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A Double Standard

By: DG Hear



Thanks goes to 'Techsan' for editing this story.

There is not much sex in this story.

*

I am one of those weird people who read erotic stories. Yes, I admit it. Once I start reading them it's hard to stop. Some stories are total trash; of course that is only my opinion. But then you come across a story, not paying any attention to the authors name, you never heard of him or her but the title of the story draws your interest. You decide to click on it and kind of give it a scan through, not really reading it. After you scan through about a third of the story, you stop and think to yourself this is pretty good. You put your pointer back to the story beginning and start reading every word.

The author has drawn you in or is it your own emotions that are making you read this story? Another story about a spouse having an affair. Damn! I hate stories about affairs. The wife fucks some guy, either a stranger or her husband's best friend. She leaves some stupid clue and her husband finds it. Now he has to do something about it.

He faces her with the cheating facts. She says how much she loves him and it was just sex. It didn't mean anything. She tells him how much she loves him and had just made a big mistake even though she did it a half of dozen times. She cries and begs his forgiveness and promises never to do it again. What a crock of shit! Or is it?

I'm just an ordinary guy. Mid-fifties, happily married, have been for thirty years. I worked most of my life in sales. I sell products for the home. The company had a home-based store stationed in Chicago but we, the sales force, had to travel fairly often. We went to the surrounding states to keep in touch with our retail stores. Speaking for myself it did get lonely sometimes, being away from the family and at night really missing my wife. 

There were times that I would go down to a lounge just to be around other people. Of course there were generally women alone or with a small group of women. I might dance and talk to them just for the company. In the beginning I didn't set out to have sex with them but it happened. This constitutes an affair in most people's book. I picked up a woman, took her to my room and had sex with her. I've done this many times over the years. I never thought much about it. I was in a strange town or even a strange state. I was horny and did something about it. I found someone else in the same predicament and had sex with her. Not love but sex.

Now I have to tell you. I love my wife. I am a devoted family man. Our family spends time together, I went to all school events when they were younger and I even attend church once in a while. I also love my grandchildren. I am like a lot of men out there. I'm not proud of my affairs but I'm being honest with myself and with you. I could sit in my room and masturbate while watching an x-rated movie or read erotic stories on the computer and jack off. I'm not being funny here, I'm being honest.

I think of all the names the readers of erotic material call the woman who has had an affair. Bitch, whore, slut, and many more. They want the husbands to dump their wife, beat them up and in some cases kill the mother fuckers. They never try to understand them or why they did it. They don't take the time to listen to them and most of all never forgive them.

Is there still a double standard? Should a woman forgive her husband if he has an affair or should she just grab him by the short hairs and divorce him?

If he says, "I love you, I just made a big mistake, it was just sex. I was just so lonely and you weren't there. God, how I wish you were. It is you I love and want to spend all my remaining years with. Please believe me, don't end this marriage. I know it will take time but we can work through it." Sound familiar?

Well, surprise! That is what happened to me just last week. One of the women I had sex with was followed by her husband. He found out who I was and contacted my wife. When I got home she just came out and told me about the man calling her. She asked me point blank if it was true? Did I have an affair with this man's wife? It was too late to try and deny anything. I just looked at her and she had tears in her eyes as I told her "Yes, it is true." Then I told her all the things that I just mentioned to you.

She told me she needed time to think. As of then, she had no idea what she was going to do. She asked me to please sleep in the spare bedroom until decisions were made. As of now she didn't want to be in the same bed with me.

The cheated husband offered to send her pictures and recordings of me having sex with his wife. Miriam said she knew it happened but really wasn't interested in seeing all the details close up. She was distraught enough just knowing it happened.

There was so much more to think about than just separating or divorcing. Of course someone would have to tell the kids. Then we have all of our assets to separate. Dividing the savings accounts, cd's (certificate of deposit), my future pension plan, my 401k. Then at our age there is even the insurance to think about. It might sound funny to some people but health insurance is a pretty big expense that someone has to pay. We couldn't afford to lose it.

She was a homemaker who spent most of her life making a home for us and the kids. She only worked part time jobs to help us pay up some of our bills when we got behind. So then there could possibly be alimony. I'm sure the courts would feel she deserved some money for her 30 years of us being together.

I haven't even thought about the house value and all our personal stuff that we accumulated over the last thirty plus years. Damn, this could turn into a real mess. We're talking about possibly more than a few hundred thousand dollars or even much more when considering all the assets.

The odd thing was, as I have said earlier, I really love my wife. I guess I was able to separate the sex from love. I know I have never loved any of the women I picked up. The sex was good, why wouldn't it be. I get her pussy wet, she gets my cock hard, I stick it in and both of us have an orgasm. I did use condoms most of the time.

After about two days of pretty much silence I came home from work and told Miriam I had some good news. Joe Bailey was retiring at the end of the month. I was the senior sales rep which meant I could take his territory. I would hardly ever have overnight stays again seeing he had the local sales area. I wouldn't be away like I have been in the past. Miriam said, "That's great, Harry, it could help solve part of our marital problems." She then looked at me and said, "Harry, it's time to talk." We both had a cup of coffee and sat down in the living room.

"Harry," she said, "I'm going to let you decide whether or not we stay together. It is going to be up to you." I blurted out, "If it's up to me we will live together forever."

"Not so fast, Harry. Please listen first to what I have to say. Then if you still feel the same, we'll stay married."

"I don't understand, Miriam. What do you want to say?"

"Please don't interrupt me, Harry, I have to get this out. About two years ago you were in Indiana and I called you at the motel to talk to you. You were out of breath when you answered the phone. Then I heard a woman talking in the background."

"But, Miriam, it must. . . " She cut me off.

"I'm done listening to your excuses and lies, Harry. I know you had a woman in your room and was having sex with her. You could hardly wait to hang up. I figure she had your dick in her mouth. I was distraught after hanging up the phone. I was crying when there was a knock at the door. I opened it up and it was my brother Steve. He came over to see how I was doing since you were away. My sister Barbara stayed at home. Steve said she wasn't feeling well. Steve saw me crying and asked me what was the matter? I just put my head on his shoulder and continued crying. He wrapped his hands around me and held me close."

"I was mad at you, Harry. I was lonely, distraught, and wanted revenge on you, Harry. All I had on was my robe and nightgown. Steve pulled the belt loose and slipped off my robe. He then led me over to the couch. As we sat there, I told him that you were having an affair. At this very minute you were fucking some slut. I looked at Steve and you know how we always use to kid around. Well, this time I told him I wanted him. I wanted him now. I wanted my revenge against you, Harry. Steve took off his trousers and briefs. His cock was standing hard and at attention. He slid my nightgown over my head and I straddled his lap. I grabbed his hard cock and guided it into your wife's pussy, Harry. You were the only man that I have ever had till that night with Steve."

I had tears in my eyes listening to Miriam talk about her affair with Steve. Besides being my brother he was also one of my friends. It was hard to believe she could do this to me. She was always a loving wife.

She continued, "Well, Harry, Steve just rode my pussy and played with my tits till he was ready to shoot his load in me. He didn't have on a condom. I was sure he was clean and I have been past the baby stage for a few years. He shot his load up my pussy, Harry. Just like you were doing to that slut. We probably all came at the same time, Harry."

I looked at Miriam, her face sad. "Was that the only time, Miriam? Was that the only time you ever cheated on me?"

"No, Harry, Steve and I did it six different times whenever you went out of town."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My loving wife had cheated on me six different times. "Why did you stop, Miriam?"

"Well, Harry, like you said, it was only sex. No love, no compassion, just sex. I felt I had gotten my revenge on you and then you came home with flowers for me. You took me out for my birthday and got me a little drunk. Then you brought me home and you made love to me. We didn't have sex like Steve and I had but you made love to me. Gentle, erotic, caring love is what you gave me that night. After that night I was starting to feel guilty about the revenge. I ended it with Steve. He said he was going to tell you about us if I didn't continue having sex with him. I told him I wasn't going to let him blackmail me into having sex with him. He could just go ahead and ruin both of our marriages if that is what he wanted to do. That's probably why we didn't see him around here before he and Barbara moved to Peoli."

"Why, Miriam? Why tell me this now?"

"If we are laying our cards on the table and you want our marriage to continue, you need to know the truth. I don't want Steve coming up to you a year from now and telling you this."

I looked at Miriam, my loving wife for thirty years. She just admitted to fucking my brother and friend six times to get even with me. It was really bothering me, picturing my Miriam spread-eagled with her pussy glistening and telling another man to shove his cock into her. I was having a hard time handling it. I told Miriam that I needed a day before answering her. It was such a shock to me.

I got the whiskey bottle and went to the spare room and started drinking. I tried to go to sleep but all I could do was have nightmares. Every time I closed my eyes I'd see Miriam fucking Steve's big cock. I woke up in the middle of the night sweating. My stomach hurt bad. I ran to the bathroom and vomited. I went back to the room and cried myself to sleep.

When I got up in the morning, Miriam had made breakfast. I tried but just couldn't eat. I just wasn't sure what I was going to do. I couldn't even look at her without the thought of her affair entering my mind. She mentioned that she was going to go see her mother today and that, if possible, she would like my answer by tonight whether we were staying married or going our own way.

Before I left for work I went into the bedroom and removed my hand gun from the dresser drawer and put it in my jacket pocket. I left for work without even saying goodbye to Miriam. I reported into work and then after a couple of hours I left for Peoli. It was about a fifty mile drive.

When I arrived at Steve and Barb's place I knocked on the door. Barb opened it and looked a bit surprised to see me. She asked me what I wanted? I told her I needed to talk to Steve.

She said, "Steve's not here, Harry. What do you want with him?"

I looked at my sister Barb and said, "I need to talk to him. He fucked Miriam and I need to talk to him."

Barb looked me right in the eyes and without even blinking she said, "Steve never fucked anyone including Miriam."

"He did Barb, he did. Miriam told me about it herself last night. I need to know why. I really need to know why."

Barbed looked at me and said, "Come in, Harry, just come in."

As I stepped into the living room, Miriam stepped out of the kitchen. I looked up and asked her, "Why are you here? Is it to protect your lover? To warn him I might come after him?"

Miriam said, "Harry, there was no lover. I made it all up. I wanted to see how forgiving you would be if I had an affair. Yes, I did come by to warn Barb and Steve that you might come by. After you left this morning, I checked the dresser drawer and noticed you took your handgun. I was worried what you might do so I warned Barb and Steve. I thought it was best to come here because you might not believe them. Please sit down, Harry, and we will tell you the truth about that night."

She called Steve out from the other room. She asked him if he would explain to me what happened that night.

Steve began, "Barb and I stopped by to check on Miriam as we so often did when you were away. When she answered the door her face was red and she was crying. She couldn't seem to stop. Barb and I did our best to console her. She cried on my shoulder and Barb was holding her. As she regained her composure, she told us you were having an affair. I told her I would be willing to talk to you about it but she had us promise not to mention it to you. She was hoping that you would see the mistakes you were making and stop playing around."

I looked over at Miriam and saw the hurt in her eyes. The hurt that I put there.

Steve continued. "I played golf the following week with you. No one would ever know you were having an affair. I figured you must have been doing it for a long time not to show any emotions. I couldn't stand being with you. Not the way you were treating Miriam. We told Miriam that we wanted nothing more to do with you but she was welcome anytime. We moved here to Peoli a few months later. Miriam and Barb have kept close contact. Then she called us a couple of days ago and told us about your latest fling and getting caught and that you might be part of a divorce lawsuit. We told her we wished she would just dump you. She deserved much better."

I was really feeling low. I thought I was hiding the affairs pretty good but apparently I was wrong. 

"When Miriam called and told us about your latest fling she asked me if I would do her a favor. She wanted to make up an affair between her and I and tell you it happened. She wanted to know how you would react to it. If you would still want her."

Miriam said, "Thanks" to Steve and continued the story.

"Harry, I know you have cheated on me for years. I remember finding condom wrappers in your pockets even though you had a vasectomy years ago. You suits smelled of perfumes that were not mine. Even cum stains in your underwear. I turned my back on your affairs hoping that you would stop. You never did. That is why I made up this affair lie to you. I wanted you to get a taste of how I felt all these past years. I was hoping that after you heard my made-up story that you would say that you forgave me. That you still wanted me as your wife. But that didn't happen, Harry. Instead you grabbed your whiskey and ran to the bedroom."

"Miriam, I was having nightmares seeing you with other men. I had to get up and throw up it bothered me so bad."

"How do you think I felt whenever I knew you had one of your flings. I threw up many times too, Harry, knowing that the sex you were giving these women belonged to me, Harry. But last week when the stranger called and said you were fucking his wife and he had the pictures to prove it, how do you think I felt, Harry. You have now brought your sexual affairs home to roost. That's when I said enough is enough."

"God, I'm so sorry, Miriam, I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you."

"That's why I gave you the affair test, Harry. So you could still say you love me even after I had the affair. You failed, Harry. After all the affairs you have had you wanted me to forgive you. But when it was me having one affair for revenge against you, you needed to think about it. Sounds like a double standard, Harry. I believe a lot of men use that standard."

I had tears in my eyes. She was right. I wanted her to forgive me but was I ready to forgive her? I guess I did have a 'Double Standard.' I told her I needed to face Steve, that is why I came to see him. I was devastated knowing he had sex with her. I brought the gun not knowing whether I was going to use it or not. I remember her saying Steve talked about blackmailing her for sex and it really bothered me. I was ready to go to prison for shooting Steve if necessary.

Miriam looked at me and said, "Harry, yesterday you had the choice to save our marriage and was unable to come to a decision. Well, Harry, I'm making the decision for us both now. I choose that we . . . ."

The End (except for comments)

This is the part of the story where I use my wisdom and decide whether Harry and Miriam stay married or get divorced. No matter what I choose I would get comments saying I was right or I was wrong. So I would like you 'The Reader" to decide whether they stay together or get divorced. 

Please don't change any of the story. I know many women would not have put up with a man like Harry and would have divorced him years ago. But at this juncture in the marriage, what would you do?

*

Comments welcome, especially this time. If you don't want to put your name on it feel free to be anonymous. Don't forget to check back and see what your fellow readers would have done.

Thank you for reading my story

DG Hear 

A Double Standard



There are no graphic sex scenes in this story. Sorry. You will have to read other stories for that.

Comments and critiques are requested and appreciated. 

Thanks for reading my story. Enjoy.



My story is one about the dangers of temptation and how they can totally screw up your life. After what my wife and I had to go through, I felt that warning others of what can happen was the right thing to do.

Let me give you a picture of the main players in my little slice of life. My name is Hennessy, John Fitzgerald. I was 30 on my last birthday. My wife is Alyssa is 24 and a fine looking lady she is. 

Alyssa is tall, for a woman, at 5 feet 10; she has a slender build and a body just right for me. Her hair is auburn and she wears it long, hanging down her back. I am 6 feet 3 and about 215 pounds. I have been told that I have rugged good looks and that I clean up pretty good. The rugged look must be because of a slightly crooked nose; it has been broken at least twice. 

I grew up on the "mean streets" of the inner city. We didn't know they were the mean streets; it was just home to us. That's where I got my first broken nose. When I was young, I had a bad temper and would fight at a moment's notice. My reputation preceded me and the first time I got arrested after I turned eighteen, I was offered a choice. 

I could go to jail or I could go into the service of my country. Army, Marines, or the Navy, it didn't make any difference to the judge. Jail didn't seem like the place for a boy with a big mouth and a bad temper so I enlisted in the Marines. My brother Sean had been a Marine. It may have been the best thing that ever happened to me.

During my basic training, I got my second broken nose. In our hand to hand combat training, I just couldn't believe that Sergeant Jackson could toss me around the way he did. I felt that if I could meet him off duty I could take him. There wouldn't be any rules or any sergeants to stop a recruit if an instructor was about to get his bell rung. The reason that Jackson's control of me in the staged fights bothered me so much was his size. 

I was 6 feet 3 with no slack belly and he was barely 5 feet 8 and weighed about a hundred and sixty. The other thing that bothered me is that he had to be 40 years old. On one of the few nights that I didn't have the duty, I waited for Sergeant Jackson behind the "Slop Chute". That's the NCO club and I felt I had an even better chance with him if Jackson had been drinking.  When Sergeant Jackson came out of the NCO club, I invited him to meet me behind the building.

"I think we need to talk Sergeant Jackson," I told him. "A little discussion about the merits of different styles of fighting is due. Don't you think so Sergeant?" 

"Are you sure you want to do this Hennessy? I've got nothing against you. You're not a bad recruit, just young is all. Better think about it son."

"Damn it Jackson, quit stalling. Fish or cut bait. Will you come behind the building or don't you have the balls without the other sergeants around to back you up?"

Sergeant Jackson shook his head and said, "Come on boy, time to teach you some manners."

We went behind the building and Jackson took off his Smokey Bear hat. Then the fight began. I should say the fight began and finished. I threw about three punches and the next thing I knew, I was on my back holding my broken nose.

"Sorry Hennessy," Jackson said as he helped me up. "You rushed me a little and I couldn't pull my punches. You all right? We better get you to the medical center and have you nose looked at. Come on son, I'll walk you over." 

That was the second time I had my nose broken. I thought I knew a lot about fighting but I realized that someone with training would clean my clock almost every time and that wasn't going to happen again. So by the time I finished my second tour, I was a lethal weapon. 

The funny thing was that as I took the combat classes and learned new ways of wreaking havoc, I was able to control my temper much better. I seldom got really angry anymore and usually tried to talk instead of fight. 

My first tour was for three years and I had made the rank of corporal. When my first enlistment was over, I was offered a bonus to reenlist for another three years. There was no one or nothing waiting for me back home, so I stayed in the Marines for another three years. 

My second tour came to an end and I was again offered a bonus to reenlist, I decided to get out. The Corp had changed and I didn't have the stomach to listen to a bunch of shit for brains Second Lieutenants tell me how to do my job. Most of them wanted to change the way we did things even though our way had worked for over a hundred years. 

If I stayed I'd probably beat the hell out of one of them and spend years in the stockade. So I became a civilian again. I had just turned 24.

I had a buddy, James, whose family owned a construction company. He got me a job as a cement worker. Lots of hard work, but I made good money.  After two years, James asked me if I could help out with a couple of houses and do some framing work. The jobs were running behind because two of the framing crew was in jail. He told me that the foreman would show me what to do. So I became part of the framing crew and never went back to working concrete. 

The next step was learning how to plan and schedule jobs. I really enjoyed that part of the business. I had the best of both worlds, I was outside instead of in an office most of the time and I didn't have to do any of the grunt work. Good Deal. That job led to me meeting my wife Alyssa Riley. Well, she wasn't my wife then but she would be.

We were building a summer house for Alyssa's dad and mom. She would come over to the building site every couple of days to check the progress. I thought it strange that a young woman would be checking on the house until I learned that Alyssa was an architect. She wasn't checking on progress, she was checking to make sure we were building the house correctly. Alyssa would inspect the framing to see if it was plumb and square and that the studs were on the correct centers. I was attracted to her the first time I met her. She was very pretty but more important she was intelligent, knowledgeable, and self assured. 

Late one afternoon we got into a discussion about a special little alcove off the kitchen that we were framing. She said it was all wrong. I told her that the framing was according to the plan and the drawings. Alyssa started to argue with me and I invited her to come over to the onsite trailer that was our office and check out the drawings. 

We went over the plans together and she agreed that we were following the drawings. That didn't mean it was right, but it was in the plan. For better than three hours we discussed this little alcove and changes that needed to be made. Dinner time rolled around before we knew it. Then I had a brain storm, it was like a bright light went off inside my head.

"Alyssa, I think we are about done here and I'm going to dinner. Would you like to join me?"

"You're not going to change my mind about these drawings by feeding me, you know," she told me with a big smile. "Yes, I would like to go to dinner with you, John."

The rest is history, as they say. I don't think we spent more than a day apart for the next three months. Almost every night we took in a dinner or a movie, or dancing, or just spending the evening together at her place or mine. Mostly we were at her place because I lived in a dump. On the evening of our three month anniversary (I know, it's a woman's thing, but Alyssa liked it) I asked her to marry me.

"What took you so long? I've been waiting for the last month for you to ask me. Yes, of course I will marry you John."

Now I was 28, had a good paying job that I really liked, and was married to my soul mate. We were trying to start a family but had no luck yet. The doctor checked us both and there wasn't anything wrong with either of us. Be patient he said and have fun. Don't get too clinical he suggested. So we just continued trying to make babies and loving each other. 

The Irish have a saying, something like "If you are happy and prideful, it will lead the devil to your door."  The devil kicked in my door sixteen months after Alyssa and I were married. 

Alyssa and I hadn't been apart for more than two days at a time after we were married. She would have to fly somewhere to check on a building or I would have to travel to check up on something for my company. We always made it home in a short period of time. 

I had to go out of town for a seminar on new building codes for our state. I would leave Sunday and come back the following Saturday. A week apart was going to be hard to take, but I really had to go. I promised to call her every night and at lunch time if I could. I should have broken my leg or something, anything to have kept me at home.

All week I went to classes, and seminars and discussions. I was almost ready to pack it in and become a bus driver or something. Every night I called Alyssa and we talked, mostly about how much we missed each other. I called her on Friday after our last class. I told her that a bunch of the guys, eight of us in fact, were going out to dinner and have a couple of drinks to celebrate. It would probably be late when I got back so I wouldn't call her and would be home tomorrow. 

The night started out innocent enough. We went to a very good steak house to have dinner, drinks were served with the meal and there were a lot of toasts. "Here's to finishing those damn classes. Here's to no more boring lectures. Here's to whatever." A lot of toasts. I had more to drink that night than I should have. 

Somewhere during dinner, a suggestion was made that we go to a "gentlemen's club". You know a strip club or a titty bar. I should have gone back to the hotel right then! A couple of the guys were with companies that my company did business with and I wanted to do a little networking for future projects together. 

As soon as we entered the strip club, I knew I should just turn around and leave. Alyssa would not appreciate me being there. There were almost naked women all over the place. What did I expect? It was a strip club for god's sake. We were met by the manager and taken to a private room; apparently someone in the group had set it all up. I was actually going to leave but all of the guys convinced me to have just one drink. Again, I should have known better; there is no such thing as just one drink.

After just one drink, more like three or four, I was getting wasted. Somehow my pants and underwear were down around my ankles. The next thing I knew, a naked woman straddled me as I sat on the couch. She pushed two very nice breasts into my face and put my penis somewhere it never should have gone. I think you get the picture.

Let me say here, I was totally at fault. No one forced me to have so much to drink. I used bad judgment, but no one forced me. No one forced me to leave my pants around my ankles; I could have pulled them up. No one forced me to examine those two very nice breasts so closely, I could have ignored them. 

Yeah guys I know, not a realistic statement but no one forced me. No one forced me to sit there while the stripper had her way with me, I could have pushed her off me.  No one forced me to let all of these things happen, but I did.

When the stripper climbed off me I heard her say to one of the guys, "That should just about do it, don't you think Pat?"

I knew then that I was screwed. I mean both literally and figuratively. The guy she spoke to was Pat Johnson and we had butted heads before. He worked for the same company that Alyssa did. Her company had done some drawings for us on a job and Pat had done the drawings and was in charge of the project.

I found some mistakes in the drawings that would have cost the customer close to a hundred thousand dollars. Pat claimed that I had made the changes and then blamed it on him. He was called on the carpet; he was almost fired but was put on probation and demoted back to an assistant. Pat blamed me for his downfall.

If I didn't tell Alyssa about the night at the strip club, Pat would love to. After I sobered up, I wondered why he hadn't called her that night or on Saturday. It was perfect revenge for him. I knew that when I got home that I would have to tell Alyssa everything. If she found out on her own, it would destroy our marriage. I hoped that by confessing I had a chance to save us. Not a good chance, but a chance anyway.

I got home on Saturday and Alyssa was very glad to see me. After what had happened I didn't want to make love to her so I pretended to have a cold or the flu or something. I wasn't sure if I had used protection when I had sex with that stripper and I didn't want to expose Alyssa to any type of STD. She insisted on taking care of me and babied me all weekend.

On Monday I went to my doctor, explained the situation, and had him run a test to check for STDs. He had been my doctor for several years and said he would put a rush on the test for me. I told him to bill me for the test and not to run it through my insurance company. The doctor told me that if I had a STD, I would have to tell Alyssa and he would have to notify the health department. Just great, just fucking great. 

Two days after I saw the doctor, one of the guys on our outing called to talk about a joint project. He brought up that night at the club and said he had never seen a rubber as full as the one I used that night. Thank god, I hadn't been totally stupid 

On Wednesday my doctor called me and told me that I had dodged a bullet, I was clean. I told him about the phone call I had gotten the day before and apologized for having him run the test. He said it was okay, he understood, but I would still have to pay for the test and laughed.

That night I made love to Alyssa like it was the last time. It could be when she found out what I had done. She even said something about how intense and loving I was. The next day I got the call I had sort of been expecting. Pat Johnson called.

"What do you want Pat?" I had no idea what he would want.

"Meet me for lunch at Dewey's at 1:00 today," Pat ordered. "I have a proposal for you," 

"I can't get free today. I just got back and am way behind. How about next week Pat?"

"You don't understand, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. Be there.... or life as you know it is over. Get me?" Pat felt he held all the cards.

At lunch, I found out how big of a shaft job I was going to get. Pat said, "I have pictures of you and that slut at the club. I'm will to give them to you but you need to do something for me. Here are some sample pictures to prove that I have them." Pat handed me a large envelope.

There was no reason to look at the pictures; I knew what they would show. I sat there waiting for him to continue. He was waiting for me to ask what he wanted me to do and it pissed him off that I just sat there.

"Don't you want to know what you have to do for me?" Pat was enjoying this.

"I figured you'd tell me sometime before we left. I know you didn't drag me down here because you like me," I replied.

"You're right I don't like you. You were the reason I got demoted," Pat was almost foaming at the mouth.

"I didn't screw those drawings up, you did. Then you weren't man enough to admit it and tried to blame me. You got what you deserved," I told him.

He looked at me angrily and then told me, "You will go to my boss, admit that you changed the drawings and that you let me take the fall to save you own ass. When you do that, I will give you the pictures and the card from the camera. If you don't I will send the pictures to Miss High and Mighty Alyssa. She will divorce you in a second." Pat thought he really had me between a rock and a hard place.

I sat and stared at him. I have been told that when I was angry my stare could melt steel. If it could, Pat would have been a puddle on the floor. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me sweat, so I played it cool. What I wanted to do was reach across the table, grab him and send him to the morgue. 

"How long do I have to make a decision, Pat?"

"I'm feeling pretty good right now. You can have until end of business on Monday. If you don't agree by then on Tuesday I will send the pictures to Alyssa by messenger." How's that big guy?"

The urge to attack him and get rid of his body in the river was almost overwhelming. I had to actually sit on my hands to keep from knocking that smirk off his face. He must have read my eyes.

"Don't try any of that martial arts bullshit. I have everything in a safe place and if anything happens to me, Alyssa will still get the pictures. You have until Monday." Pat got up and left.

I had four days, if I counted Monday, to make a decision about my life. Whatever I decided, things would never be the same. Back at the office I was useless. I kept going over the two ways to handle this screwed up situation. I could do what Pat wanted and save my marriage, maybe.

If I gave into Pat he would just want something else later on because I really didn't trust him to hand everything over to me. Also if I did what he wanted it would cost my boss, James, a lot of money. James would have to pay Pat's company back for the cost of redoing the drawings. It would also cost him a lot of respect in the construction community and lose a lot of business for him.

If I didn't do what Pat wanted he would send the pictures to Alyssa and he would make sure to send them to her at work where it would humiliate her. I couldn't let either of these scenarios play out. There was a third option, I could tell Alyssa about everything myself. It would certainly hurt our marriage, but there was a small chance that she could forgive me. I made up my mind; I was going to tell Alyssa myself.

But first I was going to take care of Pat. They say payback is a bitch and this time I was the paymaster. No, I wasn't going to kill him, although I had thought about it before I got control of myself. Killing Pat would solve that problem, but I wouldn't have much of a chance saving my marriage if I was in jail for life or on death row. 

How I got through that weekend I have no idea but I think I hid it all from Alyssa pretty well. The one time she asked me if anything was wrong I was able to use pressure at work as an excuse. Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday I made love to Alyssa. On Sunday, we didn't get out of bed except to eat and clean up.  

On Monday morning around 10:00, I called Pat. "Is this a good time for me to see your boss Pat?" Can I come over now?'

"I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. Sure come on over and I'll set up an appointment with Mr. Hanson." Pat was excited; you could hear it in his voice. 

Pat met me in the reception area and led me to the executive offices on the top floor. My only concern at this point was running into Alyssa. I followed Pat into Mr. Hanson's office. He and I knew each other as we had worked on several projects together.

"Hello John. What's up? Pat said you had something to tell me and needed to do so right away." Mr. Hanson was friendly but a little puzzled.

"Mr. Hanson, I was at the seminar on building codes two weeks ago and did something I shouldn't have. I had sex with a stripper," I told him. When he started to question my reason for telling him, I held up my hand for him to let me finish. "Pat called me on Friday to tell me that he had pictures that he took of the woman and me. Here are the ones he gave to me."

He said, "I don't understand John." He was leafing through the pictures I had given him. "Why would you bring these photos to me?"

"Pat threatened to send those pictures to my wife if I didn't come to you and tell you that I had changed those drawings on the Simpson project. I was to assume responsibility for the mistake and he would be off the hook. After I confessed, Pat thought he would get his old job and salary back. 




A Double Standard



I couldn't do that to my boss so I thought I would let you know what kind of man you have working for you. As for my wife, I will take her to lunch and tell her all about those pictures. I doubt that she will be coming back to work this afternoon."

Mr. Hanson fired Pat on the spot. He called security and had Pat escorted out of the building. So much for Pat running to talk to Alyssa. On his way out of the office, Pat started yelling at me that he would get me etc, etc, etc. I'm sure you've heard it all before, in one form or another. 

My reply to him was just two words, "Bring it." Now for the hard part. I had to go to Alyssa and tell her about the stripper. She deserved to hear about it from me instead of some gossip in her office. What did Robert E. Lee say just before he surrendered? "I would rather die a thousand deaths", I know exactly how he felt. 

Alyssa was in a meeting when I got to her office. Her secretary offered to interrupt them and tell Alyssa that I was there, but I told her I would just wait. I had been waiting for about twenty minutes when Alyssa and two others came out of her office. She didn't see me at first; she was giving orders to the people that had been in the meeting. Alyssa turned around, saw me, and a big smile came over her face.

"Hi honey. What are you doing here? I've been thinking about you all morning. It's really nice to see you." She came to me and gave me a kiss and a hug as she talked.

"Thought we might go home for lunch. I've been thinking about you all morning too," I told her.

Meeting her for lunch was not something I normally did and she looked at me a little funny but said, "Okay, I got my meeting over with. The company can do without me for a couple of hours. I'll meet you at home in about twenty minutes."

"I'll pick up some Chinese and meet you there," I told her.

All the way home, I tried to think of some other way to handle this mess I had gotten myself into. The truth was the best way and the only way I might save my marriage. As hard as it would be to tell Alyssa, letting her find out from someone else would be worse. I walked in the door and she was setting the table for lunch.

"Are we really going to eat lunch, or did you have something else you wanted to do?" She was teasing me and smiling.

"Babe, sit down. I've got something to tell you and it's going to hurt. Please let me finish before you say anything"  That was the way I started on the road that could destroy our marriage.

"What's wrong John? You're scaring me," Alyssa said, worried now. The smile was gone.

So I told her the truth. I explained about the celebration at the classes being over. I told her about me drinking too much. I told her about the strip club and how I was going to leave after one more drink with the guys. I told her I knew she wouldn't like me being in a place like that, but that I wanted to network with two of the men I was with. I told her I had more than the one drink. 

Then I hit her with the big one. I told her about the stripper. I told her I was out of it and didn't know what was going on until it was too late. I told her I tried to push the girl off me but that I was too drunk. I admitted that I could have tried harder but must have been into screwing her by then.

Alyssa had listened without saying anything up to that point. Then she exploded. "You rotten bastard, you lousy son of a bitch." Those were probably the nicest things she called me. She ranted at me for what seemed forever, but was actually about five minutes. I never knew that Alyssa even knew some of the things she called me. Finally she wound down a little and took a breath.

"I'm sorry babe. I know it's a rotten thing to do and then a rotten thing to tell you about it, but I didn't want you to hear about it from someone else. I felt that it would be worse coming from someone else."

"Sure you're sorry. Sorry you got caught," She said. "Who else knows about this?"

"I wasn't caught, I came to you," I reminded her. About the only defensive thing I could say. Then I explained the whole deal with Pat. The pictures, the blackmail, the meeting with Hanson, and Pat being fired.

"Sorry doesn't begin to say how I feel and how ashamed I am Honey," I continued.

"Don't call me Honey, your rotten bastard. You don't have the right anymore." She was starting to repeat the name calling. 

"Please Alyssa; I know this is a terrible thing. I'll do anything to show you how sorry I am, anything to try and make it up to you. Please don't give up on me and don't give up on us." That was all I had left. If it didn't work, I was toast.

Alyssa sat there silent for about three minutes. Three minutes is a long time when you're waiting to see if your world is going to implode. Finally she looked at me and said, "I don't know John, I'm so hurt and mad right now, I can't think. I'm going to spend the night with my sister because I don't want to be around you right now."

"You don't have to leave, I'll go to a hotel or something," I offered.

"No, I need to get away and I can talk with my sister. Maybe she can help me figure out what to do or how to handle this mess. I don't know." After saying this, Alyssa packed an overnight bag and as she was going out the door she said, "Don't call me, I'll call you when I'm ready to talk. It may be a few days, but don't call me John. I can't stand talking to you right now."

I nodded and she walked out of the house, maybe out of my life. Alyssa didn't call and by Wednesday of the next week I was a basket case. I couldn't concentrate at work and if I stayed home my mind just went round and round. My head felt like it was going to explode. 

I called for Alyssa at work and disguised my voice.  Her secretary was really the one I wanted to talk to. I just wanted to know if Alyssa was there. I was told that Mrs. Hennessy was taking a few days off and I said I would call back. Well, apparently Alyssa was having the same problem concentrating as me.

That Thursday around noon, my cell phone rang. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so I checked the caller I.D. It was Alyssa. I almost broke the phone getting it open to answer her call. 

"Called you at work and they told me you were taking some time off," She said.

"Yeah, I was just wasting time there. I couldn't concentrate," I admitted.

"I'll be home tonight about 7:00. We need to talk. I have decided what I'm going to do about us," Alyssa told me.

"Good, I'll talk about anything except a divorce. If that's what you're getting to do, then just tell me now. Don't torture me, please." She hadn't mentioned divorce so maybe we still had a chance.

"Don't be too sure about the anything. You're not going to like my decision. See you at 7:00." She hung up before I could question her last statement.

What the hell did she have planned? Whatever it was I needed to listen with an open mind and not get defensive. After all, I was the one that caused this whole thing, and I had some atoning to do. Alyssa pulled into the driveway at 7:00 on the dot and I opened the door for her. I tried to hug her and kiss her but she just ducked around me and went into the kitchen.

There was a fresh pot of coffee so I poured two cups and set them on the kitchen table. Since Alyssa left I had been living on coffee and cigarettes. I hadn't smoked since I started dating her because she didn't like the smell. Now I was smoking almost two packs a day and drinking way too much coffee.

"You've lost weight and it doesn't look like you've been getting very much sleep," She observed. "Are you smoking again, I smell cigarettes?"

"Yeah, my nerves are shot and they seem to help. I haven't been eating or sleeping much either," I confessed. I knew I had to wait for her to start, if I tried to prod her things could go bad in a hurry.

She stared at me for more than two minutes and then said, "I can't get over what you did to me, to us, in a couple of days. I need time to think about us, our marriage, and if I even want to stay in this relationship. So I have decided on a plan to give me the time I need." 

"Fine, I'll do anything you want. What do you want me to do?" For the first time I had hope.

"It's not a matter of you doing anything; it's a matter of what I'm going to do. I need some time for myself so that is what I'm taking. We will be separated for all intents and purposes. I will be living like a single woman."

My head came up on that "single woman" comment. It's strange when someone cheats or lies that person expects other people to do the same thing. Alyssa's single woman statement made me think of her dating other men. I started to speak up, but she held up her hand for me to wait.

"That doesn't mean that I'm going to be dating or seeing other men. I mean, that I will do what I want without checking in or telling you about it first or explaining afterward. I will have no one to account to for my actions." I had my head down again, shaking it as if to say no, no, no. I didn't like what I was hearing.

Alyssa wasn't done, "If I want to stop after work for drinks, I won't have to tell you first or get permission. If I want to come home, change clothes, and go out to dinner or whatever I will. Without any comment or interference from you."

"How long will this go on Alyssa? What am I supposed to do during this?" The hope I had earlier was quickly disappearing.

"I don't know how long John. As long as it takes for me not to get sick every time I think about you and that stripper, I guess. I've had to deal with your "bad judgment" for a while and I just don't know. As to what you are supposed to do, I suggest you DEAL WITH IT. That is if you want a chance for us to stay together."

Alyssa had always had a forceful personality, but I had never seen this much intensity from her. "Do you want me to move out? Are you going to leave? I'm not sure about the living arrangements."

"You can stay here John, in the guest room. I don't want to be in the same bed with you right now. Or you can move out, I really don't care. If you stay we will be at best roommates or at worst strangers sharing a house. Either way we won't be living as a married couple," Alyssa was very forceful with her last sentence.

I was at a loss as to what to say or what to do; it was too much too fast. Finally I pulled myself together a little and asked her, "When does all this start?"

"It starts right now," Alyssa answered. "If you can't live with this arrangement, you have until the weekend to move out. You can stay if you want, but either way I want you to move your things out of my bedroom tonight. I going to take a shower and go to bed, so please move what you need for tomorrow into the guest room. You can get the rest of your things tomorrow while I'm at work."

I wasn't going back to work until Monday so I didn't have to move much that night. As I was getting a change of clothes, my razor and stuff I thought about how Alyssa had been during our "talk". She was my world and the love of my life, but right now she was a stone cold bitch.

Yeah, I know. All the macho he-men types would have told her to stuff it and walked out or even thrown her out. If our troubles were over missing an anniversary or cancelling an outing with her folks or any of the other pitfalls that a marriage has, I might have just shined her on. At least until the "mad" blew over. But our trouble was caused by my actions, so this shit storm that was going on was all on me.

The next day was Friday and Alyssa was gone when I got up at 6:30. There was a note on the kitchen table. I thought maybe she had calmed down and at least was going to tell me of her comings and goings. Nope, the note was to remind me to get the rest of my stuff out of "her bedroom". The note never said where she was, where she was going, or when she would be home, just move the rest of my stuff.

Alyssa was gone all day, so I did household stuff. I mowed the lawn, washed my truck, washed my clothes and other routine things. Around 6:30 I decided I wanted to cook something on the bbq grill and wondered if I should make enough for Alyssa. My cell came to life and I saw that it was Alyssa calling. "Hello."

"Hi John, it's me. I'm going to stay at my sisters tonight. We are going to an arts and crafts fair tomorrow. Just wanted you to know."

"I thought you weren't going to inform me of your plans anymore," I spoke without thinking. 

Now there are times to speak out and there are times to keep your big mouth shut. When you are in the middle of a shit storm, it's a good time to keep your mouth shut. Apparently I wasn't smart enough to know this. Sometimes I act like a stupid ass.

"Your right, I won't be telling you what I'm going to do," she said. Boy was she pissed. "I didn't want you to call the police if I didn't show up tonight. It would be embarrassing for me if they tracked me down at the fair. That's the only reason I called. GOOD BYE." Alyssa hung up before I could apologize.

She came home the next day around five. Wait, this wasn't a home, it was like Stalag 17 (a prison camp). The conversation around our house for two days was minimal; I guess that was the way to describe it. In fact, I talked more to my drill instructors in the Marines than we did to each other and I wasn't allowed to speak to them at all. 

We both went back to work on Monday. I never thought that I would rather be at work than to be with Alyssa, but I did. Three days since the start of the great plan and I was already about to lose it. On Wednesday, Alyssa didn't get home until almost 8:00. Apparently the new program was in effect. 

That Friday she didn't come home until 11:00. The weekend was spent again doing things around the house. Alyssa did the laundry, but only hers. She did work in the garden while I mowed the lawn, but the garden was hers anyway.

Sunday afternoon the phone rang and I waited for Alyssa to answer it. Anyone calling me would use my cell. Then I realized Alyssa was out in the garden so I picked up the phone just before it went to voice mail. It was her sister, Rachel.

I felt awkward taking to Rachel. "Hi Rach, Alyssa is out in the garden. I can take the phone out to her or have her call you back."

"No she can call me back, that will be fine," Rachel said. Then she surprised me. "How are you doing Fitz?"

Rachel started calling me Fitz when I first met her. I had called her Rach and she came back at me with Fitz. We liked to tease each other and had a close relationship, at least before my mistake.

"I'm okay, I guess. I haven't died yet, but I don't know if that's a good thing or not," I told her. "Sorry, that was probably just a polite question. You didn't expect me to get all real with it."

"No, it wasn't just a polite question. I really want to know if you are okay. It must be tough on you right now with things between you and Alyssa going the way they are. I'm worried about you."

"I'm surprised, I mean the problems that your sister and I have are because of my actions. I didn't think you would still care anything about me," I told her.

"If you care about someone, you have to understand that they may screw up sometimes. You can either continue to care about them or kick them out of your heart and your life. I still care for you Fitz. I'm really mad at you but I still care for you. You've always been good to my kid sister and I hope you guys can get past this. Well I've got to go, have Alyssa give me a call please. Bye Bye."

Well not all of the Riley girls hated me, just the one that I loved. When Alyssa came inside I told her that Rach had called for her.

"Don't call her that," Alyssa jumped on me. "Her name is Rachel."

Again, I say that there are times to keep your mouth shut but I was starting to get pissed about my living arrangements.

"Alyssa, I have called her Rach from almost the first time I met her. I will continue to call her that until she tells me not to. You may not care about me anymore, but Rach says she still cares for me. She's mad as hell at me, but she still cares. You can treat me the way you want, but I'll be damned if you will tell me how to talk to my friends. Even if it is your sister." I stomped out of the house.

Not doing my cause any good here, I thought. This "plan" of Alyssa's was already getting to me and it had only been a week. 

If conversation had been lacking before, it was nonexistent after my little tirade. The next week Alyssa was "late" getting home three times. Once she came in about 6:30, the other two nights it was closer to 8:00. Two weeks into our new life and I decided that I wasn't going to take anymore of this limbo.

Monday evening after working outside, I came in the back door and heard Alyssa on the phone. I heard her agree to meet someone named Stan the next evening at the Hilton for dinner at 6:00. Now do I give Alyssa her space or do I check this out? She wouldn't normally go to bed with some guy, but we weren't in a normal situation here.

I know that I caused this whole thing by doing that stripper, but if Alyssa went to bed with another man our marriage was over. I couldn't live with that. 

I know, the old double standard. If a husband can screw around a wife should be able to also. Maybe, but I made a drunken mistake, a bad one but a mistake. If Alyssa went to bed with this guy it was a planned, thought out before hand affair. It's not a double standard; it's not the same thing at all.

The Hilton was only about four blocks from Alyssa's office so I thought she wouldn't leave work until 5:00 at the earliest. I was in the hidden in the lobby at 4:30, just to make sure I was there before them. Hiding behind a large planter and a newspaper, I watched the entrance to the dinner room and the elevators. At 5:45 Alyssa walked through the door and went into the dining room.

It was silly, but I was glad to see that she had on the same outfit she had worn to work. At least she wasn't dressing extra sexy for this Stan guy. The dining room had an entry way and you couldn't see the tables from there. I walked in and hid behind another planter that was sort of a room divider. 

Shielded by the planter I was able to spot Alyssa and Stan at a table by the window. Stan didn't impress me. He looked to be about the same height as Alyssa, kind of mousey looking, and a receding hair line. Stan may not be impressive but he was with Alyssa and I wasn't. Stan won that round. After watching them for about twenty minutes I went back to my hiding place in the lobby. I wanted to see what they had planned after having dinner. If they got on an elevator, I could guess where they were going.

They walked out of the dining room around 7:00 and went to the front desk. Apparently Stan checked for any messages. Then they hugged and Alyssa started toward the front door as Stan turned and went to the elevators. I was happy that she hadn't gone with him. Damn, I needed to go; it wouldn't do for me to get home later than Alyssa.

By breaking most speed laws and taking some risky short cuts, I was able to beat Alyssa home. As I closed the front door, I heard her car pull into our driveway. I quickly jumped into my chair and picked up a magazine. Alyssa came in stopped and glanced at me. She looked like she was going to say something, but then she continued into her bedroom.

It was strange, after that dinner with Stan, things lightened up around our house. We began to talk to each other a little. It started the next night, Alyssa said she was going to make a meatloaf and did I want some. We actually sat at the kitchen table and had dinner together. Our conversation was still limited and consisted mostly of things like pass the salt please.

That was an improvement on the previous silence though. The next night I decided to use the grill and asked Alyssa if she wanted a steak also. She made corn on the cob and a salad. Once again we sat and ate at the same table.




A Double Standard



Thursday evening after dinner I was taking out the trash and as I came in the back door, I again heard Alyssa making a dinner date for 7:00 again at the Hilton. I didn't hear a name, but I guessed it was Stan she was talking to. Once again I was in my hiding place early. At 6:45 Alyssa appeared and entered the dining room. Thank God for that room divider, I was able to watch Stan and her again. They finished dinner and stood up. I almost got caught, but I was able to get back to my lobby hiding place. 

They went to the front desk and Stan again checked his messages. Then my world fell apart, Alyssa and Stan got on an elevator. Damn, Damn, Damn. Should I go to Stan's room and confront them? After thinking about it, I realized that I may not be able to control my temper if I saw them in that room together. I didn't believe that I would hurt Alyssa but I couldn't say the same thing about Stan. 

I left and it took a little longer to get home, I had no reason to hurry this time. I started to get a bottle of bourbon out and decided that if I confronted Alyssa tonight, I needed to be sober. Instead I got a beer, sat in my chair, and stared at the wall. Well, Alyssa going to his room put a period to this part of my life, I thought.

About thirty minutes after I sat down, Alyssa walked in the door. Either Stan was extremely fast in the love department or nothing happened. She had a folder in her hand and went into her bedroom. Normally when she came home she stayed in her bedroom or went into the den to read. Tonight she sat on the couch across from me and did her reading there. Around 10:30 she said good night and went to bed.  That was new also, the good night from her I mean.

My weekend was the best one since my confession. We worked in the yard together and while I washed both cars she did laundry. This time she did mine too.  I was confused. No talking and then after going to dinner with this Stan character, Alyssa started to talk to me a little bit. Not much but she did talk some. Very strange.

Things were back to normal on Monday, normal in that we said very little to each other. When I asked her if she want some ribs she said no thanks and went into the den. Later she went to bed and never said a word to me. On Tuesday, she got home around 7:30 and again she was more talkative. When Alyssa wasn't home by 6:30 on Thursday, I had a hunch and went to the Hilton. 

Alyssa and Stan were in the dining room again. This time after dinner they went into the lounge. The lounge was even easier to spy on them, it was spying you know. They nursed a drink for about an hour and left. When Stan started to pay the bar bill, I left for home. It was 8:00 and I grabbed a beer and went to my chair to wait. What time would she get home tonight?

I fell asleep in my chair and woke up at 10:00 or so. Afraid of what I would see, I looked out at the driveway. Alyssa's car wasn't there. I checked "her bedroom" and she wasn't there. Guess old Stan hit the jackpot tonight. I wished I had stayed to see if they got on the elevator. Based on the last time I watched them, I knew they had gone up to Stan's room. There goes the whole ballgame as far as my marriage was concerned. I thought it was time to go visit my brother for a year or two.

Alyssa was still in bed when I left for work the next morning. She must have worn herself out with good old Stan. His looks were deceiving, that mousey little guy must be a tiger in bed to exhaust Alyssa so much that she slept in on a work day. I had no idea what time she came home. 

I went to my boss James and told him I had to leave. He knew about my family problems and was supportive. I told him I had no idea when or if I was coming back. Again he was supportive and told me I always had a job with him. He wanted to know where I was going and I told him I would go to my brothers for a day or two but didn't know where after that.

Alyssa wasn't home when I got back to the house around 10:00. I guess she had finally gone to work;  I packed the things I wanted to take with me. Mostly extra clothes and another pair of boots. I included two jackets, one light and one heavy. My brother lives out in the boonies so I would need rough country clothing. By the time I had packed my stuff and loaded everything into my truck it was 2:30. I ate something, double checked the things I was taking and waited to see if Alyssa was coming home.  

At 6:30, I had my answer. She was out again, maybe one or two rounds with Stan wasn't enough for her. I looked around at what was no longer my home and then left for the last time. However, I had a mission to complete before I left town.

I drove to the Hilton, I figured they hadn't changed their game plan yet, why would they change it now? They weren't in the dining room so I headed for the lounge. This time I wasn't going to spy on them, I was going to confront them. I saw Stan at a booth at the back of the lounge. There was a woman sitting next to him and they both were talking to someone across the table from them.

Stan didn't know me so he didn't pay any attention to me until I stopped in front of their booth. Alyssa looked up and said, "Oh my god. What are you doing here John?" She didn't sound mad, actually she sound a little frightened.

"Why don't you introduce me to your friends?" I turned to Stan and stuck out my hand and said, "Hi, I'm John." He hesitated and started to shake hands with me. I put all the force I could into my grip and tried to break his hand. The little shit surprised me, he had a strong grip, but he started to pull back a little as I applied more pressure. I heard him say something like Damn.

"John, let Stan go. John right now," Alyssa ordered me. "You don't understand, we were just....."

"Oh I understand alright. You were going back up to good old Stan's room again, but now you have an extra playmate. Well I won't be in your way from now on, you can bring them home and save the cost of the room here." I released his hand and turned to Alyssa.

Stan spoke up for the first time, "John, you misread what is going on here. Let me explain."

"Mister if you want to live to see another day shut up and leave. If you are still here in ten seconds, you and I are going to dance and I don't think you'll like the music.

Stan may be a wife stealing ass, but he wasn't a stupid man. He and the woman got up to leave. He started to say something to Alyssa as he walked by her.

"Don't do it buddy, I'm barely holding on here. Just keep walking," I ordered him.

Alyssa had sat back down and slumped back into the booth. She looked at me and said, "You agreed that I was to do what I wanted and..........."

"I never agreed to be treated like this. I made a mistake, a huge, hurtful, degrading mistake. I used very bad judgment but I didn't plan for that to happen and didn't mean to hurt you. But I'm not going to be punished forever. "

The bartender had started toward us when I ordered Stan to leave. I put up my hand to stop him. "You don't want any part of this pal, just stay away. I'll be gone very soon."

My chest was pumping in and out like a bellows. I was breathing like I had run a marathon. Finally it slowed down and I went on. "Okay, now you can file for divorce. You said before that you didn't want to be around me; except as strangers sharing a living space. Well you got your wish. I'm out of here. If you need my signature on any papers or anything, send them to my brother's place. I'll check in with him every month or so. Good bye, Alyssa." I had more I wanted to say but what was the use? Life as I knew it was over. So I left.

Alyssa was trying to talk to me, "John, wait I have to tell you....."

"Now you want to talk. For weeks I couldn't get more than a good night out of you and now you want to talk? Too late Alyssa,  Good bye.

Alyssa was coming out of the hotel as I took off.  About four blocks later I had to pull over and let the shakes pass. I had been so mad that if that guy hadn't left when he did I might have beaten someone to death.  There was never any thought in my head of hitting Alyssa. As I sat there trying to calm down, a police car with it's' siren screaming, roared past me. I wondered if the bartender had called the cops. I waited a few minutes to regain control and then started the long drive to visit or hide away with Sean, my brother. 

A word here about my brother, Sean. He is five years older than me and growing up we always had each other's back. Sean had the good sense not to get involved in the same bullshit that I got into trouble for. He joined the Marines when he turned 18 and spent 23 years as a leatherneck. I guess that was why I opted for the Marines instead of any other branch when I was forced to enlist.

Sean and his wife, Julie, live just outside of Missoula, Montana at the base of Blue Mountain. In fact the mountain is almost their back yard. It's a very beautiful and peaceful place. That is something I could use right now, a little peace. I felt better than I had in a month, less conflicted I guess. No more to worry about because the shit had already hit the fan. All I wanted now was to kick back for a while and let my heart heal up.

It took me about three days to get to Montana. Sean was splitting firewood when I pulled into his yard, so I watched him for a while. He didn't hear the truck pull up because of the noise from the log splitter he was using.  I don't know how long I sat there in the truck, but Julie came out of the house and saw me first. She bounced off the porch and ran to my truck. 

When she got there she yanked open the door and grabbed me like she hadn't seen me in a couple of years. Well it had been ten months since we had seen each other. She kissed me and hugged me and then hugged me some more. My sister and I love each other very much. No, not that way, she is like the big sister I never had.

After Julie was done mauling me, she picked up a stone and threw it at Sean. He looked around and saw me. Sean turned off the splitter and almost ran over to me. I had to go through the hugging all over again. That was okay, about now I could use some hugs from someone that loved me. I began to cry a little and tried to hide it, but Julie could see I was hurting.

That night after dinner, we sat on their back deck and watched the moon come up over Blue Mountain. I told them the whole story. I left nothing out and didn't try to spin it or make myself look better. Like 'Joe Friday' in the old T.V. show Dragnet, I gave them just the facts. I explained to them Alyssa's plan to have some space and get some time to think.

I told them about confronting Alyssa and her playmates in the lounge. It's still a mystery to me that I didn't at least punch the guy. After I finished my tale of woe, we sat without speaking for about five minutes. Then Sean spoke up.

"You dumb, stupid, son of a bitch. What were you thinking? You've got the perfect wife and you go screwing around. You're too stupid to be my brother." Sean was really pissed at me. He loves Alyssa almost as much as I love Julie.

"Sean, shame on you," Julie scolded him.

"No, he's right Julie. I might argue the son of a bitch part, but I can't argue the dumb stupid part. But I didn't plan on it happening Sean. I'm not making excuses but I got drunk and before I knew it that stripper was going at me. By that time the little head was doing all the thinking."

"If I did something like that Julie would kick my ass and then make my life hell for a long time," Sean said.

"You're damn right I would," Julie agreed. "But I can't believe Alyssa would do what you said. It's not that I don't believe you John, I just can't believe that she would let things go on for so long."

Sean asked me, "What are you going to do now little brother?"

"If you still own that miner's cabin up on the Oxbow, I thought I would camp out over there for a while. Maybe I can get my head together and figure out how to get on with the rest of my life," I answered.

"You know that cabin is little more than a wooden tent. No electricity or running water, although I did have a well dug for the place. By the way, does your boss know you're gone for a while?"

"Yeah, I told him I was going to take some time and I would let him know when I'm coming back. I really don't see myself going back to that town though. Maybe primitive is just what I need for now. I'll be okay, Sean. If you need to reach me you can leave a message at the general store in Denham. It's the closest place and I'll check in there every two or three days for supplies."

"Are you sure you want to do this. Stay here with us for a few weeks, no need to become a hermit. You know if you wrong about Alyssa still caring for you, she will be calling here for you," Sean reminded me.

"I know. Promise me you won't tell her where I am Sean. I don't want to see or talk to her for awhile. If she calls just take a message. If it's you need me for anything you can leave a message for me in Denham and I'll call you back. Promise me Sean."

He agreed not to help Alyssa find me if she should look for me. The next morning I packed the things I would need into the truck and took off. Julie hugged me and tried to get me to stay one more time. Sean had one last thing to say before I pulled out.

"You know tough times never last, but tough people do. Take care and come back when you can." He embarrassed us both by kissing me on the cheek. 

Sean was right about the cabin, it was a tent made out of wood. No electricity, well water, an old outhouse and a bed with a lumpy mattress. Daniel Boone may have had it better out in the wilderness. But it was exactly what I needed at that time.

Two days after I arrived at the cabin, I made the two hour trip into Denham. I needed some supplies and some things I had forgotten. I also wanted to get a camera if possible, as there was a lot of wild life around the cabin. Taking pictures would give me something to do besides thinking about how screwed up my life had become.

Lucky for me there was a camera shop in the little town. Go figure. I bought a very nice digital SLR camera and a couple of lenses for it. I got extra memory cards, extra batteries and a bunch of other stuff to help me take great pictures. I went to the general store and picked up the supplies and other things I needed. The young man running the store had a message for me from Sean. 

The kid was the closest thing to a techno geek that the town had, I guess. Instead of trying to remember or write down what Sean had said, he had taped it with an attachment to the phone. Cool idea. 

Sean said, on tape, the Alyssa had called the day I left his place. She told Sean that she had waited three days for me to come home and then started looking for me. Alyssa looked for me around town and then remembered that I said I was going to see my brother. Sean told her I had been there but had left that morning. 

She of course wanted to know where I was going. Sean told her that he had loaned me some money and that I was traveling light and fast. He also said he really couldn't tell her where I went. He didn't tell her he didn't know, you see, just that he couldn't tell her. She understood him to mean he didn't know. Alyssa told Sean that it was all a big mistake and please to have me call her so she could explain. Sean then said on tape, your turn now little brother.

I called Sean and told him I was okay. After telling him about the exploring I was doing around the cabin, I told him about the wild animals and that I was actually starting to enjoy myself. It wasn't actually the truth. I know, I lied to him, but I didn't want him and Julie to worry about me. I also told him I would check back at store in three or four days if he needed me.

That's the way it went for about a month or so. I would go to town to get supplies and any messages from Sean. I usually called him even if he hadn't left a message for me. You lose track of days and such when the only time you go by is daylight so I guess it was about the fifth week that there was a message from Sean to come home. Home being his house. He said he and Julie needed me. 

I called him and he told me that he had hurt himself pretty bad on that damn log splitter. He wanted me to come home to help take care of him so Julie could go back to work. I told him I would go back to the cabin, close it up and be on my way by late afternoon.

I got back to Sean's a lot faster than I had gotten to the cabin. Driving all night and nonstop will do that you know. I pulled into the yard at Sean's and noticed an unknown car also parked there. Didn't really think too much about it, probably a neighbor's or a nurse or something. 

I opened the door without knocking and when I saw who was sitting in the living room, I turned around to leave again. Julie yelled at me to stop, she threatened to never speak to me again if I left. What could I do, I stopped and came on into the room.

Alyssa was sitting on the couch and it was seeing her that almost made me leave. She was smiling at me, a little timidly I thought. Sean was sitting in his recliner watching the two of us. Julie came in and told me to sit down. 

"Obviously you're not hurt," I said to Sean. "You lied to me."

"Yep."

"Why would you lie to me Sean?" I was confused and hurt that he would do that. I still hadn't said anything to Alyssa.

"Because Alyssa came to me and told me her side of your little story and I'm going to put a stop to this shit right now," Sean answered with anger.

"I don't think......." 

"That's right, you don't think and neither did Alyssa. My God, you are both so dumb you couldn't find your ass with both hands and a road map. Jesus Christ! You guys didn't give each other the courtesy that you would to a stranger. And you're supposed to love each other? I have to get you guys back together because you're both too stupid and pig headed to inflict on other people." Sean was really pissed off.

Turning to Alyssa I told her, "I don't have anything to talk about to you Alyssa. You made it clear what the consequences would be if I didn't go along with you plan, so get on with it." I turned back to Sean and Julie and said, "I'm hurt that you guys would lie and deceive me for this. I'm leaving, see you sometime."

"SIT YOUR ASS DOWN," Julie yelled at me as you stepped in front of me. It stopped me in my tracks. Julie never, I mean never used vulgar language. I have known her for 15 years and never heard any type of foul language from her. "You will sit down and listen to Alyssa and us or so help me I will kick your ass. Do you understand?" 

I sat; when Julie was this worked up you had better listen to her. Other than the one statement to Alyssa I hadn't looked at her. I did now and saw another little smile. She thought Julie climbing on me was funny. That didn't help my mood any, no one likes to be laughed at.

Julie took a deep breath and collected herself and said, "I want to ask you a couple of questions John and you too Alyssa. Will you both promise to tell me the truth?"

What else could I say? "I would never lie to you Julie. Alyssa nodded that she felt the same.

"Okay now, John do you still love Alyssa?" Julie got right to the hard questions.

"I did until she came up with this thing she began to......."

"Damn it John," Julie interrupted me, "No if or buts, do you still love her? It's a simple question, a yes or no will do." 

When Julie asked me point blank like that it made me realize that I did still love Alyssa. In spite of all the horrible things that had been said and done by both of us, I still loved her. I guess that's why everything hurt so much. I still loved her. 

"Yes, I still love her," I answered Julie with tears in my eyes. I know, big strong macho he man crying. You need to understand, this is my life here.




A Double Standard



Alyssa was next in the hot seat. Julie asked," Do you still love John?"

"With all my heart." There was no hesitation, no if or buts just "With all my heart."

"Now we're getting somewhere," Julie seemed pleased with herself. "That should be enough right there to stop all this bullshit," Julie continued, "but knowing you two this won't be enough. We go on. John explain again what happened on your trip. Short version please."

I told the three of them the story again. Drinking too much, not leaving the strip club, not knowing until it was too late what the stripper had in mind, and not having the strength of character or whatever to push her off. I made no excuses I just told the facts with no spin. Alyssa was silently crying at hearing the sordid tale again. I wasn't far from crying myself. I told Alyssa that I was sorry again.

"John, did you go to that club with the idea of getting it on with anyone?" Julie was digging at the bone.

"No, I just wanted to network with a couple of the guys and I let things get out of hand," I told her.

"Your turn Alyssa, you were very hurt when John told you what happened. So you came up with this scheme to make John hurt too. But did you ever have sex with the man John saw you with?" 

"No, I never had sex with him or the woman," Alyssa told Julie.

"Wait a minute," I jumped in. "You met him at the hotel several times. And going into the elevator it sure gave the impression that you two were going to sleep together." I was getting mad all over again.

"Shut up John, it's Alyssa's turn to talk," Julie ordered. "Go ahead Alyssa.

Alyssa went on to explain that Stan was a classmate that worked for a firm that her company was doing business with. She said that he was in town for a couple of weeks and they had dinner together a few times. 

"What about you getting into the elevator with him?" Gotcha now girl.

"The first time I went to his room to pick up a folder that he had for me," Alyssa told me.

"Yeah, you got home very shortly after I did that night," I said.

"Were you spying on me John? Alyssa seemed more amused than angry.

I hesitated for a sec and thought maybe now was the time to be totally honest, "Yeah, I was. I heard you setting up a dinner date with him and followed you. After that first time, I would go to the Hilton anytime you weren't home by 7:00 or so."

Alyssa smiled at me, "I should have known you wouldn't just sit back and let things go on for long."  The way she said it, it was almost a compliment.

"What about the nights that you stayed out so later after you guys had dinner? Did you go to his room on those nights?

"Yes I did. By that time Stan's wife Sarah had arrived. You remember Sarah, the woman at the table that night in the lounge? By the way Stan was the one that called the police. He didn't think you would hurt me, but you were so angry he didn't want to take a chance." 

"Any other questions John?" Julie wanted to know.

"Yeah. Alyssa it seemed that after you spent an evening with Stan that you were nicer around the house. And on the other nights you would go back to being cold and standoffish. Why was that?"

"On the nights I was with Stan, he tried to help me get past your mistake. He kept pointing out that I still loved you. He said that if I didn't I would have kicked you to the curb right away. Those are his words not mine. On the nights I didn't talk to him, all the old doubts and fears would come back and I would shut down again."

Alyssa and I looked at each other and I thought maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And just maybe that light wasn't a train coming to run us over. 

Sean spoke up for the first time since I came in. "You two are certainly a pair. John, you made the most stupid mistake a married man can make. It wasn't getting drunk or going to a strip club or not stopping that stripper that was the mistake. It was putting yourself in that situation to begin with, that was your big mistake.  If I remember right, you said you thought about leaving that club because you knew that Alyssa wouldn't like that you were there. That was your other mistake, not leaving right them. That was stupid."

Now Julie jumped in. "Alyssa then you compounded the problem with that idiotic scheme to punish John and make him hurt. Didn't you realize that he was already hurting enough for the both of you? Couldn't you see it in his eyes or hear it in his voice? You said you needed space when what you really needed was to be together and communicate. Sean's right! You two deserve each other."

Alyssa spoke directly to me for the first time. "John I love you and don't want to be without you anymore. Please can't we just go home? We have never lied to each other; it's one of the things that made our life special. Stan and Sarah were just trying to help me."

I was giving her all of my attention at this point.

She continued, "I have forgiven you for your mistake, now you need to forgive me for that stupid plan. Please John, I miss us and want our life back." She was crying as she spoke.

After Alyssa finished, I sat still for about ten seconds then jumped up, ran to the couch, and brought Alyssa to her feet. I held her to me, kissed her, and without words made her understand that everything was going to be alright. 

Alyssa was crying, Julie was crying, I was crying and even Sean had tears in his eyes. We had a room full of cry babies for a while. Things calmed down after a short time and we sat back down.

Sean cleared his throat several times and was finally able to speak. "So I guess you guys will be going home soon?"

"Well I thought we might go back to your cabin and spend some time together. There is nothing to do up there, but enjoy the country and each other. We won't be distracted by work or TV or anything, that's for sure," I told Sean and asked Alyssa at the same time.

"That sounds like the best idea ever," Alyssa said. "Today is Tuesday so that will give us several days together. I have to be back home, a week from Friday for my doctor's appointment."

"What doctor's appointment? Are you okay, what's wrong?" I was getting worried.

"Nothings wrong, I'm fine," she replied. "It's just for my next check up."

"Check up for what?" Now I was really worried. 

"It's part of my prenatal care. I'm pregnant and you're going to be a daddy," Alyssa was beaming as she told me.

"What? How? When?" I stopped myself from ranting. "Why didn't you tell me when I first got here? We could have bypassed all the talking."

"I wanted you to come back for me, for you and me. Not because you felt you had to because of the baby. Believe me I would have played the baby card if I had too. You weren't going to get away from me again," Alyssa was laughing at me.

We spent the time like we planned at the miner's cabin and reconnected on all levels. By the timing Alyssa had conceived two weeks prior to my trip and all the hoopla. We were us again, plus one. Actually it was plus two. We found out at that doctor's appointment that Alyssa was carrying twins.

That was two years ago. Alyssa gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. All four of us are doing great. We named the twins, Sean and Julie. I bet you can figure out why. The four of us have been back to see the kid's aunt and uncle a couple of times. Sean and Julie, the adult ones, baby sat for a couple of days while Alyssa and I went back to the miner's cabin. 

It belongs to us now; it was a gift from their namesakes to our twins on their first birthday.

Quote:  Life goes on.



A Double Standard 'Revisited'



I really wasn't going to put my ending on this story. I received approximately 58 alternate endings from the readers. Many of you gave good reasons for your endings. I read all of them so I know most won't agree with mine. Some readers even called me names for not finishing it. So I will give an alternate ending from where I left off. That's what I asked of the readers so I will do the same. For anyone who has not read the story 'Double Standard' it's a must to understand the ending. Thanks goes out to 'Techsan' for his editing of this story.

*

I beginning with the last half page of the story:

"Harry, I know you have cheated on me for years. I remember finding condom wrappers in your pockets even though you had a vasectomy years ago. You suits smelled of perfumes that were not mine. Even cum stains in your underwear. I turned my back on your affairs hoping that you would stop. You never did. That is why I made up this affair lie to you. I wanted you to get a taste of how I felt all these past years. I was hoping that after you heard my made-up story that you would say that you forgave me. That you still wanted me as your wife. But that didn't happen, Harry. Instead you grabbed your whiskey and ran to the bedroom."

"Miriam, I was having nightmares seeing you with other men. I had to get up and throw up it bothered me so bad."

"How do you think I felt whenever I knew you had one of your flings. I threw up many times too, Harry, knowing that the sex you were giving these women belonged to me, Harry. But last week when the stranger called and said you were fucking his wife and he had the pictures to prove it, how do you think I felt, Harry. You have now brought your sexual affairs home to roost. That's when I said enough is enough."

"God, I'm so sorry, Miriam, I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you."

"That's why I gave you the affair test, Harry. So you could still say you love me even after I had the affair. You failed, Harry. After all the affairs you have had you wanted me to forgive you. But when it was me having one affair for revenge against you, you needed to think about it. Sounds like a double standard, Harry. I believe a lot of men use that standard."

I had tears in my eyes. She was right. I wanted her to forgive me but was I ready to forgive her? I guess I did have a 'Double Standard.' I told her I needed to face Steve, that is why I came to see him. I was devastated knowing he had sex with her. I brought the gun not knowing whether I was going to use it or not. I remember her saying Steve talked about blackmailing her for sex and it really bothered me. I was ready to go to prison for shooting Steve if necessary.

Miriam looked at me and said, "Harry, yesterday you had the choice to save our marriage and was unable to come to a decision. Well, Harry, I'm making the decision for us both now. I choose that we . . . ."The End (except for comments) (New Ending starts here)

"I choose that we stay together and do our best to work it out." 

She walked up to me to put her arms around me. I stuck my hand out to stop her.

"What's the matter, Harry? I thought you wanted us to stay together." She looked worried.

"I did, Miriam, there was nothing I wanted more than to get back with you. But that was before all your lies, Miriam. I'm not a cuckold, a man to be stepped on and laughed at."

"What do you mean, Harry? Steve and I explained everything to you. It's over now, Harry, it's over. Nothing happened."

"Stop lying, Miriam, please stop lying. You have always been a wonderful woman but you have always been a very vengeful person. During our whole marriage if things didn't go your way you always got even."

"What are you saying, Harry?"

"I'm saying that if you found condoms in my pockets years ago and never said anything to me about it, you would have done something to get even with me. I don't recollect any getting even, Miriam. One time when you smelled perfume on me and I explained it was an elderly customer who hugged me and the scent stayed, you didn't believe me. You needed proof so I took you to meet the elderly woman so you could satisfy yourself that I was being truthful."

Miriam was looking more nervous.

"The night you said you overheard a woman in my room. Why did you not ever say anything to me, to my face. Maybe I was at a party, maybe there were a number of people in my room, and maybe it could have been the TV set. You automatically assumed the worst, Miriam. Why, Miriam? Why would you think the worst and not even mention it to me? I'll tell you why, Miriam, you were having affairs. I also believe you had affairs with Steve."

Steve went to stand up until I said, "Sit your sorry ass back down, Steve, or I'll shoot your fucking nuts off." Steve sat back down without saying a word.

"Then there's my good friend and brother, Steve, who wouldn't even tell me that my wife suspected me of cheating on her. And why wouldn't my good friend say anything? He says because my wife asked him not to. Wow, what a good reason not to tell your best friend something as important as being suspected of cheating."

I looked over at Steve while still holding onto the pistol. "Well, brother, you get one chance to be honest. Did you fuck Miriam?"

Steve looked over at a crying Miriam and his distraught wife. "Yes," he answered.

"Yes, what? You wife fucker."

"Yes, I fucked your wife. I fucked Miriam."

"For how long, Steve?" Miriam started to butt in... "Shut up, slut wife, I want Steve to answer. His life depends on the truth."

"For years," was Steve's reply. Miriam burst out in tears.

"Why did you stop? I'm only asking you these questions once."

"Betty caught us in the act." Steve replied.

"Okay, Betty, your turn and it better be the truth."

Betty was in tears as she spoke. "One night when we still lived near you Steve went to check on Miriam like he always did while you were away. I happened to be in the neighborhood and walked in on them. They were on your couch." Betty was now crying. I waited for her to get her breath back.

Betty continued, "Miriam was saying, 'Fuck me, Steve, fuck me,' as she rode his lap. When they saw me they stopped. We all had a huge argument. I stopped talking to Miriam for a long time. Eventually for our mom's sake we finally agreed to at least be civil to each other. It put a big strain on Steve and my relationship. We separated for a few months and eventually got back together. That's why we moved to Peoli, to get away from you and Miriam. We heard very little from Miriam until she called today saying you were coming over with a gun."

"You see, Miriam, I gave it some thought all the way over here. If you would have told me the truth, I could have forgiven you. No 'Double Standard.' If you would have never said anything, I probably would have never known. But no, Miriam, you had to try to extract that last ounce of revenge against me. That vengeful nature that I mentioned you had. As I told you yesterday, I could have had the new territory and hardly ever stayed away at night. We could have been together. But that was not good enough, was it, Miriam?"

Miriam was sitting with tears in her eyes. "We can still do that, Harry."

"I'll admit to having one night stands Miriam. Yes, I did it. No love, no affairs. I don't know how many, Miriam, I didn't keep track or have a little black book. I wasn't out to hurt you. I always hoped you would never find out. But, Miriam, if you did and told me you knew, I probably would have stopped and even changed jobs to save our marriage. But you knew and said nothing. All so you could go get yourself fucked and blame it on me. Isn't that right, Miriam?"

Miriam looked at me and said, "Harry, we can still work this out. Let's go home and talk and salvage our marriage. If you love me like you say you do, I know we can work it out."

"Are you willing to tell me about all your affairs during our marriage, Miriam? Are you willing to tell me why you chose to have other men instead of coming to me and trying to work things out? How far are you willing to go and tell me the truth, Miriam? How many of my friends and associates have you bedded down? Are you willing to tell me everything, Miriam?"

"Harry, why bring up all the pains of the past? Can't we get by that and start anew? You now know about the affair with Steve. Isn't that enough?"

"No, Miriam, I only know because of Betty and of your lies. For all I know you could have been selling yourself or fucking my friends behind my back during our whole marriage. How do I face anyone anymore unless I know who they are?"

"Harry, what about our kids, our family. If we separate, one of us has to talk to the kids. What are we going to tell them? That we both had affairs on each other. Please, Harry, let's just go home and work things out. I still love you."

I almost had to laugh. "Still love me, what does that mean? That you will continue to let me support you? That you are done having affairs and will only make love with me from now on? What does 'still love you' mean, Miriam? Have you ever really loved me?"

I looked over at Betty. "Betty, you're the only one here I feel sorry for. If you were smart you would have left the bastard of a husband you have sitting there. Steve, if Betty didn't still love a prick like you I would kill you. It's men like you who think they can always have their cake and eat it too. I ought to just shoot your sorry ass for spite. In fact get on your knees and beg for your life, you sorry bastard." 

Miriam yelled out, "Harry, please, you can't shoot him."

Betty cried, "Please don't, Harry. I beg you, please don't shoot him."

"It's Steve I want to hear beg or I promise you he's a dead man."

Steve got on his knees in front of me and started crying, "Please don't shoot me. I shouldn't have had sex with your wife. I'm so sorry, I promise never to do it again. Please don't shoot me," as he continued to cry."

I just pistol whipped him one time and knocked him over. The girls screamed and Betty ran to Steve's side. "Please don't hit him again, Harry, please."

"Well, Miriam, what happens now? I really did love you and wanted to spend the rest of my days with you. But not anymore. I've lost all my respect for you. I know it would be impossible to ever trust you again. Even if you told me the truth about all the affairs you had. I don't know if I could even show my face to my friends anymore. Looking back and joking with the guys at the club I could see why they were laughing whenever I left the room. They were laughing at me, weren't they, Miriam?"

"Please, Harry, they meant nothing to me. It's you I love. It was just the sex. I was lonely."

"So you did bed down my friends. I just took a wild guess. Well, Miriam, I have no life left. I could hardly face my own family knowing their mother's a slut. I can't face any of my so called friends since my wife thought she needed to have sex with them. That leaves me nothing, Miriam. It doesn't give me a lot of reason to live. The only thing I have left is revenge against you, Miriam. But what is the worst revenge I can have against you? I can shoot you, or shoot Steve which would give me pleasure."

Betty yelled out, "Please, no, Harry. I'll do anything if you spare Steve."

"Will you fuck me, Betty? Will you strip down right now, right here in front of your sister and husband and fuck me?"

Steve yelled out, "You bastard, you touch her and I'll kill you."

"I have the gun, asshole. Well, either strip or your husband's a dead man. I won't say it again," as I cocked the pistol.

Miriam said, "No, you can do it, Harry. You're out of your mind."

"Shut the fuck up, Miriam. You fucked her husband God knows how many times. So it would be a great little revenge to get some of your little sister's pussy. Well, Betty it's up to you. Who lives, who dies?"

Betty started taking off her clothes. She was down to her bra and panties. Damn she looked good. She came over to the chair where I was sitting while her husband still lay on the floor in front of us. I pistol whipped him again just because I wanted to. He crawled over to the couch and sat on the floor next to Miriam. I told him if he interfered I would shoot him the next time. 

I told Betty to strip the rest of the way. She took off her bra and then slowly removed her panties. I could tell she was really nervous but didn't seemed scared. Probably deep down she wanted a little revenge of her own.

I told her to kneel in front of me and undo my pants, which she did. She pulled out my cock and I told her to get it harder. She put the head in her mouth and it begin to get bigger. I had to hold the gun in one hand which made it a bit inconvenient. Steve and Miriam just looked on, neither saying anything. Betty was really working on my cock. I told her she could climb on or finish me with her mouth. 

She looked over at her husband and sister and then climbed up on my very stiff rod. She made the choice and they both knew it. Her pussy was wet, very wet. She was riding me and I was feeling her breast with my free hand.

I asked her to talk to me while we fucked.

"I love your cock, Harry. I've wanted it ever since I caught Steve fucking Miriam. God, it feels good."

"Who's cock do you prefer, Betty, mine or Steve's?

"Yours, Harry, it's so much thicker. This is so exciting fucking you in front of those two. Cum in me, Harry. Let my husband see your cum shooting into his wife's pussy."

I came hard right into my naked sister's pussy. She pulled up just enough to see the cum coming back out of her and down my shaft. She then leaned over and kissed me and said, "Thank you, I've wanted to get even for a long time." Then she got off my cock and walked over to her husband and said "Now we're even."

I called a crying Miriam over and told her she had one choice and one choice only. To clean me up or I would shoot her. No discussion!

She got between my legs and cleaned up her sister's mess. She was gagging at times but continued to clean up my cock. When she was through she tucked my soft cock back into my pants.

"What now, Harry? What happens now? You've ruined all our lives."

I told her to go sit next to her naked sister. Then I told them that I would not shoot any of them because I'm a man of my word. They all did what I asked to save their life. The only problem now is that they would have to find a way to explain it to our children and the police.

"The ultimate revenge."

Than I took the pistol, put it in my mouth and pulled the trigger.

The End

*

Well you wanted my thoughts, you got them.

All comments welcome

DG Hear