Inspiration comes in many forms and the following authors have inspired me; blackrandi1958, Cagivagurl and other2other1.
The story "My Wife and the Singer" by Cagivagurl, is a favorite of mine and motivated me to write a story with a similar premise but different in many other ways. The cheating wife who loses herself in a fantasy that comes back to haunt her, is a major theme in the Loving Wives category.
Written from the husband's perspective, it explores the possibility that despite the terrible betrayal, reconciliation is feasible. If you're looking for a BTB, read no further.
Any similarity to persons living or dead, is purely coincidental. This story is the property of the author and the author alone.
There is M-F and F-M-F sex.
Once Upon a Time in London
After a very long workday, I sat at my kitchen table. A beer occupied one hand and I was looking at mail that I hadn't touched in several days with the other. One envelope caught my eye. The return address was from my high school reunion committee. Just seeing that, and my heart squeezed in my chest as a wave of nausea enveloped my gut.
I tore open the envelope and saw a request to join the committee for my twenty fifth reunion. The reunion was two years away and the letter was a plea for my participation in the process. Apparently, they were having problems finding willing volunteers. Unfortunately, I loathed the whole idea as the twentieth reunion heralded the annihilation of my personal life. I felt the bile rising in my throat and swallowed to keep it down.
Despite all the therapy and marriage counseling, my mind drifted to that auspicious time, three long years ago. Amy was in London pursuing her dream and I was looking after two teenagers, struggling with my thoughts. Was she faithful to me? I was positive that she wasn't, somewhere in my heart I knew it. But there was always the possibility...
Three days before Amy was scheduled to return home, I received a large brown manilla envelope at work. The contents shocked and disgusted me. There was no doubt as to her infidelity and the evidence was right in front of me. At that time, it looked like seventeen years of marriage was down the drain.
What do I tell the kids? Nothing in the short term but down the road, they would have to be told. How much? Emma and Melissa were the light of my life. This was sure to devastate them.
The sad remembrance had me reaching for a bottle of Blanton's Bourbon that I'd gotten as a Christmas gift. Expensive stuff and uncommonly good. I needed a shot or two to steady my nerves. The storm of memories was sure to dominate my night.
Suddenly my cell phone rang, and I saw it was my daughter Melissa.
"Hello."
"Hey dad. Just checking in to see how you are?"
"Good." I lied
"It's cold as heck up here."
It was her second semester at Penn State University, and I forewarned her about the weather.
"Told ya sweety."
"Yeah, ya did. So, everything ok?"
"Yes, all's good.
"I worry about you. I know you're not all alone but with Emma at Pitt...well. I'm sure you could use some help."
I felt the tears come and they fell silently down my cheeks. It was impossible to tell her how lonely I felt.
"I'm good sweety." I responded in a very shaky voice.
"Daddy? Are you crying?"
I couldn't lie to her; Melissa was the dearest child.
"Maybe...a little. I miss you and your sister, but I do have company on the weekends."
"I'll try to visit soon..."
I cut her off.
"No. I'll be fine...enjoy your time at college."
"We'll see, ok? Love you dad."
"Love you too."
I couldn't stop the tears. My daughters had suffered the most. Two innocents caught up in a shit storm.
Throwing the invitation to the side, I sipped my drink and welcomed the warm fuzzy feeling that started at my toes and slowly rose to my head. I retreated to my easy chair and sat enveloped in bad memories. But they weren't all bad. My life with Amy was one of fulfillment, joy, and happiness. We had it all until...
Amy and I met as freshman in high school. We were part of the top academic group and I guess you could say nerds, but I was also involved in sports, football and track. I didn't feel like a nerd, but I knew that Amy did. While facially pretty, with classic blonde hair and blue eyes, she was overweight but not a lot. It was enough that she had a self-image problem.
Amy had an excellent singing voice and was in choir. She also had formed a loose band alliance with one Derek Hough, who aspired to be a rock star. I found him to be conceited and full of himself. They performed at talent shows, battle of bands competitions, and occasionally at venues in the area. Truth be told they were very good, but many talented bands never make it.
Amy and I started dating in sophomore year. I saw the real her and fell in love. However, I always knew that she harbored a secret crush for Derek, but it never went beyond friendship. While I could say that he was my friend also, there was always a degree of mistrust between us.
After we graduated high school, Amy and I went to Penn State University. The band members went their separate ways. After we got our degrees, I went to Temple Law School, Amy started teaching high school English and got her master's degree.
Not much was heard about Derek until ten years later when he achieved some success with a band called Southern Charm. I thought it was a silly name for a rock band with mostly members from the northern states. But they had a few mild hits and enjoyed some success.
After our two daughters were born, Amy resolved to get in the best shape of her life. She threw herself into working out and within a year, she was one hot momma with a very hardbody. Our sex life was always good but once she gained her positive self-image it went through the roof! After a few years, she became a certified personal trainer. Nothing pleased her more than seeing a client achieve a goal. Yes, our lives were busy.
Then, the twentieth reunion happened. The scuttlebutt before the evening was that Derek Hough would be attending and probably performing. Amy was excited to see him and was most definitely a fan of his music. Dressed in a form fitting cocktail dress, she was the picture of hotness. Just thirty-nine years old, she could easily pass for twenty-nine.
As the evening entered its second hour...
"I guess Derek's not coming." Amy said wistfully.
"Looks like it..."
Before I could say more, a cheer went up and in strode Derek, dressed in true rock star fashion with an acoustic guitar. Of course, he was mobbed by well-wishers but when he finally got around to saying hello to Amy and me. He took a gander at Amy and his eyes almost pooped out of his head.
"Wow, Amy...you...look, ah...fantastic."
I watched my wife blush and soon they were chatting and ignoring me. There was a small stage at the front of the venue and several microphones were set up.
"Hey, Ames (in high school Derek always called Amy, Ames.) sing with me. Do ya
know any of my songs? I'll do five or six. How's the voice? Still got it?"
"Yeah, I still got it and I know all your songs. I'm a fan."
Amy looked at me and I just nodded as my sign of approval. To loud applause, they took the stage and I had to admit, the unplugged set sounded great. After each song there was clapping, whistling and general raucous approval for them. They had two encores and easily dominated the evening's festivities.
After their last tune, Amy and Derek disappeared around the opposite end of the stage. I looked for them and it was twenty minutes before I saw them huddled together, on the inside of the curtain, taking seriously about something. Amy saw me first.
"Hey Babe, Derek's finishing an album and wants to know if I can get some time off to sing backup vocals. He's recording at the Abbey Road studios in London and performing at four concerts."
I'm sure I looked troubled.
"We'll have to discuss this, Amy."
I kind of glared at Derek.
"Hey, man. Its all-expenses paid. She'll be great. We're leaving on the twenty fifth and we're flying back to the states on the eighteenth. She'll be a hit man; the boys will love her!"
"Oh God babe, can you imagine? It's the dream of a lifetime! London...Abbey Road Studios...performing on stage again."
Amy was star struck but it gave us only a little over a week to decide. I caught Derek eyeing my wife's hot bod and I trusted him about as much as I could throw him.
Derek said his goodbyes to the crowd and winked at Amy as he turned and left. I wasn't too happy, and Amy could clearly see my mood. Somehow, I knew that my world was going to be turned upside down and inside out.
On the long car ride home, Amy chattered away.
"Babe, it'll coincide with my summer vacation from teaching. I won't have to take any time off...the girls will be fine, I'll have your mother look after them in the daytime...she can take them to swim lessons at the club, shopping, anything they'd want. Hey, ya don't look very happy. Why?"
"I don't like this, Amy. Why does he need you? There are plenty of backup singers
they can get in the UK and where are you staying?"
"Derek told me they rented a house only a few blocks from the studio and we each have a room. Come on babe, nobody's sharing. What are you worried about? The girls are older, they pretty much fend for themselves."
"I don't trust this whole set up and especially him."
Amy was quiet for a few minutes.
"Do you think that...I'd ya know...be unfaithful to you?"
"Not consciously but don't you see. You're to be in a house with a rock band...I'm sure there will be drugs, drinking and God knows what else. You can easily lose yourself in the whole scene. I saw the way he looked at you tonight, like a wolf with a sheep."
"I wanna go Mike. I'm a professional, I'll keep it on a professional level, I promise. I may never get an opportunity like this ever again."
We rode the rest of the way in silence. Over the next few days, Amy dug her heels in. The atmosphere was very frosty in the house as she felt that I was keeping her from living out her dream. There was no intimacy which was unusual. Finally, the night before she had to get back to Derek with an answer...
"Ok, Amy, you're an adult. It's your decision but I'm warning you if anything happens between you and Derek, and I will find out, some way I will, that will be the end of us. I can promise you that. I think the whole set up stinks! I'm an attorney and I know human nature. The temptation will be there, and I think it will be too great to ignore."
"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence Mike! I guess you never trusted me. You're right, I'm an adult and I'm making an adult decision. Too bad you can't support me in this."
That's how we left it. Our daughters were very excited for their mother and wanted lots of pics. The last night before her departure, Amy wanted to make love and we did several times. It was slow, sincere, and just what we needed at the time to repair some of our relationship. But I was troubled.
Early the next morning, the limo came to pick up Amy and take her to the airport. We hugged and kissed but she could see that I wasn't happy.
"Come on babe, everything will be just fine. Love ya."
