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Consequences - Joyce

By: thecelt



This is the tenth in a series called consequences. Thanks to LadyCibelle for her editing and comments. Always makes for a better story. 

Consequences Joyce

Prologue

I came home from work that Wednesday a little early since I wanted to change into a fresh shirt before the dinner. It was business, a meeting with a couple of contractors that wanted to hire my firm to do some demolition. Since Joyce wasn't going to be with me, I didn't much care how I looked, but I wanted a clean shirt for comfort. I sweated a lot in my job. 

I pulled in and saw Eileen's car and couldn't stop a moan of disappointment. Eileen was Joyce's sister. She didn't like me and I didn't like her and we both admitted it, so to see her there was an unpleasant surprise. Fortunately, I wasn't going to be there long. When I walked into the kitchen from the garage, I saw Eileen but no Joyce. 

I threw my briefcase on the counter and just stared at her. She was a few years older than her sister and was a beautiful woman, I had to admit, but it was her personality I disliked. "What the hell are you doing here? Did you come to gloat with your sister? Make a big deal about the error of my ways? Rub salt in the wound?"

"Joyce asked me to come over to sit with the kids while you're both out for the evening. I didn't expect you home till after 9 or 10 tonight. Why so early? Dinner cancelled? You got fired maybe?"

"It's my fucking company dumb ass, so who the hell is going to fire me? I just want to get a clean shirt. And what do you mean both of us out? Joyce isn't going with me."

Just then, Joyce walked into the kitchen, all dressed up to go out. Her black dress, with its deep 'V' neckline, coming just above the knee was far too revealing for a casual night with the girls, and her makeup was far more than usual. I looked again and unless I was mistaken, she didn't have on a bra. Her whole countenance bothered me and suggested things I didn't like. She stopped when she saw me and her face clouded up. She hadn't planned on seeing me tonight, that was obvious from the way she looked.

She glared at me. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be out to dinner with clients" 

She seemed a little nervous, and the way she looked at me was just a little strange. What the hell was she up to? I didn't like what I was thinking.

I looked her up and down and then asked "What's the deal? You wouldn't go with me to dinner but now you're going out dressed like that? Who are you planning to go out with? You don't dress that way for the girls."

"None of your business. I have plans of my own." She was about to say more when the doorbell rang. She jerked in surprise and I noticed a frightened look as she quickly glanced toward the clock and then to me. "I'll get it. You just stay here."

Like hell! She headed toward the front door with me right behind. I was curious about the reaction when the bell sounded. What was she up to? I stopped just inside the foyer as she opened the door. She blocked the door and said something, motioning with her arms but then a man dressed in a suit and tie slipped past her into the foyer. He was smiling at her and he bent down, grabbing her face to give her a kiss before she could turn away. He seemed surprised at her reaction, but then noticed that she was looking in my direction. He saw me then. 

I walked into the foyer where they were standing and asked Joyce, "Who is this and why is he here?"

"This is Ron Mason. I work with him and he's here to take me to dinner. We have plans. Ron, this is Russell, my husband."

"Good to meet you." I ignored the hand he stuck out. I looked at the grin on his face, the serious look on Joyce's face and put two and two together. This was a date and Ron knew the problems we were having. He was hoping to get lucky tonight and he wanted me to know it. 

I looked at Joyce and the nervous flutter of her hands and knew that I was not going to let this happen. She had to know that. Now I knew why she was so worried when I came home earlier than she planned.

Ignoring the hand he still held out, I said "I'm sorry Ron that you had to come all this way for nothing, but my wife is not going out with you. She shouldn't have misled you."

Joyce was furious with me and lashed out: "I'll go out with whoever I please. You have nothing to say about it." She turned and went to the closet to get a wrap. 

I walked toward Ron Mason, stopped in front of him and said very quietly and calmly, "Get out of my house right now. My wife is not going out with you tonight or any night. Not as long as she is still my wife. Leave now or I'll help you out the door."

"Damn you Russ! If you don't leave Ron alone, I'll call the police. I mean it!"

I reached into my jacket and pulled out my cell. I turned, handed it to her and said, "Call 911. Ask for an ambulance for Mr. Mason and then you can call the police for me."

I turned to Ron and said, "Is she worth it? Decide right now. You have ten seconds and then I'm going to beat the shit out of you if you're still here." Funny how even though he was taller than me and outweighed me by twenty pounds, his face registered uncertainty. I raised my wrist and looked at my watch, hoping he would try something, anything. Before I had a chance to see it change, Ron was moving toward the door. He was out within five seconds. I smiled to myself and then turned to Joyce.  

"This is not an acceptable choice, Joyce. I gave you two choices: divorce or forgiveness. There is no third choice. If this is what you want, then I'll file tomorrow morning. Either way, you will not be dating. I will not permit that as long as you are married to me."

I walked past her and up the stairs to the bedroom where I changed my shirt. I was breathing hard and my heart was pounding. I knew if I had been forced to go one on one with Mr. Mason, I would likely have killed him. I was capable as Joyce well knew. For that matter, I was not too sure of my response to her if she had challenged me. I was glad I didn't have to find out. I went in to splash some water on my face and then a little aftershave and I was ready for the dinner. I was in no mood to socialize but it was business.

I went down the stairs to find Joyce and Eileen in the kitchen. Joyce was still angry and she was waiting for me. She started in on me almost before I entered the room. "You bastard! You humiliated me in front of. . . . . ." Instead of answering her, I stopped and looked at her, my hand raised in threat, my anger clear on my face. It was enough to shut her up. I stared at her with my fury barely controlled. I wanted to strike her, to hurt her but I savagely suppressed that desire. I took a deep breath, and lowered my hand. It had been years since I felt that kind of anger but I reverted so easily into the threat of violence. I shuddered as I gained control of myself. I wanted to yell, to scream at her, but I simply walked past her, picked up my briefcase, took my keys from the peg on the wall and walked to the door. I was almost there when I stopped and turned, still shaking.

My voice now controlled, I glared at her and said, "I will repeat what I said before. Once I am gone, if you choose to continue with your plans, I will take that as your choice and your answer. So decide what you want and act accordingly. Divorce or forgive. There is no third choice. You 'getting even with me' is not acceptable. That is the same as saying you want a divorce. Think carefully Joyce." 

With that I left and drove to the hotel where I was to meet my clients. I was not looking forward to this dinner but it had to be done. 

Once the evening was concluded and our goodbyes were said, I settled the bill, took care of the waiters and headed home. It was almost 9:30, later than I wanted but it couldn't be helped. The dinner had gone well, we had agreed on several proposals and I would finish up the details tomorrow at work. All in all, it had been worth it. The job would net me a good profit and would employ a lot of my guys. I was in a good mood when I pulled into the drive. I noticed Eileen's car was still there and shrugged my shoulders. I went in to find Eileen sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee.

"Why are you still here? Did Joyce decide to go out anyway? Are the kids asleep?"

"Yes to both. She said to tell you that she was going to do whatever the hell she wanted to and for you to learn to live with it." Eileen said this but she didn't look happy about it.

I heard what she said, thought about it for a minute and then said, "Can you stay the night? Do you have to be home at any time special?"

She seemed surprised but then said with an evil smile on her beautiful face, "I can stay. What did you have in mind?" It was a sarcastic response but she could stay and that's all I needed.

"I'm leaving, so you'll have to stay till she gets home. You can tell her that my attorney will contact her and let her know where to reach me. I'll start the divorce first thing in the morning."

I moved away and up the stairs to our bedroom where I pulled down the suitcases I kept for trips for business. I needed only enough for a few nights since I could get the rest of my things during the day while she was at work. I got my toiletries and enough clothes to manage and closed the cases. I was ready. I sat down on the bed and gave myself a minute to cry. I was heartbroken now that I knew my marriage was over. I had hoped and prayed that Joyce would understand how I felt and how terrible I felt over what I had done. I was truthful when I said that it was a horrible mistake and I regretted it but I couldn't take it back. All I could do was prove my love in the future. 

I wiped my eyes, stood up and made my way out of the bedroom, maybe for the last time. I walked down the hall and looked in on my children. I was leaving them as well. That part was harder to do but for now, I had no choice. I stood looking at them and felt a tear begin before I swiped it away. This was not the time! 

I turned and went down the stairs, carrying my suitcases and trying to forget leaving my children. I had no idea where I was going but I could get a room for the night and then look for a place later. I grabbed my computer from the den and took everything to the kitchen. Eileen was on the phone, I assumed trying to reach Joyce, but she didn't seem to be having any luck. Too bad. 

"Tell Joyce that I'll have someone call her at work tomorrow to get the name of her lawyer. And tell her to be sure she has a good one because she'll need it for the divorce. I intend to fight for custody of the kids. I have no intention of being kind or fair now. She's made her choice and by God, she'll have to live with it! Good night and I'm sorry that you have to be in the middle. But then, this is what you wanted all along isn't it? So, enjoy." 

"I'm really sorry Russ. No, this is not what I wanted, but you probably don't believe me. I tried to warn her, but she wouldn't listen. Please don't do anything crazy. Please." 

With that surprise, I walked out of my house and out of my marriage. 

Chapter 1 

You probably want to know what my story is. Well, it began almost fourteen years ago. I was young, brash and full of myself, and I had just returned home from the army where I spent eight good years learning to kill with my bare hands. To make it even better, I learned to wire explosives to kill more of the enemy at one time. Later, I modified them so they could be set off by any idiot, especially officers hiding out of sight and out of danger. I was damned good at both and my Captain begged me to re enlist but I wanted to get out and start earning a living and have the good things that money can buy. I came home to Youngstown Ohio, the city of my birth. 

With my training fresh under my belt, I went to work as an explosives expert with a mining company in southern Ohio, where they still dug for coal the old fashioned way: strip mining. It was a good paying job, mainly because the so-called experts didn't last very long. Most blew themselves and anyone near them to kingdom come. But like I said, I was full of myself, very good at it, and immortal. Nothing could happen to me.

I did my job and in a few months was making damn near $2,000 a week setting charges for the company in three different mines. I moved around, going where I was needed and I was always in demand. The bosses knew I was safe and could blow the rock with less explosive than most. Even though I was making good money, I was too smart to continue to do this kind of work, so I put almost everything I earned aside. When I had a nice stash of over $20,000, I decided to look for greener pastures. 

I went to work for a construction company knocking down buildings, and was making at least as much as before, only now it was under blue skies rather than in a trench of dirt and rock. I found this work to be fascinating and learned all I could from the guys who had been at it for a while. There was a pattern to setting the explosives and for some reason those patterns seemed to jump out at me when I saw the blueprints for any building. I quickly became one of the leading experts at setting charges. 

My dream was to have my own company, one that specialized in demolition of all kinds. You'd be surprised how many kinds there are. I knew all of them and I knew how to do what had to be done. I worked for over two years before finally taking the plunge. I got a license and talked to a lawyer who told me how to incorporate myself and I was in business. Cranston Demolitions, Inc. That was me! I was Russell Cranston, I was thirty years old, and I finally had my own damn company!

Within three more years, I was solvent and making money faster than I knew what to do with it. I hired some good men, all with military backgrounds in explosives and demolition and started to expand. We picked up work around the state and then all over the country. I began to use my guys more and more to travel and take over jobs. I was an ex master sergeant: I knew how to delegate work. So I had free time and I began to frequent the local watering holes. Not to get drunk. I never liked the feeling, and I couldn't hold my liquor, so what I generally did was have a beer and watch the girls. That's when I met Joyce Kenyon.

Joyce was one of five girls that came into Clancy's Bar and Grill where I was holding court one evening. I couldn't tell you what the other girls looked like since I only had eyes for Joyce. She was beautiful. Tall, slim figure, nice boobs, long blonde hair worn straight, blue eyes that took your breath away and a face like an angel. She held herself in a way that said money. One look and I was hooked. I swallowed my beer and asked her to dance.

For some reason, she seemed to like me and we danced together most of the evening. Some other guys broke in once or twice but she always came back to me. I got her name and phone number before she left and called her two days later. We made a date and I picked her up at her house. That was the first surprise. Her family was well to do and lived in a very upscale section of town. Not my part of town by any means. Remember, I didn't even go to college and spent most of my time in the military blowing shit up. So, I had my doubts right off about the two of us going anywhere.

But Joyce and I continued to get along great and after two very hot dates, she let me get her clothes off in the back of my car and we did it parked out by the lake outside of town. It was the best sex of my life and she seemed to like it too. Fortunately I had a lot of experience and I knew how to make a girl feel good. I found out later that she was a virgin and that was her first time. Good thing it was a good one. She liked it and after that we did it as often as we could. She was on the pill and I used protection just to be safe.

After a whirlwind courtship of almost a year, I asked her to marry me and she accepted. I went with her to tell her parents who took the news better than I expected. I knew I had earned her dad's respect when he found out I owned my own company and it was well known around the city. But not her sister Eileen. She hated my guts for some reason but it made no difference to me. Joyce said yes so that's all I cared about. 

I had a good amount of money in the bank so we bought a nice home in a good part of town and settled in to start a family. Joyce had no problem with getting pregnant and we had Jason, our first, almost immediately. He was perfect and Joyce was a good mother. She wanted to have another baby as soon as possible. She said she wanted to have two children and have them early so we could raise them while we were young. Julie came along twelve months later and we now had one of each. Both of us were satisfied with our new family so Joyce went back on birth control and I continued to use condoms. 

For the next seven years we had a perfect life. I loved my kids and my wife and she seemed as happy as I. My company continued to grow and we began to take on work outside of the country. I hired several more ex military types and they did most of the travel and set up the work. I reviewed and signed off on all the plans and went only to those jobs that were highly sensitive or exceptionally difficult. Business grew and I made more money.

When both kids were in school during the day, Joyce decided to take a job with a real estate company as a receptionist and general secretary. She just wanted something to get her out of the house and give her some exposure to people, rather than other mothers who talked about nothing but children. She enjoyed the job and the hours were good, allowing her to be home when the kids got done with school. 

Five years went by and it was in the summer of 2006 that I took on a job in Brazil. It was leveling a mountain to open up land for a few very rich Europeans who wanted the anonymity that Brazil was famous for. We had done that in California so it was really a piece of cake but I was asked to attend to it personally. For the amount of money I was promised, I would give them my first child. It seemed that I was enough, so I went to Brazil. Joyce decided to stay home rather than go with me, so I took one of my guys instead. 

My only condition was that I wouldn't stay away for more than a week so I stayed there during the week and flew home on a chartered jet provided by my hosts on Friday. I spent the weekend with my family and flew back on Monday morning. Joyce understood so I continued this for the next two weeks. 

The third week I was there, the work was finished, and my clients threw a celebration party. I wanted to attend to say goodbye to several of the men I had come to know during my time there. We had a good time, I found their local wine to be much to my liking and by the end of the evening I was drunker than I had ever been in my life: so drunk that I ended up spending the night with a young woman that had been making moves on me from the very first. I wasn't too drunk to remember what we did and it was outstanding. I apologized to her that morning but she simply told me she had no regrets. I did, and the thought of what I did kept me in the bathroom all morning, heaving my guts out.

Back home, I tried to forget about the whole thing but the guilt was really giving me fits. I began to lose sleep. I lost my appetite and finally found myself making mistakes at work. I decided I had to tell Joyce what happened and beg her to forgive me. If I had talked to someone who had been through this, maybe I would have done things differently, but I didn't. I went home that Friday and told her after the kids were in bed and asleep. It didn't go well.

"Joyce, there's something I have to tell you. It's been hard for me trying to keep it secret so I have to be honest."


Consequences - Joyce



"What is it Russ? Is something wrong with the company? Did someone make a mistake or something like that?"

"Well, it was a mistake but the mistake was mine. When I was in Brazil, the last night I was there, I went to a party and got pretty drunk. I was just drinking wine but their wine is really stronger than I realized. I ended up sleeping with a girl at the party. I didn't know what I was doing until I woke up the next morning. I hardly knew her but she had been after me when I was there and she saw her chance. Honest, I'm sick about it, and it meant nothing and I was too drunk to remember much about it. I'm so sorry. But I had to tell you."

Joyce was looking as if I had slapped her. She stood up, crossed her arms over her chest and looked at me with tears pouring out of her eyes. I panicked! I tried to take her in my arms to comfort her but she slapped my arms away. She backed up, her eyes blazing through the tears before she spoke.

"You son of a bitch! You cheating bastard! How could you do this to us? How could you do this to me?" She was furious now, her anger wiping away the shock and the tears. 

"What about the children? Do you ever think of them while you were fucking that slut? Or me! Did you even remember you had a wife and kids? No! No, you never thought about us!"

"But I told you. I was drunk! You know I can't drink and that's why I hardly ever do it. This was just wine but I didn't know it was so strong. I got drunk and I didn't know what I was doing. You have to believe that. I didn't mean to do it. You know that. You know I love you and the kids more than anything in this world."

"No you don't. You couldn't and still do what you did." She was crying and pacing the kitchen. She was angrier than I had expected. I knew she would be mad but not like this. This was beyond anything I would have thought possible. I was to remember that some time later.

"I'm going to bed. You sleep in the spare room. I don't want you anywhere around me. Good night!" She ran for the steps and the bedroom upstairs. I listened to the slam of the door and then silence.

The weekend went very badly. Joyce wasn't speaking to me and she and the kids left early Saturday morning for God knows where. I wasn't invited. I puttered around the house and did my share of 'honey dos' while waiting for them to return. I was just putting things away when they came home. 

"Where were you all day? You didn't even leave me a note telling me where you would be. What if I needed to get hold of you?" I was just a little pissed.

"Why would you care? Seems you didn't think much about us when you were doing your little slut." She smirked before turning and walking away.

So, this is what it was going to be. I guess I had to spend my time in purgatory until she either forgave me or something else. I deserved it I guess so I decided to try to keep busy and not give her any excuse to yell at me. 

Joyce continued her punishment for two more weeks before finally breaking down and talking to me. It was again after dinner and the kids had gone to bed. I was sitting in the family room, reading some proposals that Jerry, my head man had written up. They concerned a job to take down a fifteen story building close to the downtown section of New York City. It was a good proposal and had an estimate of cost that I fully agreed with so I had just initialed it when she came in and sat down in front of the desk where I was working.

"We need to talk." She looked angry still but at least she wanted to talk to me. So I responded in kind.

"Fine. I agree with you. We need to talk. I think I told you what I needed to say. The next step is up to you." 

"I've made some decisions. I'm still angry with you and I need to find some way to forgive you. I don't know what that is but whatever it is, you may not like it. I just want to warn you beforehand." She had a smile on her face but the look she gave me was not pleasant. It made me angry but I wanted to see what she had in mind.

"I'm not sure what you mean. I don't mind you doing something to get over the anger you have but there are some things that I won't consider, regardless of what you want. You certainly know what I mean." 

I wanted to get it out into the open right now. There would be no getting even or punishing me if it meant going outside our marriage. I did that and it was wrong, but it wasn't deliberate or intentional on my part. I told her that. I wouldn't tolerate her doing it deliberately.

"You're in no position to tell me what I can or can't do. Anyway, if it was OK for you to do it, why isn't it OK for me? Tell me that!"

"What I did, I did without knowing what I was doing. And it was not OK then and it's not OK now for you. I would never have done it deliberately. I was drunk and I made a mistake. That's why."

"I don't accept that. If you want me to forgive you, you may have to accept that I might do what you did. It's only fair. You have to admit that." 

She still had that smirk on her face and it frightened me. She was seriously considering cheating on me. I had to make her see that I couldn't accept that. That it would be so wrong. 

"I understand that you are hurt and angry. I know you want to hurt me in some way to get back at me for hurting you. But two wrongs don't make a right and if you do what I think you're planning on, that would be wrong. Let me put it to you this way. If what I did makes you this angry it must be important to you, so if you do it, what does that say to me? This much I do know: if you deliberately cheat on me with another man, our marriage is over. I will not accept you doing that."

Joyce glared at me and said, "You hypocrite! You want me to forgive you and do nothing to make you see how I felt?"

"If I understand what you said, you are telling me that you would cheat on me deliberately, thinking that would make me hurt like you. Well, hear me good. If you do that, we are through. You either have to find a way to forgive me and forget what I did and let me get on with proving to you that I am a good husband and father, or we get a divorce and we go our separate ways. I would hate that, since I love you and this family with all my heart. But, I will not tolerate you being unfaithful for the sole purpose of punishing me. I can never accept that."

Joyce's mouth was closed and her lips formed a straight line. She was furious and about to burst. She struggled for a few minutes before standing up and glaring down at me.

"You can't tell me what to do. You screwed up and now you're going to have to pay. So you'd better get ready to suck it up and accept whatever I do. You have no choice in the matter."

I stood to face her and I looked her directly in the eye. I wanted her to know that this was not for discussion.

"I do have a choice. It's called divorce. Your choice is whether I do it. And don't kid yourself. I'll never accept you cheating on me for any reason." I glared right back at her. Inside I was churning with anger but also with a deep dread that things were not going to get better any time soon. As she turned and walked away, I again thought of her anger and the depth of it. I suddenly wondered if Joyce had something she felt guilty about and this was her chance to try to either hide it or turn the situation to her advantage. That thought made my stomach flip over.

That's how things went for the next few weeks. I hoped it was calming down so I asked her to come with me to a dinner I had set up with two clients that wanted me to take down several buildings. I told her it was a good business deal and that it would make us a lot of money. I thought that might get her interest, but that was quickly shot down.

"I have no desire to go to dinner with you and your construction pigs. You'll just talk about blowing things up and I'll be bored out of my mind. Go, and have a ball. Maybe you'll get lucky and find some tramp to go home with." 

"Those construction pigs as you call them paid for all we have. Seems it was OK when you wanted that new kitchen, or that vacation we took to Cancun, or that new dress you bought last week. I didn't know you thought so little about my business."

"I never liked what you do: blowing things up. It's embarrassing to have to tell people what you do."

That shut me up. I never knew she felt that way. We had always worked hard to get ahead and we had dreams of retiring when the kids left home. We planed on moving to a place on the beach somewhere along the Eastern Coast. We were going to buy a boat and sail up and down the coast just stopping when we found someplace interesting. That was our dream: but now?

My face a tight mask, the blood rising up my neck and into my face, I replied very softly. "I'm sorry you think so little of my company. I'll go without you then. You don't need to worry about it."

I walked away from her and went outside to cool down. I knew she was angry but why did she have to say what she did? To hurt me? Well, she succeeded. In a big way! Obviously she was ashamed of me and now she was angry enough to tell me for the first time. Restless, I got in my car and just drove around the city for the next three hours; ending up in one of the parks I had a hand in clearing. I got out and walked around, looking at the new trees, the benches, the tables, the walkways and the covered area that served when the rains came unexpectedly. What I saw gave me a feeling of pride, not shame. 

I came home late that night, pulled in the garage and shut the door. I sat in my car, trying to decide what I was going to do. This had gone on too long. I had to do something soon or our marriage was finished. I just had no idea what. I finally went in to face Joyce and her vitriol. 

"Where the hell have you been? It's after eight and the kids were asking where you were."

"I was out. Not that you give a damn!" I was too angry to stay and do this. "Ah, fuck you! I've just about had it up to here with this shit!" Furious, I walked away from her to find the kids. I sat with them until bedtime and then took them up myself. Maybe I had best get used to this. It might get to be a way of life.

It was well past midnight when I went up to bed. Joyce had gone earlier but it made no difference. Even though I had moved back into the bedroom, we hadn't made love since I told her what I did. I had no expectations now, and I hoped if I waited long enough, she would be asleep. Tonight was not one of those nights. She stopped me as I went past, heading to the spare room.

"Russ, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I'm not embarrassed by what you do. I just said that to make you mad and to hurt you. I'm sorry."

"Actually, I do believe you meant it Joyce. I see the way you act around my workers. I see the way you turn your head when someone I know sees me in public. I hear you and your sister talk. And I listen to you tell your mother how crude some of my friends are. I just never paid attention before. I had no idea you were so embarrassed by me in front of your friends. Now I do."

"That's not true. I'm sorry Russ, and I didn't mean it."

"Fine Joyce. Let's just forget it. I'm very tired tonight, and I don't want to fight with you anymore. I'll stay in the guest room." With that, I walked past, down the hall to the spare room we kept for her parents when they came to visit. 

We were cold to each other the remainder of the week until that night of the dinner. I had given up on trying to appease her and just accepted that she was no longer a part of helping me with the business. Not now that I knew how she felt. But you know what happened that night which brings us back to the present. Me leaving! 

Leaving Eileen frantically trying to reach Joyce, I drove away and found a small, out-of-the-way motel with a vacancy sign. I checked in, taking a ground floor room with a king bed and a small kitchenette. It was $80 per night or $500 for the week, cash only. I took a week. I unpacked my clothes, hanging them up and using the drawers for the rest. Not too bad. At least it was clean and dry and the sheets looked decent. I checked out the bathroom and found it to be clean. I didn't need more.

I sat on the bed trying to decide what to do next. I was curious what Joyce would do when she came home. Actually, I was more than curious. Since I was still keyed up and restless, I decided to drive toward the house and wait just out of sight to see for myself. I left and drove over to the house, parking just down the street from my home. I saw that Eileen's car was still there and I could see the driveway and the front door, and the light from the streetlamp would let me see who was in the car when she came home. Her car was in the garage when I left so she had to be with someone. I settled down to wait.

It was only ten more minutes when I saw a car coming. I ducked down so the car appeared empty and allowed them to get past before rising back up. I watched the car pull into our driveway and come to a stop. The lights went out and I saw Joyce in the passenger side and a man in the other. I couldn't see clearly enough to see if it was Ron Mason but the car looked familiar. 

Nothing happened for the next several minutes but I did see the curtains in the house pull back several times. Eileen must be waiting to talk to Joyce. Then I saw Joyce lean over and kiss the man. He put his arms around her and then they engaged in a kiss that seemed from my perspective to be more than a friendly goodnight. It continued and I wondered what was going to be next. I watched them, my anger building to a point that I was considering confrontation when the front door opened and Eileen came running down the drive.

She ran up to the car, pounded on the window until Joyce was forced to break the kiss. She turned to see Eileen and put the window down. Eileen was shouting at her, waving her arms, clearly agitated. Whatever she told Joyce finally got her excited and she pushed the car door open and ran toward the house with Eileen right behind, the man in the car forgotten. He got out of the car but simply stood there watching the two women. He appeared to be laughing but then got in his car and drove off. 

It was less then a minute later when my cell phone began ringing. I looked at the caller ID to see it was Joyce calling from our home phone. I let it go to voice mail. It rang again a minute later and I saw it was Eileen's cell phone. How dumb did they think I was? Like I didn't know her number? I decided the best thing to do was just to turn the damn thing off. I sat there, my mind going back to what I witnessed and I felt the first tendrils of doubt in my love for Joyce. Only a few more and it would die. 

I drove away and headed back toward the motel. I remembered seeing a lounge just across the street and that seemed like a good plan. I ended up staggering back to my room well past two in the morning feeling no pain. Joyce was just a faint irritation but nothing more. I slept the sleep of the just that night.

Chapter 2

The following morning I called my office and talked to Jerry McCain, my number two. I told him where I was and had him come over to the room. I asked him to bring the contracts that I had started the day before concerning the clients I met last night. He was curious but smart enough to just do as I asked. I called my attorney next, and asked for a meeting with him today if possible. He set it up for 1:30. Perfect for me. 

When Jerry arrived, I filled him in on my personal problem and the meeting from the night before. He could handle the second and the first was none of his concern, but I told him so he would know why I wouldn't be around for the next few weeks. He agreed to handle everything for me as he had in the past when I traveled or went on vacation. He was good enough to forget what I told him about Joyce. 

As he was leaving, he paused and then, "Boss, how about we blow up the bastard's house? Just a small gas explosion, happens all the time. Nobody but you and me would know anything."

"Thanks Jer, but not just yet. Maybe it'll come to that, then it'll be just you and me. Like before. Those were good times." Then I had a thought. "Why don't you have someone check the records to see what properties this shithead owns: might come in handy."

He smiled and left. He was serious and so was I.

My meeting with Saul Steinberg didn't go as easy. He was not happy with the plans to file for divorce. He had the stats on my business and my income and her income and he didn't like the way the figures added up. Any divorce would be filed as no fault. The state didn't care what my reasons were and they had no interest in infidelity. As a cause for divorce, it was a loser. Maybe I could cause her some distress if I went after her lover for alienation of affections but that was iffy at best. What if the lover had no money? A big loser. Saul wanted to know if we could patch it up and save me a whole lot of money.

I finally told him to prepare something and we could work on terms later. I asked him to set up two trust funds for the kids and the best way to fund them. I could file for custody or course. There infidelity would play some part but only if I could show she had terrible morals and exposed the kids to sex stuff. Not likely. I told Saul to call her and get her attorney's name just to let her know I kept my word. He agreed and said he would call later in the afternoon. I left to go back to my motel.

I went back to the lounge across the street and ordered a burger and a draft. I would stay sober now, my anger sated by the night before. From now on, I would be cool. I took a booth, turned on my cell and checked my call log. Seventeen calls from Joyce. As I scanned down the list, deleting them all, my cell rang. This time I answered.

"Hello?"

"Russell? Where the hell are you?" Screaming in my ear. I looked at the cell, snapped the flip closed. I'll be damned if I'll listen to that shit. I saw her last night. I know what she did and she knew exactly how I felt about it. I told her in no uncertain terms before she left that night. No doubt! 

The cell rang twice more before I answered. "Yes?"

This time no screaming. "Russell, please tell me where you are. You didn't come home last night and I was worried. Where are you honey? Please tell me." 

"Where were you last night Joyce? I told you what would happen if you did it and you went ahead and did it anyway. So, I left you, just as I promised. I told you Joyce, there were two choices. No third choice, but you didn't listen."

"Russell, honey, no. I just went out with some friends. Some girls from work. I was angry and just wanted someone to talk to. That's all. Honest babe. Now please just come home."

"Sorry Joyce. Lies aren't the best way to start this thing. I was sitting down the street when you came home. He was no girl and the kiss you gave him was not what you give the girls. It looked to me that it wasn't the first time either. You never were very good at lying Joyce. Saul will be calling you sometime today. Tell him who you want to represent you in the divorce."

With that, I hit end and held it long enough to turn off the phone. I was done talking to her lying face. My burger came then and I enjoyed it and the beer. I had another draft before heading back to the room. I called Jerry and got the rundown of what was going on. He told me about a job in Rio that someone wanted us to look at so I got the name and the number and made a call. 

For the next day and a half, I just checked in with Jerry and Saul and found that Joyce was panicked and had been calling both almost hourly. She was now convinced that I was serious and she had no way to contact me. I hadn't given anyone my number at the motel and only Jerry knew where I was. I knew he would never tell Joyce. He didn't like Joyce much and never had. Never told me why, just avoided her as much as possible. Seems he was clairvoyant. 




Consequences - Joyce



It had been four days since I walked out of the house. One of those days was spent with Saul and Jerry and the next three days were just me driving around the city, scoping out jobs and past work. I enjoyed the free time and the idea of retiring became more prominent in my thoughts. Saul and I had worked out a value for the business and it was well into seven figures: enough to let me retire in good shape even if I had to split it with Joyce. And Justin and Julie, our kids were taken care of with a trust fund Saul set up and funded. They would be fine regardless of the fight between Joyce and me.

On the fifth day, I decided to call Joyce and try to set up a time to talk to her. We had things to decide and we had to settle on custody of the kids. I was worried about that. I had called them twice and let them know that I was OK and just very busy. While I told Eileen I would file for full custody, I wasn't serious. Joyce was a great mother and they needed her more than they needed me. And Joyce would never put them in jeopardy. So I placed the call.

"Russell. Please don't hang up again. Please, I need to see you. Won't you let me talk to you and see if we can't put this behind us? Please Russ, come home."

"Actually Joyce, I think we do need to talk. I was wondering when would be a good time for me to stop by? Whenever is best for you."

"Anytime is fine with me. Now? Tonight? Anytime is good with me. I'm not working for a while. I've been here at home just waiting for you to call."

"Has Ron been there with you? Are the two of you still a thing?"

"Ron has never been here at the house. Except for that night you made him leave. And we're not a thing. That was my mistake and I'm sorry for that."

"Fine. I just don't want to run into any of your lovers when I stop by. How about tonight? Can you have your parents take the kids tonight?"

"Of course. About six? I could fix dinner."

"How about seven and don't fix dinner."

"OK, that's fine. Seven o'clock then."

I hung up, sat down on my bed and let the tears fall. Regardless of what she did, I loved her and that was not so easy to turn off. It couldn't be ended that easily.

When I arrived right at seven, she was waiting. The door opened even before I reached for it. She was standing there, looking a little frightened and nervous. She stood back and I entered. I walked into the kitchen and took a chair at the table. Joyce followed me in, walked over to the counter and fixed us coffee, mine plain with a touch of sugar, hers white. She set the cup in front of me and than sat down opposite me.

I noticed that she wasn't handling things very well. She looked tired, her hair brushed but without that luster it usually had. Her face was swollen and puffy: probably from crying. Sadly, I felt very little as I looked at her. I decided to start and then let the conversation go where it would. 

"I've contacted Saul on the divorce. He has worked up some preliminary figures we should go over. I'd like to send them to your lawyer first though."

"No Russell! I don't want a divorce! I love you and I admit I made a big mistake. I'm sorry Russ, but don't let that mistake ruin our lives and our marriage!"

"I saw your mistake. That was no mistake! You initiated that kiss and from the looks of it, you were just finishing an active evening together. That was no mistake! You promised to get even with me and you used him to do it. I told you when I left what would happen. You told Eileen to tell me 'you were going to do whatever you wanted to and for me to learn to live with it'."

"I didn't do what you think I did. I was just angry with you and I wanted to teach you a lesson. I have been furious with you for what you did and I wanted to get even, but it went too far. I'm sorry! All that happened was the kiss. I didn't do anything else. Not what you think! Nothing more."

"I don't believe you Joyce. You had plans and I interrupted them, but after I left, you decided to go ahead and you called him. You 'got even', just like you promised, and now I'm doing exactly what I promised you I would do."

"No Russell, no! I'm sorry! I forgive you! We have to move past this for the sake of the kids. They don't deserve to pay for my foolishness. You were right: I have to forgive you and move on. I do, I forgive you. Please, drop the divorce and come home. Please!"

I watched her and I saw that she was frightened but I didn't believe her about her time with Ron Mason. Joyce was not the forgive and forget type. If she promised to get even, she got even. I saw some of it but not what really happened. I had my suspicions but no facts. And I had started this all with my foolishness, so, what should I do? I had to have time to find out what really happened.

"All right Joyce. Let me think about this. I'm not sure I believe you but I did start it. I'll tell Saul to hold up on the divorce while you and I try to work this out."

"Thank you Russ. You won't be sorry. We can work through this and get back to where we were. Come home now. Please?"

"Not tonight. I have some thinking to do and some decisions to make. I gave you two choices and you tried to make a third. Now I have to make my decision. I know I screwed up but I told you I was sorry and that I never planned it. You didn't believe me and you refused to listen to me until you 'got even'. Now you want to forgive me and have me come home. That makes me wonder just what you really did."

"No, I didn't do anything other than give him a kiss and I told you I was sorry about that. I just realized what it would be like to be without you. This week taught me a lesson. I don't want to be without you. Please, come home and let's start over."

"I'll call you. But tonight I don't want to be here. I have to go."

I left immediately before she could start another round of pleas. I had to think. I had to decide whether I believed her. I needed time alone. I headed back to my lounge and a few cold drafts to help.

It was two days before I decided to move back home and give it a try. Maybe Joyce had cheated on me but I didn't know for sure and that wasn't enough to make me give up on my marriage. If I screwed up and so did she, well maybe we were even. She defied me and pushed the limits but so what. I did love her and I didn't want my marriage to end, so in the end, I decided in favor of my family. Maybe I was wrong, but sue me.

Joyce was as good as her word. She didn't mention my cheating and went out of her way to make sure I knew she forgave me. I moved back in and the first night was almost like our honeymoon. We made love, had sex, made love again and finished with sex. The sex was wild and the love making was sweet. And that night was not the only one. We made love three times that first week back and for an old married couple, that was something unusual. 

I went back to work and Joyce surprised me by quitting her job at the real estate firm. She told me she wanted to quit and I asked her why. She said she didn't want to see Ron Mason again and if she stayed she would see him every day. She said the memory of what almost happened was too much for her. I agreed but wondered if that was the real reason. The thought that kept running through my mind was that Joyce had given up too easily. I knew her well and I knew once she decided to do something, she would do it. Hell and high water would not stop her. She threatened to cheat on me to get even and she never made idle threats. I began to believe even more strongly that she had already done it. 

With that in mind, there were a few things that I worked on after I moved back home. First was the value of the company. Saul and I put out a few feelers and got some firm estimates of what others would pay. The figure was well over four million dollars for the business, the guarantee of all open contracts and the good will we had established in the industry. We didn't have a lot of mortar and steel but we had knowledge and experience. Those were things money couldn't buy. But they did raise the price. 

Next I met with Jerry and a few other top key people and discussed a possible sale. We worked out a leveraged buyout with Jerry and seven others becoming the new owners. We even went so far as to obtain letters of intent from several financial institutions. The price was lower than our best estimate but I would prefer to sell to Jerry and after all, he was as much a part of this company as I was. He was worth the difference. And loyalty was a part of it as well

Finally, I talked to Buddy Saragossa, a top security expert that we worked with occasionally. There were often instances where security was necessary to be sure the buildings we wanted to take down were empty and stayed that way. Vagrants liked to wander back into an empty building and were not very good at reading signs. Security had most wired for sound just before we were ready. We could hear someone breathing in some of those places. I made some arrangements with him. 

It had been almost a month since I moved back home and I had to admit, things were going very well. Joyce had continued to be a loving wife and wonderful mother and being home helped her both in the kitchen and in the bedroom. Our sex life was still averaging three to four times a week with a lot of new stuff. Meals were more fun now with the kids and us talking and having fun. 

I was feeling more secure but I had doubts and I wanted to be certain. I made arrangements with my security contact to come to the house one night when I took Joyce and the kids out for a meal. We went to a Pizza place and had pizza and cold drinks for all. The kids loved it and Joyce was glad of a night without having to cook. We were gone for almost two hours, more than the time needed by Buddy. Once we were home, I spent an hour or more just trying to spot what Buddy did but saw nothing. He was good, that's for sure.

It was almost two weeks before Buddy called me at the office. He wanted me to come over to his place. He had something I needed to hear. I told him I would be there in an hour. I sat at my desk, my heart pounding with fear. What did he have? Was it what I feared? Had she done it again? More thoughts like that ran around in my head and by the time I left, I had a stomach ache as well. But I had to go and I had to know for sure.

When I got there, Buddy led me into a small conference room equipped with several monitors and two large speakers. He had me sit at the table and walked over to a small control panel where he did something and then sat down next to me.

"What you are going to hear is a conversation your wife had with her sister. Eileen I believe her name is? That was from last night. Before that, there is nothing of interest. I had hoped that would continue but listen for yourself. We tapped your phones as you agreed and we have both ends of the conversation. I can move forward so that you can hear the important parts."

With that, he pointed a remote at the console and pushed a button.

"…and then after dinner, when we got in the car, he asked me to take a ride with him."

"What did you say? You didn't go with him did you?"

"Yes, I did. I was so angry with Russ that I just wanted to stay away longer. Dinner was fun and Ron is a great listener but it was over so quickly. I just wanted to stay away."

"Well, nothing happened did it? You didn't do anything with him?" 

"We drove to the park on fifth and Concord. You know the one we take Justin and Julie too? We parked behind some empty cars. Ron and I just talked for awhile and then he pulled me against him and he kissed me. Hard! It was a great kiss!"

"Oh shit sis. Tell me you stopped there. Just a kiss? Nothing more? I hope you didn't risk your marriage over that asshole."

"No, we didn't stop there. He put his hand under my skirt and before I knew what was happening, he was fingering me. God, I was so wet and his fingers were driving me crazy. He had two of them inside me and I was having an orgasm with just that. I hadn't had sex with Russell for so long and this felt so good." 

"Shit! Go on, what happened next?"

"I had an orgasm from his fingers and while I was still woozy from that, I found my hand on his thing. He had unzipped himself and pulled it out. I had my hand on it and God was it big! And hard! I couldn't stop myself. I started to jack him off right there."

"What did he do?"

"He made me stop, then he put his hand on the back of my neck and he pushed me down and I gave him a blow job. He was so strong, holding my head down on his cock. Honestly Eileen, it was mind blowing!" 

I stood up and Buddy stopped the recording. I was feeling sick to my stomach. Buddy didn't say a word but took me by the arm and pulled me toward a closed door. He opened it to show me a bathroom. I went in, spewed my guts into a toilet and stayed there long enough to get the cramps to stop. I splashed cold water on my face and leaned over the sink trying to calm myself. I didn't want to listen to any more but I knew I had to. I walked back out to face Buddy and the rest of my wife's betrayal.

"Well Russ, need to listen to any more? It goes on and they do the whole thing. They end up in the back seat and stay there for over an hour. Just more of the same."

"I'll just take the recording and listen to it when I'm alone. I don't need to humiliate myself in front of you any more."

"Well no, but there is one more section you need to hear. No sex in that part. OK?"

"Sure. Fine! What the hell ever. Just do it."

Buddy put on a pair of ear buds, listened for a few seconds and then stopped. "Here it is. You need to hear this."

It started with Eileen talking to Joyce. "But why did you do it? Why the hell would you do that after Russ threatened you? Did you want to end your marriage?"

"No but see, that was the whole reason. He cheated on me and it made me so furious that I couldn't stand it. I know what he said: it was an accident and he was drunk and he didn't mean to do it. But so what? He did and I had to get even. Then he humiliated me in front of Ron that night so I was even madder. I was furious at him and I knew that I had to do something to get even with him.

"The only difference was that he couldn't know. But see, I would. I would know that I had fucked Ron Mason behind his back and he would never find out. I would have that secret for myself. Actually that's why I can accept Russ now, because of the first time in his car."

"But what if he finds out? What then?"

"What's he going to do, divorce me? He loves me as much as I love him. He would never do that. We love each other too much for a divorce. Anyway, he wouldn't do that because of Jason and Julie."

"I don't know sis. I heard him that night when he came home and you were gone. He didn't look like he was afraid of losing you. He was furious and he wanted you gone! Trust me. Don't ever let him find out."

"He won't. That's why I quit, so I wouldn't have to see Ron every day. I couldn't do that." 

"That's good that it's over. I'm really worried for you if he finds out. You're going to lose an awful lot. Just let it go! Please! That's best."

"Who says it's over? The sex with him was absolutely fantastic. Probably better than with Russ. At least Ron is bigger. I'll probably do him at least once more."

Buddy stopped the recording and sat back. He was watching me for my reaction.

"Well, that about sums it up doesn't it? It's worse than I suspected."

I got up, testing my shaking legs and found that they would hold me up. I asked Buddy for the recording and he handed me a CD. I put it in my briefcase. I wanted to take it to Saul after I duped it at home. 

I drove back to my office, spent a little time with a few more ideas and then drove home. I had some thinking to do, and some plans to make. As I listened to the words of my loving wife end our marriage, I knew what I wanted to do. It was all so simple now. Those words were the beginning of my acceptance that our marriage was over and that I didn't love her any more. Not really. I was still attracted to her but now that I knew the depth of her deceit and her betrayal and how she thought of our marriage, I felt the love die.

I pulled into the garage and walked into the house to be with my family. I would treasure these next few weeks knowing there would be no more. There would be no change in my behavior until I was ready. Until I was, I would play with my kids and spend as much time with them as I could and I planned on having sex with Joyce, but I would no longer make love to her. 

Chapter 3

Joyce and I went on as if nothing was different. If she noticed the difference in the bedroom, she didn't comment, perhaps because she was trying very hard not to get into any discussions of her evening out. I also let it be since I didn't want to discuss it either. In that way, we spent three months as husband and wife, mother and father, but not as lovers. At least not from my part: I just treated her as I saw her now: a slut. 

I continued to monitor the phones in the house using the equipment Buddy left for me. The only difference was that the recorder was now hidden in the garage in the corner of my tool rack. Joyce never went near the tools and Jason was forbidden to use them so it was safe there. And I could monitor it during my evenings pretending to be working on some project or other. After three months, Joyce had not mentioned Ron Mason again and I began to wonder what she was waiting for. 

Then one evening as I reviewed the daily calls I found one that was more interesting. She had called Eileen to see if she could sit one day next week. She had plans to meet Ron Mason for dinner. When Eileen asked her if that was all, Joyce acted coy, giggling and making suggestive comments but she never came out and said she was going to let him screw her again. What surprised me the most was that Eileen tried so hard to convince Joyce to give up her idea of being with Ron again. I wondered why she would do it myself, since she always seemed to hate me. And what about Joyce? She had been walking on eggshells all this time. She never mentioned any of her coworkers from before and she never mentioned Ron by name. Why now? I decided to use this information to prod her a little.

My chance came during dinner the next evening. It was a Friday and I was home early for a change. I had been working very hard on some proposals and I had spent several evenings working at home. But now those estimates were almost complete and I could take some time off. Dinner was finished and Joyce and Julie were working on the dishes and Jason and I were drying. It was a routine we tried to maintain with the kids, making them part of the process. They didn't mind and we often talked about our plans and our days. This was what happened that night.

"Russ, do you have any plans for next Wednesday? I wanted to go out to dinner with some of the girls from Striker. I called Eileen and she can sit until you get home. I wouldn't be late and I would be leaving around 4:30 or so. Would you mind?"  

"I didn't know you kept in touch with your old co-workers. What's up that you suddenly want to go to dinner with them? Some special occasion?"

Joyce seemed jumpy and apparently didn't care for answering questions since instead of answering, she struck back.

"Why is that a problem for you? I haven't been anywhere for the past three months since I quit my job there. I just wanted to see some of my friends. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, I don't have a problem with it. Will Ron be there?"

Her reaction was just a little bit too quick and too angry to be convincing.

"Of course not. I said it was with the girls!" Her face was angry and she was looking down at the sink and the water, anywhere but at me. 

Enough. She was just going to continue to lie, and thanks to the recording, of that I was certain. Joyce was a terrible liar and she got jumpy and fidgety when she did. This was a classic case and I had what I wanted to know. Even though I pushed her and made her nervous, she didn't consider stopping. I decided to give up. It just wasn't worth it.




Consequences - Joyce



"That's fine with me. I'll be home about the same time as usual and I'll relieve Eileen. You go and have fun." 

I finished drying the dishes and went in to watch the news. I knew she planned on meeting Ron for dinner and then spending the evening with him. If he was smart, he would have a room waiting and he would take her there. I expected her to meet him at either the Ramada or the Holiday Inn: both had fairly nice restaurants and lounges. And rooms for rent. I wanted to check the recorder tonight since she would probably make a call to him soon, probably right after I went out to the garage. 

Joyce came in after the kids went off to play video games in the playroom and sat down next to me. She leaned her head on my shoulder and rubbed my arm. I let her just to see what she would do.

"I'm sorry Russ. I know you still don't trust me much now, but honest, honey, it's just dinner with the girls. Ron will not be there because he wasn't invited. You can check if you want. The reservations are at the Ramada. In my name."

"It's not necessary. I don't want to have to check up on you every time you go out. If I have to do that, we don't have much of a marriage. I know I screwed up and I know you were angry so it's my fault you did what you did. I'm just happy it didn't go any further than that kiss. I can forgive that: especially since you've forgiven me. You have, haven't you?"

"Of course I have. I told you that and I hope I've shown you. We've had a lot of fun lately in the bedroom. I can tell you've forgiven me the way you make me feel."

"I have and I know that you would never betray me that way. You have too much love for your family to throw it away like that. I made a mistake but it shouldn't cost us our marriage and our life together. I just wish I had the strength and integrity you showed by controlling what you did with Ron. I trust you completely now."

The immediate tensing of her body would have been a dead giveaway but when her hand stopped rubbing my arm for that split second, it was enough to convince me that she was definitely going to cheat on me. All I had to do now was wait till she made it a reality.

"Thank you for your trust. I won't let you down." Her hand resumed its rubbing but she was quick to lean away from me. It was so obvious she was lying to me, and I wasn't sure how she could act so loving after the words I said. She had to be one cold hearted bitch. Why had I never seen this before?

I let it pass and just let her feel she had put my worries to rest. It's too bad Joyce wasn't smarter. We might have been able to save our life together and make our marriage last. But she was too self centered and too dumb to understand that what I did and what she did were two different things. While I was sorry and would never do it again, she was pleased at what she did and planned to repeat it. Her anger made her blind to her actions. She justified her actions by blaming me.

As I suspected, Joyce got on the phone right after I went into the garage and shut the door. I watched the light come on, the recorder start, and waited. It took just five minutes before it went out. The call was finished. Joyce would be putting the kids to bed right about now so I pulled the recorder, rewound it to the beginning of the call and listened.

"Hello?"

"Hi Ron. It's Joyce."

"Hi babe. I've been waiting for you to call. Are you ready to get together again? I can't wait to see you again."

"Well that's what I was calling for. I'll be free from 4:30 or so Wednesday. I've made reservations at the Ramada for dinner and I was hoping you could meet me there."

"Why bother with dinner. I'll get a room and we can spend the whole evening in bed with each other. I have some ideas how we can pass the time."

"Sounds like fun to me. Last time was fantastic so I hope you can top it Wednesday."

"Don't you worry. You'll be taken care of. Trust me. I'll make you scream just like last time."

"I'll hold you to that. I'll meet you in the lobby at 4:25 or so. We'll have about two hours or a little more. See you then."

That was the conversation. There was little more, confirming the date and reminiscing about that night she committed her first adultery. She lied to me about the dinner and about Ron, and she did it deliberately, knowing what she planned to do. This wasn't payback. This was just Joyce planning to make me the poor cuckold waiting at home with the kids while she fucked her lover. This was Joyce getting the upper hand on me and making her feel better about herself. She would feel superior now, having something secret from me. This was Joyce at her worst. I knew her well, but I never suspected she had this kind of anger and viciousness inside her. This was way too much for a loving relationship. If this was what I could expect if I made her angry, we had no future.

I slid a CD into the end of the recorder and pushed the copy button. Her conversation was copied directly to the CD, the time and date added and when it was completed I ejected it and put it in a sleeve to add to those I already had. Saul would get a copy Monday. 

The weekend passed with no more phone calls and no more lies. Except when she said she loved me during our Saturday night fuckfest. Again, there was no love involved from my part, but she didn't even notice. She was probably thinking of her upcoming tryst with Ron so she was so hot she didn't even notice that I shot my load not even caring if she climaxed. When I was done, I just rolled over and went to sleep. She did the same.

Monday I arrived at the office, called Jerry in to review our plans. I had established an identity and bank accounts in the name of Juan Ramirez, a Mexican national. It cost me over ten thousand dollars but I had all the identification records I needed, including a Mexican passport and identification number. I even had a fake identity card and drivers license in that name and since I spoke fluent Spanish, no one questioned me. It's amazing what you can get with money. All funds in that account would be with the Bank of Mexico branch in New York City. Mr. Ramirez would have access to those funds in the lovely land of Mexico. Using the fake identity, I opened the account and deposited the sum of $1,000 to activate it. 

On Tuesday I called Saul, and Jerry and I went to see him. Saul gave me the name of an attorney who would take it from here. This was necessary since I didn't want Saul involved in what was going to happen. I had made arrangements with Jerry to sell the company to him for a price, but the price was to be kept in a separate file, available only to him and his partners. There would be two transaction records, one going to Saul and one going to Jerry who would keep it private for the immediate future. We had worked out the deal some time ago and now just had to activate it. 

Jerry and I went to the office of the new attorney. Once there, we transferred money from a holding account set up for Jerry and the seven others I had offered the company to, to the account of Juan Ramirez. The amount was two million, five hundred thousand US dollars. The attorney prepared a receipt for the transferred funds and gave it to Jerry along with a signed transfer of ownership from me to Mr. Ramirez for 80% of Cranston Demolitions, Inc. 

Once that was completed, we went back to see Saul who then transferred money from the same account to an account in my name in a local bank. That transfer was for $350,000, the amount on those ownership papers. Buried deep in the paperwork was a statement that this transferred 20% of the company in my name to Jerry. This time, the receipt was attached to the deed for the building housing my company and all stocks and funds in the corporate accounts. My name was removed from the ownership records and was replaced with Jerry's name and his articles of incorporation. Jerry and his new corporation were now the owners of Cranston Demolitions, Inc. Saul actually knew only about this transfer so he could swear that this was the amount of the deal.

I gave Saul the CDs I had prepared and left with Jerry to return to the plant and make the transfer final. We called in the top men and told them the transfer was complete. As of that moment, I was unemployed and no longer boss. It was sad but it was also time. I built this company from nothing, but now it was someone else's responsibility. After a quick round of congratulations, I left to finish my plans. 

I checked with the Bank of Mexico branch in New York and got my balance. It was all there and would be confirmed by end of business today. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Juan Ramirez would be a multimillionaire. He already owned a beautiful home in Puerto Vallarta, a 1987 fully restored 45' Gulfstar Hirsh sailboat, and a staff of three was waiting for him to fly home. I fully intended to do just that as soon as possible. 

I felt good as I drove home that night. I had sold my company to Jerry and his corporation for $2,850,000 but only $350,000 would show on the second set of transfer of ownership records that I now had. The remaining money was in another person's name with no way to trace it to me. Jerry was covered since he had the receipts for 100% of the company at the full sales price. So as far as all records were concerned, the $350,000 was the amount I received. I had openly deposited that in my account.  

The remaining money was out of the country legally and not traceable in any divorce actions. Saul was preparing my net worth for the upcoming divorce so he counted the $350,000 as my share of the business. That was added to my share of the home and properties. The rest of the money was gone and Joyce would never see it. The way I saw it, since it was part of our plans for retirement and she had decided to go her separate way by cheating on me with Ron Mason, she had no claim on that money any longer. I offered her a choice: divorce or forgiveness. If she had chosen divorce, I would have given her a fair share of all we had. I was at fault and I would have accepted that. But not this way. She threw it away by her decision to screw someone else, just to get even with me. And she had lied to me about the first time anyway and wanted to continue it. So, our plans suddenly became my plans and no longer included her.

I truly made love with Joyce that night, knowing it would be the last time for me. I had loved her for far too long to just forget and I gave it my all and brought her to a screaming climax four times. I did it all thanks to that little blue pill I got from Jerry earlier. It was a night she wouldn't soon forget and it would give lover boy Ron a goal to shoot for. One he wasn't likely to get the chance to meet.

Wednesday morning, Joyce was especially loving as she got me off to work. I knew what made her so happy and I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. I had loved her for so long that the end was more difficult than I expected. But she left me no choice. While I could stop her by disclosing what I knew, it would change nothing. The intent to cheat was clear and she would do it eventually just to get even with me for stopping her this time. Joyce had made her position clear in the calls to Eileen and Ron. 

I dropped my car off with Saul and would take a cab to the airport where I made my reservations in my own name for a flight to Rio for later that evening. Once there, I planned to take an undocumented private flight back into Mexico and to my new home. I had time to kill so I spent it with Saul to review the final documents. The divorce papers were finalized and would be delivered to Joyce first thing Thursday morning. I went over the terms, making sure Joyce got all of the money in the bank accounts, now over $400,000. The trust funds for the kids were already fully funded and the money I left Joyce would satisfy any and all requirements for raising them. She would probably have to go back to work with her lover to remain comfortable, but so what. In addition, I would place money in an account that would pay Joyce $5,000 a month in child support that would continue as long as all needs for my children were met and she remained single. Once she married again, or the kids turned 18, the support would stop. 

It was hard to do that and I struggled with it until it was all final. The worst part was leaving my kids, but I had little choice. I wrote a letter explaining what I was doing but not why. I just told them that their mother and I had decided that we could no longer live together so I had to leave. I promised to stay in touch with them and that sometime in the future, we would visit and they could stay with me for a while if Joyce permitted. 

My real problem was that the money was in Mexico and in Juan Ramirez's name so that meant I had to stay away in order to enjoy it. Maybe some time in the future, I would find some way to visit them and even to have them come to Mexico to spend some time on the boat and at my villa. Some way existed and I would find it. If I let Joyce know where I was, she would be so bitter she would come after me somehow. That I couldn't chance.

I had lunch and made some calls to friends, telling them I was going to be out of the country for a time and letting them know I would call them later when I returned. Not likely but that established my planned absence. I spent the rest of the afternoon in a small bar and grill and had enough to make me loose but not enough to make me crazy. I bided my time. I had one more thing to do before I left for the last time. 

When the clock behind the bar showed 5:00, I walked into the phone booth at the back of the bar, closed the door and dialed the Ramada. I asked for Mr. Ron Mason's room and told the operator that he was hard of hearing so to let the phone ring. She confirmed that he was there and put the call through and I waited.

Finally it was answered on the eighth ring. "Hello! Who the hell is this?"

Oh shit. His voice was hard to hear since he was breathing so hard. He sounded out of breath. Poor Ron was pulled off from fucking my wife and he was pissed. Too bad.

"Hi Ron. This is Russell Cranston and I'm warning you right now not to hang up. If you do, my ass will be up to your room and you don't want that. Now, I believe you're fucking my wife Joyce right about now. I want you to put her on the phone please."

There was silence from the other end until I heard the angry voice of my wife in the background ask Ron who it was. He hissed something to her and I waited.

"Look, I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I'm here by myself. I don't have any fucking idea of where your wife is. You're making a big mistake asshole!"

"No, you're the one who made the mistake, asshole. Ask my wife about my background. She'll confirm what I'm going to tell you. Now, you listen very closely and listen good. If you don't put my wife on the phone this fucking minute, I'm going to come up to your room and break your fucking neck. I warned you once before what would happen and you didn't listen that time but trust me, I'm angry enough to do both of you now. So put her cheating ass on the phone and hope to hell I don't come after the two of you anyway."

Again silence but I could tell he was covering the mouthpiece while telling her what I said. I just waited, knowing Joyce would know I wasn't joking. I thought I heard a muffled scream, then I heard sounds of clothing and rustling bed springs before Joyce came on.

"Listen Russell, this isn't what you think it is. I know it looks real bad but we're just talking, catching up and that's all. I'll come home right now and we can talk. It's not what you think honey, so please believe me, OK? I'll be home in a few minutes Russ and we can make this all go away. It's not what you think honey, it's really not." 

"Oh I'm sorry Joyce but it's exactly what I think it is. I tapped our phones and I heard you making plans with your asshole lover to meet at the Ramada. I heard you telling Eileen about the first time with him and how fantastic it was. Remember when you told her it was even better than sex with me? I know it all Joyce and I told you what would happen. Now it's too late for any more of your lies."

"No Russ! Please baby! I'm sorry, so sorry. I'll come home right now and I'll never do this again. Ron is nothing to me. I love you, just you. Please wait for me. I'll leave right away and I'll be home in a few minutes. Please Russ, wait for me."

"Sorry Joyce. Saul will contact you tomorrow morning with the terms of the divorce. As for me, you won't see me again. I want nothing more to do with you. I tried Joyce, I really did. I apologized for my mistake and promised it would never happen again. I did all I could do but it wasn't enough. You had to get even with me. Well, congratulations. You did and in a big way. You win Joyce! You win it all!"

"Russ! What about the children? Can you leave them? You can't walk away from them. They love you and they'll miss you. Can you be that cruel?"

"I don't see you worrying about them now Joyce. Did you think of them while you were fucking Ron Mason? Did you call out their names when he rammed his cock into you? Don't try to blame me Joyce. You fucked up our marriage. All you had to do was forgive me. That's all. But you couldn't do it. Your temper made you crazy."

I heard her now, crying hysterically as she tried to stop me from saying what she didn't want to hear. I heard her screaming at poor Ron, telling him to get out and stay out. Poor guy. He just took what she offered and risked nothing. He thought he was the only smart one in the whole bunch of us. But he forgot that he was warned and didn't listen. He would pay for that mistake. 

"I'll call the kids and tell them why I left. You tell them whatever you want. But I promise you that you had best take very good care of them Joyce, or I'll come back to see you and you won't like that. And I want none of your lovers in that house. I've made arrangements to have someone keep an eye on you, so don't make me mad, Joyce. Don't! You know what I'm capable of doing. Remember it. 

"I'm leaving the country tonight and you'll not hear from me again. All contact from this point forward will be through Saul. Goodbye Joyce."

As she was screaming at me to wait, I hung up. One final phone call to Jerry, then I was finished with Joyce and all of this shit. An hour after my call to Joyce, I was on my way to the airport and three flights and less than ten hours later, I was in my new home.

A week later, I received a copy of the local paper from home in my villa in Puerto Vallarta detailing the explosion and complete destruction of several buildings in the north part of town which happened two days after I left the country. According to the paper, each appeared to be a gas leak which was somehow ignited, setting off a huge explosion. Fortunately, no one was injured in any of the explosions. The article went on to say, 'The buildings were owned by Ron Mason, a local realtor and foul play is suspected. When asked for a comment, Mr. Mason considered the acts to be a deliberate act by a local demolitions expert but had no proof that was the case. According to investigators, the man in question was out of the country and could not have been responsible. The explosions have been ruled intentional by arson investigators and Mr. Mason is the only suspect. Charges are expected to be filed today by the District Attorney. If convicted, he faces thirty years in jail.' I read the article several times and couldn't help laughing each time. God bless Jerry!

Saul contacted me several times with requests from Joyce to have me call her or give her a means of contacting me but I told Saul to let her know I had no desire to talk to her. She threatened to fight the divorce but Saul told her he had possession of several CDs of conversations confirming her intent to commit adultery and if she persisted in fighting the divorce, he would make those records public for the courts and change the reasons for divorce from irreconcilable differences to infidelity and alienation of affection. He also mentioned a plan to sue her company for failing to enforce morals violations. She and Ron Mason would be named as co-conspirators. She dropped her resistance and the divorce went through. It took only 60 days uncontested. I counted each one of them.




Consequences - Joyce



Epilogue

I drove to the small private airport a few miles from my villa to meet the plane which was due at 2:00 that afternoon. I parked my car, walked into the small building that acted as a terminal and checked the time. I nodded to several of the patrons who knew me. I was just a little early but that was fine. I got a Corona from the bar and found a seat near the window where I could watch for incoming planes. 

The kids were on a private flight booked out of Mexico City and bound for this little private airport. This was the third time they made this trip and Joyce understood the rules of my visitation specified she not be present. As far as she knew, they were in Mexico City where I was supposed to live now. I would pick them up and spend the week with them. Jason and Julie were aware of where I actually lived and why I had to play this little charade. Jason was almost eighteen now and could actually live with either of us but he wanted to go to school in the states and I understood. Julie was sixteen and really wanted to stay with her mom. I had no issues with either of them. I just wanted them to know me and know I still loved them. But I didn't want Joyce knowing anything about me or my life here.

The first time they came, Joyce's sister Eileen was with them. At first I was angry and worried that she would find out the truth and ruin my first visit with my children but after talking to her, I changed my mind. She was not angry with me and didn't blame me for leaving Joyce as I did. She told me that she was glad I had, that Joyce needed the shock of losing me to make her see what she was doing. After talking privately with my kids, I decided then that she should be a part of these visits from then on.

After the first visit, when I swore them to silence after bringing them here to my villa, Jason and Julie were delighted to keep my secret from their mother. Part of that was because they knew why I divorced Joyce and resented her for it, but I knew it was also that they loved the boat, the horses that I kept nearby, the villa with its staff of three ready to please two teenagers, and the fact that their dad was a wealthy gringo. At home, they were sworn to contact me only by cell and only when they were away from Joyce. We made a pact and we all kept it. As for Eileen, she also agreed but we had a special agreement, one she seemed happy with.

The plane landed, they departed and ran to the terminal where they knew I was waiting. It was great seeing them all and I stood, ready to give them hugs and kisses. I met them at the door and it was as if time simply melted away and it was just yesterday that I had them here with me. That was if I didn't notice that Jason had grown another two inches and added ten pounds to his lean frame and Julie looked more like a young woman rather than a child. They greeted me and ran to grab their simple luggage. I kept clothes for them at the villa and they could buy what they needed for their week stay. I watched them go with the pride of a father.

I turned to their traveling companion. "Any trouble on the trip? Joyce is still convinced you are in Mexico City?"

"Yep. I told her we would be out and about so to call me on the cell. It's the only number she has and while she hates it, she knows she has no choice. That way, she'll have no idea where we really are. Satisfied?"

"Perfect. Although I doubt it would make any difference now that it's been almost two years since I left. How's she doing by the way?"

"Not much better. She's still trying to convince herself that you'll be coming back soon. She's going to wait for you Russ, you know that. She doesn't date, she goes to work at that new place and comes home and spends all her time with the kids. She never goes out and has no real friends. She has no life."

"This is the life she chose. This is what she wanted when she decided that Ron's cock was bigger than mine and she liked it better." 

"She knows that was a huge mistake and she has been going to counseling for the past two years trying to learn how to control her anger. Revenge was what she wanted, not Ron Mason. Or his big cock."

"Maybe, but how about you? What do you want? What's on your mind?"

"You know what's on my mind. I know for a fact that it's big and hard and much better than Ron Mason's. And I fully expect you to give it to me after the kids get to sleep. Am I sleeping in the same room? The one next to you with the connecting door?"

"Absolutely! And I'll try to meet your expectations. And you probably won't be sleeping much tonight or the next few nights. That's a promise."

"I'll expect you to keep your promise."

Just then the kids came running back carrying three overnights. Jason set one down for me to carry.

"Here's Aunt Eileen's bag pop. You get to carry this one." With a wink and a knuckle rap, my son Jason let me know that he was fully aware of our little secret. Mine and Eileen's. It seems she never hated me as I thought, she was just jealous of her younger sister. I never knew.

Am I happy now? I don't know yet. Time will tell. Even though I see them as often as I can, I do miss my kids and I do miss Joyce. After all, she was my only love for almost eighteen years. And Eileen? She and I are just together for the sex and our relationship isn't going anywhere. She knows it and so do I. She wants me to go back to Joyce but she knows I can't do it, at least not now, if ever. And there are some very cute women here who would just love to meet the handsome gringo who lives in the villa on the hill and help him forget the American woman. I just might let them. 

Ask Joyce: Consequences are a bitch!