Β©2025 by the author using the pen name Smuttyandfun
This is for the April Fool's Day Contest. As always, your votes and comments are much appreciated.
I was in a funk. And I decided that grabbing some lunch with my sister might be just what I needed to help cheer me up. Ellie was always so bubbly and had such an optimistic outlook on life that I was hoping might rub off on me.
Now that my wife had dumped me just four months since we walked down the aisle together, I needed to talk to someone who could understand what I was going through. Ellie would know what I was feeling, considering that last year her fiancΓ© had changed his mind about getting married only a day before their wedding, leaving us all stunned. But I was glad that she managed to get past it, and had even started dating again.
My sister was also a great sounding board, and was never one to judge or spread gossip. So, I knew anything I told her would stay between us.
But even Ellie looked a little shocked when I told her the reason for our breakup was because my soon to be ex-wife Lizzy, had decided that she didn't want to be married to me anymore because she wanted to explore everything that was out there. And I'd just heard from a mutual friend that she'd gotten her wish, and she was now involved with not only her best friend Jayne, but also Jayne's husband Gary, as well as his brother and his wife, who were all into that lifestyle.
Though I never drank at lunch, I decided to order a scotch, hoping it would relax me, since I'd been feeling a little tense ever since Lizzy walked out on me a few weeks ago. And having to rehash it, obviously wasn't helping.
Though she looked surprised, Ellie quickly asked, "So, were there any hints? Or were you blind-sided when she left you?"
I sighed, thinking back. "One night in bed, I caught her watching some pretty raunchy three-way porn, but she laughed and claimed she was just curious, because she'd never really had much experience before me."
"So, she never let on before you got married that she might be into that kind of thing?"
"No." I shook my head, wishing she had. "Lizzy was so excited about the wedding, she said she could hardly wait to marry me. And she was the one who pushed for us to get married as soon we got engaged. In hindsight, I think she just wanted out of her parents' house, because they're so controlling. Still, I assumed that we'd be happy once we tied the knot, and hopefully live happily ever after. She never let on that she'd be the type to want to hook up with other people. As far as I could tell, I thought our love life was pretty good. Though she still claims she loves me, and doesn't want us to split up for good, I can't imagine sharing my wife with anyone else. So, as far as I'm concerned, we're done."
Ellie looked as sad as I felt when she reached across the table and gave my hand a squeeze. "Matt, I know you've got to be hurting because it's still pretty fresh. But maybe it's just as well you found out what she was really like before you started a family."
I nodded, realizing it would have been even worse if there were kids involved. "Yeah, you're right. Still, we dated for over a year, so you think she might have brought it up before we decided to commit our lives to each other."
"You're such a nice guy, I'm sure it won't take long for you to meet someone new. Remember Mom always said, "When one door closes, another one opens."
I smiled, thinking about our mom who passed away last year. "Yeah, mom never let anything get her down. Even after dad died, she managed to carry on. She was a real optimist, just like you."
Watching me nervously twist my wedding ring on my finger, Ellie nodded at my hand. "You know, if you really think it's over, it might help if you took your ring off. No one will know you're available if you're still wearing a wedding band."
Not really sure if I was ready to start over, when our server stopped at our table, I was about to order another drink, when Ellie shook her head and raised an eyebrow, as she finished her single glass of wine, making me chuckle. So, I decided just to ask for the bill.
As we were leaving, she wrapped her arms around me, hugged me tight and whispered, "Don't let this get you down, Matt. You're a super nice guy, and you deserve to be with someone who really loves you. And I know the right woman is out there. So, don't be afraid to try again."
The sting of getting dumped was still so fresh, meeting someone new was the last thing on my mind. But maybe one day down the road if I were to meet the right person, I might be willing to give it another shot.
Since it was Friday afternoon, and I had a long drive ahead of me up to the company weekend retreat, once I got back to work, I thought I'd better close my office door and rest my eyes for a few minutes before I had to head up north. Lucky for me, my chair reclined, so I could get comfortable, and maybe even catch a few winks.
I had just opened my office door and was about to step inside, when I was shocked to see a gorgeous young woman with long blonde hair, fast asleep behind my desk. She was so pretty she stopped me in my tracks.
Before I could decide what to do, my silver-haired motherly assistant Jan rushed up behind me, ushered me back into the hallway and whispered, "She just flew in from Vancouver, so I told her to wait in your office. Since you've been gone for a while, I suggested she could sit in your chair and lay back and take a nap if she was tired. Poor thing must be exhausted, because she's been fast asleep for over an hour."
I remembered then who she was. "So, I'm guessing she's the one that head office hired to handle the new marketing campaign for the chocolate account we just landed."
Jan nodded. "That's her, Keira McKenzie. She flew in today for the weekend retreat."
She looked so sweet and innocent as she slept, I couldn't imagine she was the little 'power house,' we were expecting to work with our newest client. As we watched her sleeping, I whispered to Jan, "My bags are in my car. As soon as she wakes up, we can drive up there together."
Jan smiled as she watched her. "She's really quite pretty, isn't she?" Then she pointedly smiled up at me, since she knew that my wife and I had just split up.
Well, no matter how beautiful she was, I wasn't ready to get involved again. So, I knew that nothing was going to happen.
Though I couldn't deny that I was still curious enough to want to get to know her, but only so we could work together on keeping our new client happy.
When Jan wandered back to her desk, I quietly stepped into my office and approached the woman who was still off in dreamland in my chair.
I guess sensing someone was watching, she opened her big blue eyes and gazed around looking confused, till she locked eyes with me and remembered where she was. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, blushing as she scrambled to get to her feet.
"It's okay. I'm just sorry I kept you waiting."
She quickly composed herself and offered her hand. "You must be Matt Clark. I'm Keira McKenzie."
"Nice to meet you, Keira. I've heard a lot of good things about you."
I realized what I was doing when I noticed the way she was smiling when I held onto her hand a little too long, mostly because I couldn't stop staring. She was just so beautiful, she had me feeling a little breathless.