'I can't remember the last time we had sex.'
That thought came out of nowhere as I was crawling into bed for the night. Thinking back, I realized that Jerry had not tried to initiate sex in at least a month. I had stopped initiating sex long before that, as Owen didn't like sharing my body with my husband. So, how long had it been? Fear spiked through me at the thought that he might have discovered my affair. It didn't seem likely after all this time, and I would have expected to have been served by now if he had. Still, I wasn't going to get much sleep until I asked.
"Honey, why haven't you tried to have your way with me recently?"
He grumbled a bit as he woke back up and rolled over to look at me. "I didn't want to say anything that might hurt you because I still love you, but honestly, you just don't excite me anymore. I'm more attracted to my PA than I am to you. Also, they seem more interested in me than you have been in a while."
I flopped onto my back and stared at the ceiling in shock. That was not an answer I was expecting. With how good I still looked at 38, how could I not excite him? I knew I still excited the men at the office, especially my boss who had pursued me until I had agreed to an affair that continued to this day. Then it hit me. Jerry's PA is Donald and Donald is gay. If Jerry is excited by Donald... then Jerry is gay? Oh my god, my husband is gay! How did I never see this? My frown morphed into a smile as I realized that this was perfect. I can keep my family while continuing my affair, completely guilt free.
Not even looking at Jerry, I finally responded, "I understand dear. If you prefer to be intimate with your PA, I just ask that you be discreet. That's not the kind of thing that anybody else needs to know about."
"Are you sure? I just figured we would get divorced."
"No. I mean, yes, I'm sure, but no, I don't want a divorce. I want to support you in this, but we still need to stay together for the twins."
"You're so thoughtful." He kissed my forehead before rolling over and going back to sleep.
I still couldn't sleep, but now it was because of excitement rather than dread.
* * * * *
I couldn't wait for 5 o'clock and our overtime session, so I slipped into Owen's office as soon as everybody else headed out to lunch. I made sure to close and lock the door behind me.
"Guess what? I've got good news."
"Oh? What news is that?"
I made him wait as I slowly unbuttoned my blouse. As I slid it off to reveal my lacy bra, I answered him. "My body is now exclusively yours."
Owen's head jerked up as he raised his eyes from my breasts. Concern was etched on his face as he asked, "You didn't tell Jerry about us, did you?"
"No, it turns out that I am just his beard and he's not interested in my body. Can you believe he's actually gay?"
"Jerry's gay? Well, I guess that would explain why it was so easy to steal you away from him."
He paused to watch me remove my skirt. "It's kind of disappointing, actually."
"Hey now, don't say that," I said as I knelt before him in just my skimpy bra and panties and unzipped his pants. "You know I'm never disappointing."
* * * * *
"It's so quiet in here." After the three-hour return trip, we had just settled in to relax in the living room. With no kids, no electronics blaring, and each of us lost in our own thoughts, it truly was quiet until I spoke. "I can't believe that the kids are off to college already. I haven't cried like that in a long time." In fact, I hadn't managed to stop crying until we were over halfway back home.
"You were far from the only mother crying. Heck, I even saw several fathers with tears in their eyes as we were carrying things in." A bit of movement caused me to look over at him in his recliner, just in time to see him finish wiping a tear from his own eye. He then looked off into the distance with a determined look on his face.
"I've been trying to figure out how to bring this up, but I guess it's best to just rip the bandage off. With the kids off to college, it's time we stop this charade and go our separate ways. Besides, Helen refuses to get pregnant until we're married."
I could feel my blood starting to boil as I screamed, "Helen! Who the hell is Helen?"