just a house. It seemed so empty and he realized it wasn't just the furniture. Bruce had taken with him the three most important items from this house, his children.
Bruce set the divorce papers on the kitchen counter and walked out the door.
That evening Helen parked her car in the driveway. She took a minute to collect herself. It had been a wild weekend with Ben, Debbie and Fred. She couldn't wait until they could meet again.
But now it was time to go back to being the perfect mother and wife. Showtime, she said to herself as she opened the front door.
**************INTERMISSION****************
Helen turned on the light switch and the light illuminated the empty room. Her keys, purse and jaw all hit the floor at roughly the same time.
The living room was empty. The furniture was gone, the rugs were gone, and the walls were bare.
"We've been robbed" she shouted out to no one.
She ran to the dining room. It appeared to be intact. She couldn't believe her luck. Her husband had always called the dining room set gaudy and ugly. But Helen loved it.
Relieved, Helen went to sit at the kitchen table only to notice it too was gone. She looked over the kitchen. The coffee maker was missing but her trusty Keurig was still there. After opening all the cabinets and drawers Helen determined that some silverware and pots and pans were also missing. But the thieves didn't take everything. Helen couldn't understand what she was seeing.
As Helen scanned the kitchen again she noticed the large manila envelope on the counter. Helen opened the envelope and read the heading of the enclosed papers, "Petition for Divorce." Helen said, "Oh shit, Oh Shit". As she walked upstairs she continued saying, "Oh shit, Oh shit." She looked in Zack's room and then in Tina's room, both rooms were completely empty. Walking into the master bedroom she found the room to be fully furnished but she saw the empty closet and dresser drawers. She knew Bruce had taken everything of his from the house. Helen sat on the edge of her bed.