WANDA'S ADVICE
"Can I take your coat, Val?"
Realizing she was nude under the coat, Val hugged herself as if chilled and shook her head. "No, no thanks. I'll keep it on if you don't mind.
"Well sit down, dear. You've had a horrible experience."
Val sat, careful not to let the coat open, fearing with some justification that should Wanda see her nakedness, she would mistake Val's reason for being there.
Wanda, concern etched on her face, gave Val time to compose herself, along with a good-sized snifter of brandy, then sat down next to her and said, "I'm not at all certain of what I should say to you, Val. So I'm going to talk. I'm going to talk about infidelity and its ramifications. I won't lay the blame anywhere. I know you'll do that on your own. So here goes.
"Your first instincts are to wound him; with words, or even throwing things at him. Even destroying something he considers of great value. Maybe you will when you see him. I know it's natural to want to inflict as much pain on him as possible after the pain he's caused you. The term "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," comes to mind." nowhere!
"He's a son-of-a-bitch, Wanda!"
"He's a man, Val. And they all think with their dicks."
Wanda sat silent for a moment, thinking. She nodded more to herself than to Val, and said, "If you go home and start screaming at him, it may drive him right into her arms. I don't think you want that."
"I'd like to kill the both of them. Do you know someone that does that, Wanda?"
"Don't be silly, Val. And no I don't. Even if I did I wouldn't tell you. Why that would make me an accessory. Did you think of that?"
"No. No, I hadn't, Wanda. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to involve you in . . ."
"What you need is some time to think. I mean to think clearly about what you want to do. Do you want to divorce him? Do you want to reconcile with him? Do you think you could ever trust him again? I say this because you don't stop loving a person the moment you caught him cheating on you. You're in a great deal of pain, that's certain. But you haven't fallen out of love with him yet. Maybe next week, after thinking things over you'll decide you despise him, and nothing will save your marriage. Maybe you'll find that there were extenuating circumstances . . ."
Val waved her hand at Wanda, signaling her to stop that line of conversation.
"Okay, maybe you won't. But that is a possibility. What I mean is, maybe you'll come to regret throwing him out before thinking things through. Think about your daughter. Think about your life style. Yes, I mean it. He controls the money. He might get the best in a divorce. With his money he might gain custody of your daughter."
"What!" Val shrieked, "Caroline, never! Why the courts would never . . ."
"It's happened, Val, believe me. It has happened and more than once. For example, he could, and I'm just supposing here. He could use the affair you had with Gerry Attric to show that you are an unfit mother."
"He'd never . . ."
"It has happened before, Val. That's my only point here. So be careful, all right?"
Val took a long gulp of brandy before answering. "Yeah, you're right. I'll take time and think things through." Wanda placed her hand on Val's and smiled. "If you find that you still value your relationship with Joe, then try to work things out. Divorce is not a forgone conclusion. You can still salvage this marriage. It will take work, and of course he has to be willing to help make it work."
They continued talking along these lines until Val stood up, and said she had better be leaving.
'I understand," Wanda told her. Please think before acting impetuously. Promise me, Val."
"Val gave her a wan smile, and nodded her head. "I will, and thanks for the brandy and the advice."
"You're welcome. I'm truly sorry it came to this, honey. The two women kissed, not the usual air buss that women prefer to maintain the perfection of their makeup, but a warm, wanton kiss, that ignited arousal in both.
They ended the kiss and broke apart.
"If you need me for anything, call," Wanda said, her eyes brimming with tears.
Val was already crying, and her mascara was running. "I . . . I'm a mess," she sobbed.
"You're a lovey mess," Wanda said kindly. "As lovely a mess as I've ever seen. Would you care to lie down with me? I can hold you, comfort you, but only if you want it."
"Your husband?"
"He's off to another of his meetings."
"You trust him, don't you?"
"Of course, but he trusts me too," she said with a leering smile.
"Oh," Val said in understanding. "It's a nice thought, and under different circumstances . . . well, I hope you understand."
"I do. So go home. Think things through. Call me if you want to talk."
"I will, and thanks, I needed a shoulder tonight."
"Good night, Val," she said and hugged Val close to her chest.
"Good night, Wanda."
Val & Gerry Attric
Val started home, then had another thought, and made a left turn toward Arlie Gardens. Gerry Attric lived in a sprawling home overlooking the inter-coastal waterway and she decided to call on him for his advice to help her think things out.
She had no idea how lucky she was to find him at home. He had been on his way to a meeting with Carlson and other influential friends, as well as a certain Joe Marcolina.
"Val, how nice to see you!" Gerry said after his manservant showed her into the library where Gerry was sipping a scotch. Can I get you something to drink?"
"No, um, yes. Perhaps a brandy?"
A brandy it is. Jason, will you please get Mrs. Marcolina a brandy?"
"Yes sir," the servant replied, and went off to the bar.
"It's good to see you, Gerry."
"And you too, Val. But I can see that you've been crying. Are you in trouble?"
Jason brought the brandy to Val and she nodded her thanks and took a sip. The brandy warmed her belly and she allowed herself a moment to collect her thoughts.
"I caught Joe fucking his receptionist, or secretary, or whatever the hell she is."
"Oh my!"
"Oh my, indeed!" she said caustically. "Gerry, what do I do?"
"Do?"
I walked in on him. I was caught up with the idea of taking him out to dinner. He'd been spending so much time at the office . . ."
"It must have been a tremendous shock," he said kindly, and placed his hand on hers. I can imagine what you're thinking."
She looked up at him. "Can you?"
"Yes, I think so. You feel anger, and you're confused. You resent the fact that he's cheated on you. You feel soiled."
"I guess you do have an idea of how I feel,' she admitted. "Gerry, what do I do?"
"Hmmm, first take a day or two to think things out. You need to make a series of possible life altering decisions. Whatever you do, don't rush off and act impulsively on this. It's just too important to you. And I should add, to Joe.
"If staying together is not an option, try to let go of the anger and resentment. Those feelings will not allow you to go forward in life. You have to let go. Know that you did your best and try to move on. Tell yourself that "this too, shall pass". You may not believe it now, but someday, you will be calm again. You will get through this, Val." His hand moved slowly up her arm to the elbow, as he spoke, then reversed and backed slowly down to the top of her hand and applied a light pressure.
"The anger will subside, the sun will shine and you will smile again. You may never be quite "the same" but you will be fine.
"As I see it, Val, you only have two options here. One, stay with him and he continues to cheat, maybe openly, maybe showing you some respect and doing furtively, but cheating nonetheless while you accept it. Or, two, you don't tolerate it; any of it. You lay down the law. Tell him you won't stand for it, and you won't have your intelligence insulted with any cock and bull stories."
"Thank you, Gerry. I was thinking along those lines myself. But of course I realize that under the circumstances, I'm not seeing things as clearly as I might otherwise."
"Val, I was about to have some dinner. Would you do me the honor of joining me?"
It occurred to her that she was starving, and she nodded her acceptance.
"Good. Wonderful," he said rising to stand before her. "May I take your coat?"
"No!" she blurted a little too quickly to imagine that Gerry would be fooled by any lie she made up. "I'm naked under the coat. I didn't plan it that way." She thought about what she'd just said and said, "What I mean is, I didn't plan it that way for us. I had planned on surprising Joe."
"And he beat you to it, eh?"
"Gerry, I should go home and put something on."
"Yes, I believe you should. But let me take you to dinner anyway. The Men's Club in town has great food, and I'd love to treat you to a wonderful meal. I promise it will help you feel a little bit better."
Val, wanting to cover her nakedness, agreed, but only if she could take her car home and get properly dressed.
"Certainly, my dear. I'll follow you to make sure you get there safely, and when you're ready, we'll dine in the finest restaurant in town."
"I'm only agreeing to this because I suspect you have even better advice for me," she said, and managed a smile.