My wife Edith, is active in a million women's organizations. Whether they are political or religious or educational, it makes no difference. If they have a purpose or they have meaning or just have meetings, she is 'jenny on the spot'. It has gotten to the point where I hardly see her anymore.
Between my work schedule and her volunteer work we have become almost strangers. We rarely have dinner together and I can't remember the last time we spent an evening together just relaxing and watching TV. Either I am away traveling on business or she is off running to a meeting or a rally to benefit homeless pregnant women.
Not only was it ruining our sex life but our marriage was suffering too. It had gotten to the point where we hardly did anything together unless she needed me as an escort to some event like a fund raising dinner dance for some charity. Since the twins left for college almost three years ago, when I am at home from business travel, it seems I am home alone.
Tonight was the night that I was determined to break the pattern for both of us. I had just gotten home at four o'clock on a Friday afternoon from a three day trip, in which I negotiated a deal to sell my business. We would have millions. Enough to retire in luxury with never a worry except as to where we would go on our next vacation.
I should have been home last night late but an inconvenient storm had screwed up the airline schedule and I had to spend last night at a dumpy airport hotel. Naturally, when I phoned Edith about the delay I couldn't get her and I had to leave a voice mail. .
I was irritated by the delay and the fact hat I couldn't get in touch with her, and then my anger was compounded by the taxi ride from the airport to the house, The driver seemed to think he was competing in the Daytona 500 and of course, I still wasn't able to contact Edith. So when I got home I was beyond irritated. I threw my suitcase on the bed and poured myself a scotch, just to unwind. I hadn't even finished half of it when Edith burst in.
"Peter, you're home. Why didn't you let me know what time to expect you. Not that it would matter. I have been on the go all day...."
"Edith....."
"I know dear, I just don't slow down. Tonight I have a working dinner with,,,,,,"
"Edith....."
"the women from N.O.W. We are planning a fund raiser....."
"EDITH!"
I had shouted her name as loud as I could and it stopped her dead in her tracks. She had entered like a whirlwind, planted a peck on my lips, taken a sip of my scotch and then a glance at the mail as she talked to me. Or I should say, at me, never slowing down or even looking at me, on her way to the bedroom.
"Peter?" she inquired. I had never raised my voice to her.
"Sit down Edith, we're going to talk."
"But Peter, I don't have time. I have a meet....."
"SIT DOWN EDITH!"
Now I was really angry! For once she was struck dumb, silently she sat down opposite me.
"Have you noticed that I have been working harder these last few months? Spending a little more time away. No, I didn't think so. Well that's all done now, I sold the business. I'm retired and I want you to retire too. I want to travel, take weeks, or months to visit all the places we could never enjoy before. We're rich and we are still young enough to travel the world and enjoy it."
There was no look of joy on her face, no sign that she was happy with my offer. Instead it was an expression of confusion. of angst, of dismay.
"But I can't go away for weeks or months. I can't leave......"
"Can't or won't." I interrupted, "Can't or won't leave what, or maybe who?"
There was a long pause and her look changed to one of embarrassment until she stammered, "W w what do you mean by that?"
"Edith, all your charities and organizations have plenty of people besides you working for them. If you were gone there would always be some else to take your place. But on a personal level you are the only one indispensable. So who is he?"
"He? There is no he." Her embarrassment was even more evident.
"Please don't take me for a fool. We sleep next to each other when I am home and we haven't made love in so many months I don't even remember the last time. You haven't asked for it and you have rebuffed me any time that I did ask."
"It's obvious to me that you have a lover and that you have been enjoying the pleasures of your adultery for months, if not longer. Do me the favor of not insulting my intelligence by lying."
Her continued silence conformed my accusation."
"I'll take that non answer as a yes. You have no idea how your betrayal angers me. I want you out of my life and I want it now, tonight! Take what you need for the weekend and come back Monday, I'll be out of town finalizing the sale. Come with a moving van if necessary, and take anything else you need to live away from me. You chose the perfect time for us to separate. With the deal I'll be completing you will be a multi millionaire when we split our assests."
"We started our lives together with not much more than the clothes we wore and you were my partner through it all. I have no intention of punishing you by withholding any part of our partnership."
"I loved you from the time I met you and in spite of what you have done, I probably still do. But I will not share you with anyone else and right now I can't even stand the sight of you. My suitcase is on the bed, dump it out and fill it with what you need and get out. NOW!"
Less than twenty minutes later she emerged from the bedroom dragging the suitcase behind her on it's wheels. She looked distraught. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were wet, she had obviously been crying. When she got to the front door she turned and looked like she wanted to say something but when she saw my stony eyed stare she changed her mind and left.
I never spoke to her during the entire divorce process. All contact was between our lawyers. There were no attempts to negotiate nor any requests to change any of the terms of my proposed settlement and we were divorced in a matter of months. My lawyer was amazed at how easily it went when there was this much money involved.
I saw her the next spring at the twins graduation. It was the first time since that fateful evening. It was just after the graduation ceremony was over and she had found them before I did. There was a young woman with them, very pretty. She looked slightly Oriental, Eurasian I supposed. Probably a girlfriend of one of the boy's.