Note: No burn the bitch but living happy works in this case. This was edited by Microsoft editor but, don't be upset if something pops up.
Also, I'm not up on the dealings of a book publisher so as SaddleTramp1953 writes in part: "For those who want to say this or that would never happen, remember this is my universe, a place where nearly everything can and often does, happen. Slick742
Enjoy
*****
THE NOVEL
Robert Helms took a week off to get away from his job and life. At 54 years old his job as a college history professor was coming to an end with enough years of service and age to retire early in a few months. His investments had multiplied many times over and money was the least of his concerns. What he was missing was companionship.
For the past year his 52-Year-old wife Roseann spent most of her time on her latest fiction novel. He tried to break her away from it, but when she got into writing she was able to close out everything and everybody. As he drove into the driveway of his Jersey shore house he noticed a package on his front doorstep.
"Let's see, what do have here?" He grinned while opening the well-wrapped package. "Ah, a book written by....by Maxine Bolt, Roseann's alias." He glanced at the title and had to sit down on the front porch swing:
"A CHEATER'S CONFESSION"
He saw the note taped to the front cover from his old Army buddy PFC Sanderson, who worked at the publishing company:
'I saw that it was your wife's newest book. She's got a wild mind my friend.... Sandy'
Her other novels were mystery and crime novels, so this seemed to be a big change. The title interested him and since it was around 3PM he had some daylight left to start reading. When darkness came the small porchlight gave him enough light to keep reading her book but had to quit a few times; not because he was tired, but because of his anger.
"That cheating-ass bitch!" He gasped as he finished the last chapter at 4AM the next morning. He heard his phone beep and pulled it out of his pants pocket. It was his daughter Lisa. "Hello."
"Daddy I've been calling you all night was worried. Why haven't you answered my calls?"
"I've been reading your mother's new fucking book."
"Oh no! I was hoping you hadn't received a copy. It's fiction Daddy, please realize that."
"Did your slut mother tell you to say that? Fiction my ass. There is too much fact to not be real. Yeah, the names were different, but the story follows our life verbatim. You know that this means you are not my daughter right?"
"She told me that was not true. There is no way that Uncle Roy is my dad. And even if was his sperm you will always be my real father. How did you get the book? It's not supposed to be on the market until a few more weeks and Mom said it was being changed."
He didn't want to get Sandy, his buddy, in trouble so he answered a question with a question. "How did you see it?" She didn't answer. "Fuck, you saw the draft before it was sent to the publisher didn't you?"
"Yes I found it and I told Mom to make changes. She said she would, but I guess she didn't do it. I'm sorry Daddy."
"My own daughter keeps secrets from me and now says she is worried about me. Hell, the whole world is going to know what a cuckold I've been for the past 30 years. I'll tell you what Lisa stay the hell away from me or I'll say something I might regret. And tell that skank mother of yours I'll be starting divorce proceedings on Monday." He hung up. The phone immediately buzzed again but he turned it off.
*****
Roseann didn't hear back from her publisher as to when her book was due to go to press. Over a month ago, after talking to Lisa, she knew that changes had to be made so she did some drastic modifications with omissions, timings, locations, and relationships. Her editor's assistant said they were still in discussions about the wording but were non-committal about the final decision.
She had used the writing of this novel as a personal confession of her many adulteries she had during her 30-year marriage with Robert. It was like confessing to a priest to help erase her guilt. The book describes the life of a wife leading two lives. One a devoted loving wife and the second a cheating lying slut. She knew it would sell a lot of copies. She was sitting in her NYC loft when her phone rang.
"Lisa why are you calling so early in the morning? Is everything alright?"
"Oh God Mom! Daddy knows. He got a copy of your book, and I don't think your changes were made. He even blamed me and hung up his phone."
"What!? They promised me the changes were in the final draft ready for printing. They never confirmed that they may my changes made. What did he say?"
"He said the...the story follows our life verbatim, and it means I am not his daughter."
"Fuck, I rewrote that whole chapter and there was no daughter born from one of her lovers. Where is he? I haven't talked to him in over a week."
"It's been longer than that. Neither one of us have heard from you in almost a month. I'm surprised you even answered my call this morning."
"I'm so sorry. Now that the book is finished I was planning on going to Europe with your dad and you to celebrate its release."
Lisa was flamingly pissed. "Well, you can forget about going anywhere with Dad. He said you cuckolded him for 30 years and that you better stay away from him. And right now, I feel the same. Goodbye!"
"Lisa don't hang up!" But she was gone. She tried to call the publisher, but it was too early and went to her voice mail.
"Helen this is Roseann Helm. I have a serious problem, or should I say you do with my book. I sent you changes and was told they were in the works. Now I hear the published book was sent to my husband without the changes and he is ready to divorce me. Since I have not signed off on the final printing I'm going to sue your ass for as much as I can. First, you had better STOP THE FUCKING PRESS!"
Her whole body was trembling as she collapsed onto the floor and covered her face with her hands. "Oh God no... please I can't lose the only man I've ever loved."