A/N -- Hello again. So I'll be honest from the outset. When I started writing this story, the only thing I'd decided was the eventual setting (the reason this is called 'Flame Trees') and the premise of why they ended up there. As to who would end up with who, I only decided when it actually came to it. Who would the MC end up with?
Guess you'll just have to read and find out...
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Rising early as always, I tiptoed around the house so I didn't wake my wife. A quick breakfast with coffee, then a shower so I would at least walk out into the summer heat feeling somewhat refreshed, knowing I was going to be dripping with sweat within minutes as always. Dressing in the spare room, I only had to grab my bag, keys and sunnies before leaving for work, sneaking back into our bedroom to kiss my wife goodbye.
"Love you," she whispered sleepily.
"Love you more. See you tonight," I whispered back.
I'd left school at 16 to become what Australians called a 'tradie', or tradesman if you want the full term. I had no interest in going to university, so sought out and found an apprenticeship with a reputable company. I had to decide at a young age what path to follow, and I figured people would always be wanting people to redecorate rooms and even entire houses, so worked at becoming a fully-fledged painter and decorator, with a side-gig in carpentry, in case prospective clients wanted a little work done at the same time.
At the same age, I'd started dating my future wife while I was in my last year at school. Hayley. We'd known each other since starting high school at the same time, and had always been friendly, but I think we must have nursed crushes, as when I did finally ask her out, her first response was a broad grin and an exclamation of "Finally!"
During that last year at school, for myself at least, we were almost inseparable, at least outside of the classroom. We were already working part-time jobs at the same time, while I played sport on a Saturday, so the only day we really had together was on a Sunday. But we made sure that Sunday was always free, or as best we could. Sometimes there were family events we just couldn't get out of, but more often than not, we'd enjoy a date on a Sunday.
I left school and started working almost immediately at the end of the year while Hayley wanted to keep studying and go to university for future studies, aware of what profession she wanted to pursue. She certainly had my support as she was far more intelligent than I was. Apprentices were not exactly paid well, but I certainly made enough to pay my parents rent, put away a little more in savings for the future, while I could also take Hayley out for what I thought were 'better' dates. I didn't splash cash, certainly couldn't afford that, but I was able to do a little more for the both of us.
My apprenticeship lasted two years before I was taken on as a full-time employee, and while I might not have wanted to go onto further study, I did take part-time college courses as I figured having other certifications, within the same or similar fields, could only be a good thing. Once I hit full-time work, and my sister had finished high school herself, my parents divorced.
I knew they hadn't been happy for years. Surprisingly, Mum was the one to leave the family home, stating she was going to return to her home town a few hours north, and that her children would be more than welcome to join her, though she understood opportunities up north were less than where we lived now. My sister was still studying, while my job was leading places, but we both assured her we'd travel north as often as possible to see her. She was upset, of course, but we were now old enough to understand, and knew she had to put her own happiness first now that we were both adults.
My father wasn't sad to see her go, the divorce pretty much uncontested, and despite the fact they were no longer in love, it wasn't a bitter divorce. They'd simply fallen out of love, stayed together until we were old enough, then they split apart. Wasn't the first time I'd heard it done, wouldn't be the last.
With Mum leaving, Dad didn't want to keep the large house so put it on the market, wanting to downsize to little more than an apartment, as the house was worth considerably more thanks to the booming housing market. That left my sister and I with a problem as he was going to be downsizing considerably. He sat me down one evening and pretty much said I'd have to move out of home, my sister remaining since she was at university and couldn't afford to live away from home. Wasn't particularly what I wanted to hear, but at least he gave me time to put things together.
Then Hayley came up with an idea, meeting me for coffee the day after my father dumped that revelation on me. I move in with her and her parents until she finished university, then we'd marry and move in together. She realised what she'd said and blushed. I took her hand and suggested I might just have to look for a ring, considering we had been dating for three years by then.
I waited until she'd graduated university before proposing. She naturally said yes straight away, and considering she knew it was coming, it wasn't a real surprise she'd been planning our wedding for quite a while. The surprise to me was that she didn't want something big. "All your savings are for a house or apartment, Mark. A wedding is one day of our lives. Our home will be for life."
We married less than six months after I proposed, and six months after that, moved into our own apartment. By the time I was 25, I was making fantastic money and even looking at starting up my own company. I enjoyed working where I did, but the idea of being my own boss was appealing, and with everything online nowadays, I knew I'd left plenty of satisfied customers that would open up plenty of work.
Hayley was happy in her job but was thinking about returning to university as a mature student to add to her previous qualifications. We sat down, did the sums, and figured we could afford it over a couple of years until she returned to the workforce. The only thing we couldn't afford was a child, but she was careful with her birth control, and we'd had no concerns in all the years we'd been having sex, so just hoped that would remain.
I left work for that morning in a good mood. I had a beautiful wife, our own apartment I'd spent years decorating while my wife added her personal touches. We had all the material things people liked to buy. But my wife and I were still very much in love. She was back at university, studying a field she'd always been interested in, and knew there would be jobs upon graduating a second time. Once she was back at work, we agreed to start trying for a family once we hit 30. One or two kids at most, but we agreed we both wanted them.
I just had no idea leaving that morning... everything I'd done since I was 16 would come crashing down.
It was another baking hot day as I drove to the office. I'd finished the last job I had on my calendar the previous day, and hadn't received anything from the boss, so figured it would be a day in the warehouse, getting things ready, or I'd be sent off somewhere to start preparing for a new job. Instead, I was greeted with news that work was quiet, possibly due to the approaching end of year holidays', so I'd only have to do a half to two-thirds of a day before clocking off.
Leaving early, I figured I'd surprise the wife by picking her up and taking her out for a coffee or something then spending the late afternoon together before dinner, as I knew when she had classes and lectures. She took public transport to university, so at least she'd have a lift home as well. I always felt out of place whenever I end up at her university, considering I generally wandered around in paint-stained clothing, blue-collar to the extreme, but everyone was always friendly, and no surprise my wife had friends everywhere. Pointed in the direction of an office, someone who knew her suggested she was currently speaking with one of her professors.
What I found happening in that office changed everything in a matter of seconds. She didn't see me at first. Whether he did, I wasn't sure. But there was no missing the fact he was fucking my wife. The fact he had the audacity to keep the door ajar while doing so was rather brazen from both of them. My feet felt like they were in concrete. I simply couldn't move. Part of me wanted to burst in and beat the shit out of him. But I'd never been a violent person, except when on the rugby field.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the room. He looked up rather startled while she turned and saw me. Her eyes widened in fear, surprise, and I'm sure plenty of other emotions before the tears formed immediately. "I mean, if you're going to cheat on me, Hayley, I would have thought it would be someone at least physically better looking." I gestured at him. "I mean, really? Him?"
"I'll have you know..." he started to say.
