Olga's Trips to Fantasy Island

No real sex:

It was September when I came home from work and as expected, I found my wife's car in the driveway. I called for her as I entered but there was no response. There were a number of neighbors she could have walked to but most of those relationships had dried up over the last year. After checking our room, I went downstairs to grab a beer and found a manilla envelop taped to the fridge. This wasn't going to be good, so I opened the beer first and finished it, and then opened a second bottle before I opened the envelope.

I laughed at myself. I had known it was coming and was still surprised by it, maybe my surprise was really related to the method of delivery.

On top of a bunch or legal papers was a typed letter from my wife Olga:

"I'm sorry I'm doing this by letter instead of in person and I know the shock will hurt you greatly, but I would not have survived that look of sadness on your face, sadness that I know I caused."

"Last December when I was in that business conference in Chicago, I met a man and have been seeing him regularly since then. He has asked that we move our relationship to another level, and I have agreed. Like I said, we met in December, and he invited me to his private island in the Caribbean. We flew on his private jet. You may remember I had to extend my trip in Chicago for three days, but I was in the Caribbean having sex with my new lover."

"I don't want to rub it in, but I want to be fully honest with you. He's a billionaire and can give me so many things that you can't, designer clothes, jewelry, social events with many famous people. And the sex, he is such an amazing lover. I had always planned on coming back to you after my one-time extramarital affair. I couldn't resist him."

"I tried bringing home some of the new tricks I learned (anal, deep throat, swallowing) to assuage some of the guilt I was experiencing."

"I am sorry for hurting you, you have been a terrific husband and father to our three children."

"Our divorce papers are included. The children are emancipated so there's no need for child custody or support. I don't want to take anything from you, so I am releasing any claim I have on the house, spousal support or any other assets. There's also check for $100,000 to cover your legal bills."

"Please discuss this with our children, I am leaving the tenor of those discussions to you."

"I hope someday you will be happy for me that I've had this chance to live the dream life."

"Love always Olga."

I went upstairs and checked her closets. Most of her clothes were gone including her toiletries and jewelry. Also missing was her grandmother's jewelry box that contained some almost priceless heirlooms.

My phone started ringing off the hook as soon as I emailed copies of her letter to our two sons and our daughter. I suggested we get together the next evening. There was discussion about where to meet. I suggested our favorite pizza place, but my daughter insisted we meet at our home. She knew she would be crying.

They arrived at 7:00, I had pizza waiting. My oldest brought his wife Meghan, she looked more upset than my daughter Romana, who brought Dan, the guy she had been living with for the last two years. We had been waiting for them to announce their engagement. The guys ate, the girls consoled each other. Romana insisted we sit down to discuss this, so I cleared the pizza boxes, and we sat down at the table.

Romana started, "I can't believe she did this to you, and not have the balls to tell it to you face!"

My oldest, Petre or Peter as he liked to be called asked, "Dad did you know about this or was it a complete surprise."

My younger son, Andrew, had not said anything since he arrived.

"I've always known," I said to shocked faces around the table. "Look, I loved your mother with every fiber in my body. She brought so many things to our relationship. She was a great partner and a great mother. But she wasn't very smart."

"No one goes to Chicago for seven days in December and comes home with sunburn right above where she wore a very skimpy bikini. And she had a nice tan on her boobs. She did try and hide her frequent trips to Fantasy Island as I called it. She would pretend to leave for work and drive to her office. She would turn off her phone tracker and then she would be picked up by a limo and taken to the local airport."

"You remember how your mother was always losing her keys, so I bought her those tile things to help you find lost keys. They also tell you where your keys are. So, I always knew when she headed to his island."

"What else... also her final paycheck. She quit her job months ago and never told me. I do our bills, and both our checks are directly deposited into our account, but the amount of her check was significantly larger than her norm. In her email file I found her final pay statement where she received some severance and was paid for unused vacation time. But she still "went to work" every morning and there was a direct deposit in the wrong amount every two weeks. Two numbers were transposed."

Romana asked, "So every morning for the last six months, mom got up and pretended to go to work and flew down to this guy's island?"

"Not every day, sometimes they would spend the day in a local hotel, always first class. And she was home most nights and every weekend pretending to be the loving wife."

"Why didn't you just kick her to the curb when you found out?" asked Peter.

"I'm sorry Peter, I don't have a good answer for that. In the beginning, the pain was so strong I couldn't think straight. There was always the idea that Mr. Billionaire would tire of her, kick her to the curb and she would come back to me. I loved your mother and hoped that she would come back. After a while I concluded it didn't matter. I'm in my fifties, too old to find something new. By that time, I had stopped having sex with her, I wasn't interested in any new tricks, and she didn't seem to mind that I cut her off."

"You would have taken her back?"

"I think so, as I said, your mother is not very smart and there have been a number of stupid things she has done over the years, not infidelity though. Trying to hide car accidents or speeding tickets, hiding burnt dinners in the outside trash so I wouldn't see them although she couldn't hide that smell of burnt food. I never let her know that I knew."

"How long were you going to let this last?" asked Romana.

"December 20th is the anniversary for your mother's first trip to fantasy island. My lawyer had already drafted the divorce papers on grounds of infidelity. I was hoping we would have one more Thanksgiving dinner beforehand. She was scheduled to be served the day after Thanksgiving. Maybe she found out. I don't know. This is a no-fault divorce state so in the end I made out a lot better with her terms for divorce."

There were a lot of tears and as my children began to hug me as they left, I was reminded how much I was loved. I asked my son Andrew to hold up a few minutes.

After everyone had left, I hugged him and said, "You can't hold it in son, it'll be like a cancer and eat you alive from the inside."

The dam burst and he sobbed into my shoulder. He pulled back after my shirt was thoroughly drenched, and said, 'You're the one that got your teeth kicked in and you're comforting me."

"I've been crying since last December Andrew; I'm pretty much cried out by now.

But it's all new to you guys."

After his cry, he looked a lot better and ate a couple more slices of pizza and then asked if he could spend the night. He didn't want to drive home by himself to an empty apartment. He stayed for most of the month. I think some of that was at the urging of his siblings who were over every weekend. Sometimes I would cry at how they banded together to support me.

Thanksgiving had passed, Andrew and I hung our Christmas decorations, when Olga stopped by. Andrew stormed out of the house almost knocking his mother down the stairs.

"Why is he so angry with me," she shouted. "What did you tell them."

"Well, first I shared the letter you left me!"

"Why would you do that. It was a letter from me to you. It wasn't meant for our children. No wonder the boy almost killed me."

"You took the cowards way out and left it to me. I wasn't going to lie to them and your letter stated the facts of our pending divorce clearly. You're looking well by the way. But why are you here Olga."

Olga smiled at the compliment. "You remember my grandmother's jewelry box. I finally had a chance to open it last week and most of the stuff is missing. All that was in there was dollar store crap. Do you know what happened to all the good stuff?"

"No, I don't even remember that last time I saw it. Are you sure you didn't hide the good stuff somewhere else? If you are, I'll go to the police tomorrow and report a robbery. When was the last time you saw the good stuff as you call it?"

"I have no idea, none whatsoever. Maybe last Christmas because I loved to wear that diamond necklace and matching earrings every Christmas. That set cost a fortune a hundred years ago. That's how I noticed it missing as I was preparing for a Christmas party last weekend."

"I'm sorry, I can't help you. And I don't think the cops are going to be able to do anything for you."

She got up to leave and I said, "Olga, have you ever called your children."

She looked at me with a tear in her eye and said, "No."

It was almost Easter when I came home and found a limo in my driveway and Olga sitting on my front porch.

"You changed the locks."

"Well, you know we had a robbery. You are looking well by the way."

She smiled but she looked like shit. Lots of wrinkles and stress lines, the glow of her hair had faded and there was no smile in her eyes.

I offered her a drink and we sat in the living room.

"Where are all the pictures, like our wedding pictures and stuff?"

"They have been discarded. I'm afraid your children insisted."

She reacted like I had slapped her face.

"So why are you here this time Olga?"

"I saw Romana's wedding announcement on Facebook."

"Yes, Dan and Romana make a great couple. I really like him."

"Will I be invited to the wedding?"

"Have you ever called her Olga. It's been almost six months since you walked out on me and your children. Do you really think you would be invited to her most special day. Fortunately, Dan's mom has been a saint and filled all the rolls you would have played so there is really no need for you to be there. I can't stress enough that you should not show up. There are at least five people who would be very upset if you showed your face, maybe even more since Dan's mother is high on the list of people who hate you."

Olga was openly crying when she got up to leave and then she sat back down.

"What about you Drew, how have you been doing? You're looking very fit."

"I've been working out pretty steadily a year ago December," she flinched when I mentioned the date. "You would be proud to know how well our children have rallied around me since your letter. Andrew has a significant other he's been dating steadily for the last year. Nice girl, she laughs at all my jokes. A little birdy told me he will propose after Ramona's wedding. Every week on Sunday, someone takes a turn hosting a family dinner."

"Are you dating?"

"I think Romana, Dan's wife and Andrew's girlfriend Lisa, have made it their life's mission to fix me up with someone so every week there's a new woman at the table. Sometimes they make a second appearance if they thought I was interested. Romana has issued an edict that I must find my 'plus one' before her wedding and you know I can't say no to her."

"Yes, she always wrapped around her finger."

"And what about you Olga? I see pictures of your boyfriend all the time in the tabloids, usually with some pretty starlet on his arm."

"Yes, I am very happy." She was always a horrible liar, and I waited for her to continue.

"He has expanded into producing movies, so he spends much of his time with the Hollywood crowd these days. I spend most of my days taking care of the kids. When he took over the island, he made polygamy legal, so he has many wives. I came without children, but some come with their little ones. All the wives have different responsibilities, mine is to take care of the little ones. I'm like a grandmother to a dozen children," she said with the first hint of a smile on her face which quickly faded.

"Some of the wives are responsible for entertaining the constant flow of guests visiting these days."

"By entertaining, do you mean having sex with them?"

Olga looked down at the carpet. She was shuddering and I thought she was going to have a complete breakdown. She finally got ahold of herself and mumbled a yes, never taking her eyes off the floor.

"And what about you Olga, do you have to entertain guests?"

She started sobbing, "Yes, but not very often. Men don't find me very attractive anymore. I can't control my weight or anything else. That's how I became the grandmother."

Olga was now uncontrollably sobbing. I am not heartless and went over to hug her. Another face buried in my shoulder soaking my shirt with the tears.

"Oh Drew," she said, "I can't believe how much I've fucked up my life."

Then she grabbed her purse and ran out the door.

On Sunday, Liz's mother came. Beth was coming more frequently since her divorce. I guess she was another candidate for my plus one. Romana's first question was if I invited Olga to her wedding.

"No, I did not, and I warned her not to come. I know how you feel about her Romana."

"Yes, but I see that look of love in your eyes Dad, I've seen that look a million times when you looked at mom, especially if she was getting something out of the oven or out of a bottom cabinet!"

The boys covered their ears screaming TMI.

Romana was like a shark smelling blood, "So after all this shit, you would take her back?"

"Can't say whether I would take her back or not. I'm a compassionate person and I think your mother realizes she made an incredibly stupid mistake. But there's no guarantee that she won't make another. It's not as simple as overlooking the collision repair bill or the burnt lasagna hidden in the garbage can. Right now, that question is not on the table and I'm not going to stress over something that may never happen."

There was a long lull in the conversation when Liz's mother Beth, spoke up. "I have a suggestion; I could be your 'plus one.' I need a 'plus one' anyway and I have no interest in dating since my divorce. I was going to go by myself, but Liz began dragging me to these dinners. I'm sorry, dragging is not the right word because I've certainly enjoyed myself and I've never thought about saying no. Drew I'm sure you know how much better the food tastes when there's someone else around the table."

She had a tear in her eye when she finished, and Liz pulled her mother in for a hug.

A dozen other conversations started about Olga and what we would do if she showed up. A response to her question was lost in the mix. I was a little surprised about her question. Yes, I've seen her a dozen times at Sunday dinners, but she was usually very quiet and I knew she had no interest in dating. I had heard her divorce was nasty after she caught her husband in bed with his secretary for the third time.

As the people were leaving, I pulled Beth aside and told her I would be honored if she would be my plus one for the wedding. She nodded yes, and then I asked her if she would have dinner with me on Friday night so we would have time to get to know each other better before the wedding. There was a worried look on her face when she said yes. Just dinner, I promised. She smiled.

I thought I was being discreet and then realized that no one had followed through with leaving. So, all my family had watched me ask a woman out for the first time in 25 years. Romana and Liz ran over and gave me a big hug.

Dinner with Beth was fabulous. We had so much in common, favorite movies, favorite 80's rock bands. I did not realize how smart she was. I walked her to her door. I did not close the space I did not want to make her uncomfortable.

"Can I see you again next week Beth?"

She hesitated and I could see her thinking. I was beginning to prepare for a gut punch.

"Drew, you are the most amazing man I've ever met. There's a big hole in my life and I know you could fill it very well. But..."

I knew there was going to be a but... There was a bench on her porch, and I sat down. Beth sat down next to me.

"Drew, I could so easily fall in love with you. I think I started falling in love with you weeks ago. I've been asking Beth to take me to your Sunday dinners and it's not just because food tastes better when you're eating with someone else. I would not survive if I fell in love with you and you decided to go back to Olga."

"Beth, besides our love for bad 80 rock bands, we both have huge holes in our lives. Will we fall madly in love with each other, I don't know. What I do know is I don't want to pass up that opportunity because of something that may never happen."

Beth buried her face in my shoulder and started soaking my shirt, "So what do we do Drew?"

"May I suggest that we have three dates. At the end of that time, you may change your mind and think I'm an obnoxious snob. So, after that third date, we can have a similar conversation and decide where we want to go. Beth, will you have dinner with me on Friday?"

"I have a better idea, why don't you come over for dinner on Friday. After which you may decide I'm a horrible cook and would never want to eat my cooking ever again. Maybe we can catch a movie afterwards.

"That's a great idea!"

Beth attended our Sunday dinner again. I think we fell into the same dinner conversations we had on Friday night. Romana spoke up, "does anyone else feel like they are the third wheel at this dinner table?" Everyone raised their hands and burst out laughing.

As they were leaving, Lisa she pulled me close and said, "if you hurt my mother I will fucking kill you like a rabid dog." And then she gave me a pretty smile and winked.

During the week, we called each other every night.

I told her, "The support of my children throughout this ordeal was amazing. I often wondered what would be left of me during the 10 months Olga was playing around on fantasy island before she announced she was leaving."

"The same for me with Beth. My divorce was nasty. My ex made a good income, and the courts gave me great alimony plus this house and half of all his investments. I was smart enough to use my phone to video them when they were fucking in my bed. They were so loud they never heard me come in. He fought me every step of the way, alleging that I was cheating on him first. He said it was just a one-time lapse, but I had video of the last two times he fucked another woman in my bed. Thank god for Beth because every time I wanted to throw in the towel she helped me stand up to him."

On Friday, Beth invited me in before I had a chance to knock. I entered her house and smelled lasagna.

She gave me a wink and said, "I understand you like lasagna. Actually, I called Romana and asked her what you would like. I'm sorry my daughter threatened your life last Sunday."

"I'm surprised you didn't get a similar speech from Romana."

"What makes you think I didn't."

I sat down at the table and Beth bent over to remove the lasagna from the oven. She was really rocking the jeans she was wearing. She caught me checking out her ass and gave me another wink. The lasagna was delicious and always one of my favorites. Again, we just had this smooth conversation throughout the meal.

Over dinner, we quickly picked a movie to go see. Neither of us could remember the last time we were in a movie theater. As we left the car, I took her hand as we walked up to the theater. We both enjoyed the movie and stuffed ourselves with popcorn. The best part was feeling Beth snuggle up to me. I put my arm around her, and she snuggled closer.