Before I get into the reason for my story, I want to cover some background information that will help you understand what I heard that turned my world upside down.
My name is Tommy Mayes. My friends still call me Tommy, but my business name is Tom. I work with my uncle in his restaurant that he has owned for over 40 years. I started working in the restaurant at a pretty young age mostly busing tables and helping in the kitchen. As I got older, my involvement only increased until I could do just about anything but cook.
My parents were killed in a car crash due to a drunk driver. The driver crossed the median and hit my parents head on. I was only 15 at the time. Uncle Sal took me into his home and we have worked together ever since. Uncle Sal and Aunt Ginnie never had kids, so I have been more of a son to them than a nephew. I am working my way to taking over the restaurant when Uncle Sal decides he has had enough of the business. Uncle Sal is barely in the restaurant anymore and trusts me completely.
I was 23 when I first met my wife, Kari. Kari came into the restaurant just after lunch with one of her friends. They sat at the bar and ordered a glass of white wine. I was the only bartender at the time until later in the afternoon when we would see an increase in traffic and would need a full time bartender. Kari struck me right off. She was my exact type. I love brunettes with long legs and beautiful eyes. Kari hit all of those marks. Her smile set off her eyes perfectly. At the time, I guessed that Kari was around 5'9" and roughly 125 pounds. Great chest and a perfect ass. What did you expect from a 23 year old. We can be pretty shallow at that age.
Getting back to the story. As I continued to get the bar ready for the evening crowd, I would check on the two ladies to see if they needed anything further. We made some small talk and I resolved to leave them to their conversation. As I was cutting some fruit, I was just far enough away for them to be comfortable with their conversation, but close enough that I could still hear anything above a whisper. I could see out of the corner of my eye that the two of them were staring at me and I heard an interesting question. "Would you, have you?" I didn't know what that meant, but Kari answered "Yes, and soon." There was some giggling and then they asked for a second glass and the check. I filled their glasses and handed them the check. Soon they were both walking out the door with Kari taking a quick look back at me with a wave.
I grabbed their glasses and the pay slip and headed to the register. I glanced down at the pay slip and it had Kari's name and phone number with a note to give her a call sometime. I was intrigued enough to write down the number and placed the paper into my pocket. I had forgot about the note until I arrived home and was emptying my pockets. I looked at the note and thought, what the hell. Give her a call. Worst thing that could happen was she could say no.
I gave Kari a call and asked her to dinner. Working in the restaurant, my days off were Mondays and Tuesdays. The weekends are too busy for me to not be at there, so I made the date for Monday night. Kari arrived and was dressed to the nines. Short enough of a skirt to show off her legs, but just long enough to not be slutty. White blouse with enough buttons undone to be intriguing and nice set of heels that accentuated her calf muscles. I couldn't help but think what an angel. Dinner went great and we started dating from there. We became exclusive 3 months later and then I asked her to marry me just short of a year. We have been married for the past 6 years.
After we were married, I asked Kari about the "Would you, have you" question. Kari said it was a sorority game the sisters would play when they would watch guys walk by their sorority house on campus. It was a way to bond around guys and to identify the good looking ones that they would like to explore going further with. Most times it didn't go any further, but occasionally it would turn into a date.
My responsibilities at the restaurant have only increased over the next 6 years. Uncle Sal had a strong belief in the best quality of products. He would source items from all over the country and would visit their operations once a year. Uncle Sal felt that this set his restaurant apart and allowed him to understand if the vendors sites weren't up to the grade, the quality of their products weren't going to cut it either. I had started to take over those trips over the past year and about once a month I would travel out of town for our vendors that were further away. This past month I had visited our vendor in Colorado that supplied our lamb. It was a great trip and I was impressed with their operations.
As I awoke on the fateful Monday that would change my marriage, I mentioned to Kari as she was getting ready for work that I would be at the restaurant this afternoon to oversee our produce delivery. I was going to be covering for our kitchen manager who had an appointment that he couldn't change. I did this occasionally, so it wasn't too big of a deal.
"Remember we are meeting the group tonight at Schmitty's for the Falcons game."
"Yep, I shouldn't be too long at the restaurant" was my reply to Kari as she walked out the door.
The Falcons were playing on Monday night and whenever that occurred we would meet a group of our friends at the bar to eat, drink and watch the game. Since I worked most weekends, this was the one opportunity for all of us to get together. It has become somewhat of a tradition for all of us. I left for the restaurant just after 2:00 PM to meet the truck.
As I sat waiting for the delivery, I received a call from our produce vendor that the truck would be delayed due to a flat tire. They mentioned that it was the inside tire, so it was going to take a little longer to change, but they should be there by 5:00. The game started at 7:00, so it would be tight to get the truck unloaded, the produce stored and home in time for kickoff. I sent a quick text to Kari to let her know that I would be home closer to kickoff than expected. I received an "Okay..." as my reply, which meant that Kari was pissed, but what could I do. The truck pulled up to the restaurant at 4:50.
We unloaded the truck in record time. I pitched in to help them and it moved pretty quickly. I took a quick inventory of what had been delivered and told them to head out to try to get to some of their other deliveries before it was too late. I put the produce into the cooler and hustled out the door. I arrived at the house at 6:25 and jumped into the shower. I noticed that Kari had already opened a bottle of wine which looked like it was almost empty. I guess I am driving tonight.
I came down the stairs at 6:40 and we were out the door. We walked into the bar at 6:55 and were there in time for kickoff. Kari immediately started talking to her two friends, Tera and Jessica. Tera was her friend that was at the bar when we met and Jessica was one of her sorority sisters from college. They all have known each other for a very long time. I shook hands with Kevin and Todd who had a beer waiting for me as I sat down. The girls had a glass of wine waiting for Kari as well. Kari was already feeling her oats and tends to get loud the drunker she gets. This could be an early night if she keeps up the pace she started out on.
We were into the 2nd quarter when I was shocked down to my foundation. A young waiter walked by when I heard the same phrase I heard the day I met Kari. Tera asked the same question as the three of them watched the waiter walk by, "Would you, Have you?" Jess was first to answer, "Yes" and "No", Tera answered the same. Kari's response was what changed my world, "Yes I would and Yes I have!" I was floored. What had I just heard? My wife just admitted to fucking some guy?
Kevin looked at me and asked "Tommy, are you okay? You look like shit."
