62 comments/ 114324 views/ 7 favorites Secrets and Betrayals Ch. 01 By: writingdragon A mutual friend introduced Gary to Alicia while they attended The University of Tennessee. It took several weeks for Gary to convince Alicia to go out with him...just once. But within a few weeks after that first date, they became an exclusive couple as their relationship became serious. She was in her junior year of undergraduate studies; he was in his first year of Grad school. Alicia's soft, silky, shoulder length, straight dark brown hair was only intensified by her dark brown, almost black, round doe-shaped eyes. She was cute, but not stunningly beautiful, still, something about her just clicked with Gary, mesmerizing him. Her finely toned legs and the cutest little peach shaped butt had caught his attention. It had taken all of his self-control not to reach over and just squeeze those cheeks. Not until they had been dating for a few weeks had she told him how impressed she had been by his behavior. No stale pick up line and most guys tried to pinch her butt. It was nice to finally date a girl who was tall enough to kiss him without his having to pick her up or go to his knees. Alicia was tall but was still half a head shorter than Gary. She had an athletic build, slim hips, well toned body and a very attractive bust line. She carried a few extra pounds but because of her height it wasn't noticeable. Gary, on the other hand. could have passed for Abe Lincoln's younger brother, albeit with much lighter hair. His 34-inch waistline and 35-inch inseam made it difficult to find clothes. His kid brother used to tease him about having gorilla arms. He was actually thrilled when he finally began to put on some weight the end of his senior year of college. Two years after they met Gary popped the question. In July after Alicia's graduation, they had the complete wedding scene...including a honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico. They settled in a quiet neighborhood in a small suburb east of Knoxville. Alicia quickly got a job part time as a Photo Journalist for a Reuters News Service affiliate in Knoxville. She really didn't want to work full time because it would take her away from her husband too often. Her photos soon gained her considerable recognition, both locally and nationally, for her work in both scientific and conservation circles. Gary finished his Graduate studies and started work with a multi-dimensional architectural firm located in a small community northeast of Knoxville. The firm was beginning to make a name for itself in the design industry. His demonstrated exceptional skills and abilities put him on the fast track with his company. Gary was the recipient of numerous accolades from clients(raving about his work, which lead to a number of successive promotions, culminating with the offer of full partnership in the company just three weeks shy of his thirtieth birthday. Gary and Alicia could not have been more thrilled. Their seven years of marriage had been good for them. Blessed with two wonderful children, their daughter Emily was three and a half, and son Shawn was just turning two. They settled into a normal routine of parenthood, developed close friendships, and had the advantage of family living close by. They seemed to be the perfect family. It had been like a dream really; at least it was a dream up until about three months ago. Gary repeatedly mulled over the events of the last few weeks in his mind questioning Alicia's behavior that gave him cause to believe she was in the midst of an affair. He noticed she was acting oddly. She ran for the phone every time it rang, which was strange because she used to just let it ring until one of them wandered over to it. There was the sudden increase in the number of prank hang up's when he answered, as many as four or five in a day. What had really made him curious was her sudden desire to be alone after she answered certain phone calls. She took the phone into another room or walked around all over the house talking or giggling in hushed tones as if she didn't want to be overheard. Alicia became very moody and argumentative about little things, things that made absolutely no sense to Gary. Totally out of character for her. She became particularly antagonistic and challenging when his work schedule impinged on her weekly ' Monday, mom's night out.' She usually just rearranged her schedule to the next night if something came up, or blew it off completely. Over the last eight weeks, she had also started to go out with the girls on Thursday's. God help him if he was late on her nights out, she was like a firecracker ready to launch! On those days he needed to be home before she left at five, there was no room for deviation, as if it was carved in stone. She usually arrived home about eight-thirty in an almost giddy mood. Suddenly she began telling him where she had been, who she had been with, what they had done. Before she never told him anything unless he asked. Three weeks ago Gary was at Target walking towards the toy section to do some shopping with the kids on a Thursday night when Charlene, one of Alicia's friends, a) stopped him to chat. She told him she had just gotten back in town that morning after being gone for almost five months to take care of her dad and mom before and after her dad had passed on. She wanted to get together with Alicia soon so they could catch up on things and continued for several minutes chatting in her normal empty-headed twitter that Gary found so annoying. While pretending, to listen to her chatter and nodding his head in acknowledgement, he was really mulling over the fact that Alicia told him she was going out with Charlene on her nights out. He smiled and assured her that Alicia would be talking with her soon. The same night Gary had run into Charlene, Alicia was over an hour and a half later than usual in coming home. She burst through the door in an almost manic like state and quickly told how Charlene had gotten sick and had thrown up on the side of her own car just after she and her two friends left the restaurant. The girls had taken her home and that's why she was so late. Gary had never felt the kind of pain he felt that night, it didn't strike him until that moment, at least not with full force. She's cheating on me, Alicia's cheating on me, he thought. There was no anger, no desire for revenge, or even justice. Just a deep sense of loss, coupled with the most intense emotional pain, he had ever experienced. It was as if someone or something was scraping the inside of his heart raw. Suddenly he needed to sit down as the room started to spin in circles. For the first time in his life, he felt the color drain out of his face. He wanted to scream or throw up, something...anything to allow him to relieve the pain and pressure that engulfed him. Numb with shock and temporarily unable to move or speak he just sat watching as Alicia went upstairs and showered, as she did every night after she came home from being out Coming out of his stupor he angrily muttered to himself as he lifted his head, eyes wide, "You idiot," he spat at himself as he lifted his head, eyes wide. "This was why she never wanted him to touch her on those nights. She was always too tired, too aloof for any kind of physical contact. Then there is the little matter of the evening showers. She's always been a morning shower person. Why only on her nights out does she suddenly need to shower at night?" Sitting there, he shook his head in disbelief; amazed he hadn't seen the signs before. Her signals had been like lighthouse beacons. Hearing the shower turn off he thought, 'she'll dry off and put on the frumpiest jammies she owns then come downstairs complaining loudly that her back and legs hurt then say she is going to read and go to bed.' Amazed Gary he sat watching his wife over the next fifteen minutes. It was as if he had choreographed her words and movements. She all but ignored him and soon went to their bedroom. His heart breaking, he forced himself to act as normal as he could as he moved towards the bedroom, knowing the woman he loved had betrayed him that night, as she probably had a number of times before. He went though the motions of his nightly routine then finally laid down next to her in the dark. She adjusted the covers as she rolled over away from him causing his pain and sorrow to intensify. He watched as her actions mirrored exactly how she seemed to be interacting towards him on these nights. She didn't seem to want to touch him, or for the most part, even look at him. Gary lay in his bed looking up at the ceiling. For the first time since he was a small boy he quietly cried himself to sleep. After a restless sleep and getting up multiple times during the early morning hours, he finally got up at 5AM. He showered, dressed and left the house before Alicia got up to get the children ready for daycare then got ready for work herself. That morning his thoughts kept returning to his suspicions. He couldn't accept the thoughts that kept running through his mind. Divorce...separation... living without her... without the kids... This just couldn't be happening to him, to them. They had always had a depth of trust and commitment that manifested itself in their relationship in so many ways. Especially when it came to the intimacy of their sex life, varied, intense, and passionate. They both felt free to explore many fantasies within the confines of their marriage, and were content to do so. The next few weeks seemed almost surreal. Dipping into his retirement funds Gary hired a private detective to follow her. He honestly hoped the investigator wouldn't find anything, but deep in his heart of hearts, he knew it was a false hope. It didn't take the PI long to hit pay dirt thus verifying Gary's fears. He handed over the pictures of Alicia with a tall blond man whose hands seemed to be all over her. He apologized that he could not get any of them in the act. Truthfully, Gary didn't want any photos of that depth of her betrayal. His wife's disheveled hair and clothing upon exiting her boyfriend's home coupled with the intimate way they acted with each other in public and the few pictures the PI snapped at lover boy's house left little to no doubts as to what their activities had truly entailed. The detective had managed to get three or four shots through the front window of lover boy's house. As Gary studied the pictures he noticed Alicia was wearing other clothes than she had worn on leaving their house. When did she change clothes? She wasn't wearing those clothes when she left the house or when she came back afterwards. As he slowly sifted through the photos, there were several photos of Alicia letting the jerk check out how deep the inside of her mouth was with his tongue, while mauling her ass or her boobs with his hands. In one photo, he noticed she had something in her right hand. Studying the picture a little closer he realized it was her sexy bra and panty set clutched tightly in her hand. Gary had given the set to her as a surprise anniversary gift last year. Although she didn't openly display the intimate apparel, he knew by the vibrant blue and black color scheme accented by the black lace what it was. He had taken them off her body many times in the past. He shivered at the thought that he might never get to accomplish that again. In the weeks that followed, Gary began making excuses whenever Alicia showed signs of wanting intimacy. He didn't need any STD problems her lover might possibly have passed on to her. He could see she was confused about his lack of desire towards her, she didn't press the issue or question why. The detective more than earned his money when he gave Gary all the vital statistics about Alicia's secret friend. What caught Gary's interest the most was the fact the other guy was a twenty-four year old Air Force first lieutenant, Rory Benefield. It seemed he had been bragging to a whole lot of people that he was tapping a hot little married piece. Boy would that tid-bit of information fire up Alicia. She didn't like it when her husband referred to having sex with her to their friends, feeling it was a private matter for just the two of them to enjoy. 'Well, well, well', he thought. 'If this guy's superiors didn't want to fix his stupid butt, the press would have a field day with that fact'. For the first time in weeks, Gary had a smile on his face as he walked down to his boss's office to arrange for the rest of the day off. ****** It was 2:30 on Thursday afternoon; Gary headed home from work early, early for him that is. His stomach seemed to be working overtime in a marvelous attempt to produce more acid than it could contain. Damn, he wished he still had that roll of TUMS in the glove box of the car. He had been through a tense upsetting morning when he received the last set of pictures. It promised to be an even more upsetting and tension filled afternoon and evening. Driving home Gary continually ruminated in his head on his battle plan for approaching Alicia. Parking in the driveway he waited for a few minutes to allow his stomach to settle down. Grabbing his coat and removing the keys from the ignition he made certain to pick up the large manila envelope lying on the passenger seat. It contained the duplicate copies of all his evidence. Taking a deep breath he prepared himself to face his wife. He wasn't quite sure if she would be his wife after today, but for the next few hours, she still belonged to him...at least in name. Silently entering through the front door he quietly shut it. Then he began looking for Alicia. He didn't have far to search far before he found her in the Master bath room tub, bubbles up to her chin, soaking in her favorite bath oils and humming to her self. She was engrossed in a different world and didn't hear Gary enter their bedroom, or notice him peek inside the bathroom. Before telling he was home, Gary looked over at the bed. A flash of color had caught his attention when he walked in the room and he turned to investigate it. Quietly moving away from the bathroom door, he moved over to her side of their bed. Laid out on the bed was a sexy little red dress that he hadn't seen her wear in ages, along with her blue and black lace undies neatly folded next to it. He wondered how she was planning to get out of the house in that outfit. He noticed an old faded yellow frozen food bag lying on the floor next to the bed. Walking over he picked it up and looked inside. His stomach flipped over. He hadn't been able to figure out how she kept her "special outfits" from him. Her little spaghetti strap sandals were already inside the bag; they were the ones she always wore with the red dress she had laid out. Buried below her sandals was a large zip lock plastic bag with a plain white bra and pair of white cotton panties, folded and sealed inside for her to wear when she came home. 'Gary stood shaking his head. Alicia had really thought things out; her job required detail and it carried over into her private life. So that's how she did it. Her outfit for the night was already inside the crumpled frozen food bag in the back of her car by the time I got home.' The thought ran through his mind like a run-a-way train. 'Oh well,' he thought, 'life is going be different now, for both of us.' He had to be careful, he was shaking so badly he could hardly keep the volatile anger building in side of him in check; it had been boiling just under the surface for days. Gary knew if he erupted it was going to do nothing but cause deeper wounds than already existed. They didn't need anymore pain to work through; this confrontation would be bad enough. Gary placed the 8X10 photo of Alicia and her lover kissing in a local restaurant on top of the red dress lying out on the bed. He placed a second photo, the one with Rory's hands under her blouse, obviously all over her boobs while they kissed in "Rory's" living room, strategically on her dresser. Sighing he went downstairs and headed for the kitchen to get a beer out of the refrigerator. Popping the can open he took several swigs before he continued to lay the other fifty or so photo's spreading them out like a collage on the coffee table in front of him. Having completed the task he leaned back on the couch and waited. The waiting grated on his nerves. Gary finished two beers, made a trip to the second bathroom to relieve himself before sitting down on the couch with his third beer. Just as he planted himself and got comfortable, he heard Alicia's cry panicked shriek of discovery followed by deep sobs. "Oh god, oh god, nooo! Please no!" He could hear the panic in her voice as she bawled. Her sobs drowned out any other comprehendible words. It only took moments for her to come stumbling downstairs. She was wearing a long, pale blue cotton bathrobe barely tied around her waist. Her hair was wrapped in a white towel atop her head. She ran directly into the living room only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw Gary sitting on the couch. Her face was flooded with tears, eyes puffy, and she was gasping for breath, as she tended to do when she cried hard. She stood frozen in place with her mouth open, eyes wide looking at him then at the group of photos on the coffee table and back to him again. Gary's voice was soft with an edge of steel in it. "Hello wife. Preparing to go somewhere tonight?" He let the sound of his voice linger in the air then disappear before he finished his statement. "I certainly hope not, I thought we should talk over some important issues together...like whether we are going to be a couple anymore by the end of the night." Alicia's knees buckled. She hit the carpet hard causing her to fall forward onto her hands. She was suddenly crying convulsively, hardly able to hold herself up. She kept whispering something that Gary had to strain to hear, "I'm so sorry, please don't leave me, it wasn't supposed to be this way, please forgive me." Gary allowed her to cry out the first emotional outburst, then asked her in a calm steady voice, "Why Alicia, Why? I love you. Do you want a divorce? Do you want to put an end to us, so you can be with him? Tell me wife, what is it exactly that you want?" Alicia jerked her head up and looked at him. Her eyes widened at the mention of the word divorce. Shaking her head vigorously back and forth, she vehemently signaled she didn't want a divorce. "Then why did you do it? Don't I please you in bed? Don't I satisfy your needs anymore? Why? Please tell me why you are fucking some other guy!" Alicia's head snapped backwards at his use of the "F" word. She had only heard him use it one other time since she had known him, and he had been extremely angry then, angry like he was now. He was trying hard not to allow that anger to surface but she could tell he was seething under that more or less calm exterior. She tried to talk but her words came out disjointed, her head was spinning, she was frightened and felt nauseous and confused. "I, I didn't feel wanted, not sexy, unsure about you, about...us." "What?" Gary roared. She sat back on her butt and looked up at him, fear now obvious in her eyes. She drew back frightened he would attack her. Recognizing why she was shrinking back from him, he spoke with crispness to his voice but without yelling, "Damn it. I'm sorry Alicia, I'm not going to touch you." Gary knew when Alicia was frightened or nervous she couldn't talk coherently or for that matter think right. It would take her a while to calm down and think through what she had to say. The upside was, she was also too nervous to lie when she was like this. Walking over to her he held out his hands to help her to her feet. She was shaking so badly she could hardly walk. "Alicia," he said his voice still very stern. "I am going out for a couple of hours. I think you know I expect you to be here when I get back to talk over this situation, do you understand me." Secrets and Betrayals Ch. 01 His voice rose higher than he expected it to and he could see the dread in her eyes. Helping her to the couch, he had her sit down. After making sure she was all right he went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and a towel so she could dry her eyes. Returning he held out the towel and placed the glass on the end table next to her. He looked at her and said, "I'm sure you won't make me come and get you at Rory's house tonight." Alicia's eyes grew wide at the mention of Rory's name, but she managed a strangled, "I'll be here." Gary snarled, "At least this is one Thursday night that Rory won't have you." Alicia mumbled out, "Never again," Her face showed her terror, "please don't divorce me...don't throw me away." "We'll talk about that in a couple of hours." Turning he briskly walked out of the room. Throwing his car keys on the table after removing his house keys from his key ring he slammed the front door much louder than he meant to. He walked up the street to the strip mall to a small sports bar tucked in the corner that served some decent hot wings. Ordering a pitcher of Killian Red and 24 hot wings, he sat in an end booth and brooded. After finishing his second beer from the pitcher, his fifth inside of an hour, his anger managed to reach its zenith. He mumbled and hissed to himself for the better part of the next forty-five minutes. "What kind of dim-witted ideas were running around in that woman's brain, 'I didn't feel wanted, not sexy, unsure about you, about...us,'" he mocked. "It's not like I did..." His voice trailed off as he raised his head and stared out the window next to him. He sat unmoving for what seemed like forever as tears began to fall from his face. He didn't know what had triggered it, but as he sat there it suddenly came roaring back to him. He remembered with crystal clarity, the nine-week affair he had had a little over four years ago with Alicia's youngest sister, Kathleen. They had called it off after being together on five different occasions. They woke up and realized what their little game could cost them. Neither of them had any desire to hurt each other or more importantly, Alicia. The affair had been a horrible mistake, a foolish opportunistic tryst driven by pure animalistic lust between them. He finished the beer and the wings, paid his check and left for his home, his wife, his marriage. Gary sat as his mind drifted back to four years earlier. At Alicia's urging Gary had traveled 300 miles in order to help her sister, Kat, pack out of her dorm at college since she was going to be home for the summer. Alicia had a weekend job scheduled she couldn't get out of. Instead of leaving her little sister stranded she had sent Gary, her husband and Kat's buddy, as slave labor. Gary remembered arriving at his motel and calling Alicia at work reaching her as she was heading out to the field for the next four days. He told her how much he missed her already and that he loved her before they hung up. He reminded her that he would see her in a few days and couldn't wait until they could be alone. He showered and put on comfortable jeans and a polo shirt then using the directions Alicia had given him the day before he drove to Kat's place. Arriving just as the end of school party was really getting underway, he found the free flowing booze coupled with no food on his stomach, and so many young women all vying for his attention had his head spinning. He could still remember the sounds and the smells as if they were yesterday; but just how things got going with Kat was a bit hazy. He remembered how she pulled him away from a group of coed's who were touching and rubbing all over him. Sometime later, he and Kat were kissing deep and long, their tongues exploring the insides of each other's mouths while their hands roamed shamelessly over each other's bodies. Breaking from the kiss, Kat's lust filled eyes found his, "I know this is wrong but I want you Gary. I don't care if you are my sister's husband or not, I want you." If he had been drinking less he would have said no and left. It was not an excuse, just fact. As it was, He had enough liquid courage in him to act on the impulse to ravish this foxy young vixen in his arms. All he said was "Lead the way little sister, I'm right behind you." Kat grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs to her room. Once she had them safely locked inside, she had her shirt and bra off in seconds. Turning to face him she said with mischief in her voice, "Little sister is so naughty." She didn't wait for his response before pulling him on the bed on top of her. He remembered glimpses of that night as they thrashed about wildly quenching the passion that had sprung up, linking their bodies together. He recalled they had sex at least three times, but couldn't quite put everything together. Waking up the next morning, he found Kat riding his morning hardness. Never had he felt this kind of unbridled passion and lust from a woman before, not even from Alicia, and behind closed doors, his wife was a wildcat. They had been extremely cautious during their affair; never trying to force time for them to be together. When they managed to be alone, they took advantage of it, but if there was even the slightest doubt someone might discover them, they wouldn't even try. Gary had not sought out the affair but made little effort to get out of it. Months later they both had concluded it had to stop. The morning after their fifth rendezvous they coupled one last time then they agreed to end it before the person they both loved was hurt any more than she already had been. In the four years since that morning, he had been alone with Kat many times without anything every happening, both of them were sure it never would again. Gary remembered how guilty he felt after each entanglement with Kat. It was difficult to even function with Alicia after being with Kat the first two times. He had a hard time facing his wife; afraid she would see through him. He took Alicia out more, bought her special little gifts, paid extra special attention to her, making her feel so special when he really only wanted to make himself feel better. It had been shortly after that she became pregnant with their daughter. ****** He shook himself back into the present as he stopped and stared at his front door of his house gathering his strength and thoughts before entering. Gary knew when he left the bar and he started for his house he would both forgive Alicia. If she wanted to come back to him, and he would do whatever he needed to make it all work out. His almighty male ego had ruled his thoughts through this whole situation and not once had he thought past the pain he had endured. Yes indeed, he would make this work. Opening the front door, he saw Alicia was standing in the foyer. Entering he gave the door a quick kick with his foot closing it. Putting out his arms to his wife he said, "Alicia, I Love You." With a heartfelt, "Oh god yes," bursting out of her lips she ran to him and jumped into his arms holding him with a vice like grip, her arms around his neck, her legs wrapped around his waist. Gary held her close to him for several minutes before he gently lowered her to the ground. Catching her gaze he raised her chin towards him and asked, "Do you want me, our marriage, and our family?" "Yes, oh god yes, that's all I want my love." "Then this affair has to stop as of right now." Nodding she replied, "I told him it was over, when I saw him last Monday night. I promise you, never again." "Then I want you to come back to me and our family. We'll find the right people to help us heal from this sickness." His tears were flowing down his face, matching hers. She nodded again, "As I come back to you I want you to promise me one thing." Gary nodded, thinking 'Ok, she'll want me to keep away from her now ex-lover.' She looked him in the eyes, the pain and fear of the afternoon etched in her face. "Promise me if I take you back, you will quit screwing my sister, and that you'll never do it again...please!" Gary's eyes widened, color faded from his face, as he slowly nodded yes. He tried to speak, but nothing would come out. He moved to a chair near the front door, sitting down with a hard thud. To be continued... * Please take time to vote, we all take a huge amount of time to work out a story, good bad or indifferent your voting helps us to become better more focused writers, which in turn gives you the reader a better product. I appreciate any and all feedback. Secrets and Betrayals Ch. 02 Gary closed his eyes as he hung his head and said, "The reason I came home ready to take you back was because I remembered my affair with Kathleen. I'm sorry Alicia. I hoped time had buried that foolishness so you'd never have to face the pain of what I did." "We did Gary, not just you, it's what we did." Alicia turned around to see where the third voice had come from. Kat was standing in the doorway of the house, tears running down her face. Kat wouldn't look at her older sister, as she closed the front door behind her. Alicia stood and walked over to her younger sibling, "Come here." The older woman grabbed Kat who sunk into her sister's arms sobbing. "I'm so sorry Alicia, I was young and stupid, and I made sure he couldn't say no to me, forgive me. Please!" Her voice was a soft pleading. Gary couldn't hear what Alicia said to Kat, but the younger woman seemed calmer. Alicia turned and walked her little sister over to where Gary was sitting. Kat hugged Gary then sat on the other side of the couch across from Alicia who quietly settled next to her husband. Alicia said, "I've been so angry at the two of you for quite a while now. I wasn't sure what I would do when I confronted the two of you tonight." Gary and Kat could see Alicia was getting angry, her eyes were alight with an inner fire and she was unconsciously posturing. Finally, she said, "That's why I had you come into town Kat, so I could sit down and talk with both of you tonight. I made sure the kids were staying over night at the Murray's our next door neighbor's until Sunday morning. I didn't want to upset either of our babies they didn't do anything wrong. I love my husband too much and I want to try to save my marriage. Funny as that sounds, considering what Gary confronted me with this afternoon." "What do you mean Alicia? What did Gary do to you today?" Kat asked in a voice so low she was almost whispering. Looking up at her husband, shame coloring her face Alicia explained what Gary had showed her earlier that afternoon. Both women were crying by the time Alicia was finished. Alicia stopped crying, trying to get control of herself. She looked at Kat for a long time then over at her husband, her eyes had a feral quality. Then reaching her breaking point Alicia began to snarl, damn near screaming. "Gary," her voice high pitched and with an out of control slurring, "How were you able to keep the facade intact all these years? How could you go have sex with her?" the words poured out with venom. "How could you do that then turn around and come home to me? Is your conscience that numb that you can play for four years and still have the guts to come home to hold the kids and me?" Turning on her sister she exploded, "Kat how can you just chat on the phone or just so comfortably chitchat when we get together, knowing you've already been with or are about to be with my husband?" Gary looked at his wife shaking his head in obvious confusion, "Alicia, what do mean four years! Who..." Alicia uncharacteristically ignored the comment and continued. Grief stricken, Alicia's whole body shaking she poured her whole being into her next question; her whole future now hanging in the balance. "Gary you need to make up your mind, it's going to be either me or it's going to be her, the older sister or the younger one. I won't have this go on for another minute. Choose! Who is it going to be?" Kat looked at her sister; realization dawning as she blurted out, "My god, Gary, she thinks we're still involved." Gary looked at Kat then at Alicia, he understood his sister was correct, "Alicia is that what you think?" Alicia's eyes were wild as she stood looking down at her husband, "Gary I stopped being stupid about four months ago when I first found out. What do you think? That once enlightened I would go blind again? Think again buster, my eyes are wide open now." She was so angry she spat as she said the words. Kat suddenly stood and yelled, "Alicia! No! Stop it! The affair only lasted about two months; we were only together five different times. Alicia, we both chose you. We chose not to hurt you any more than we already had. That was over four years ago. We loved you too much to continue. As stupid and heartless as it was to start the tryst in the first place, Gary loved you enough to stop it after a few weeks, because he was in love with you, only you." Alicia sank into a chair behind her; it was as if her sister had landed a physical blow. Gary watched his wife. Her hands covered her face and torrents of tears poured down her cheeks as she looked at him. "Look at me," she wailed, "Is that true? Is what she said true?" Nodding, Gary hung his head, "Yes, it lasted nine weeks; we were together five different times. The morning after the fifth time, we ended it." Alicia's arms slowly wrapped around her stomach her as she began to rhythmically rock back and forth, staring at the ground in front of her. "Oh god! No, please no, what have I done, I thought... " her sobs accentuating her words. Gary moved quickly over to his wife, his mate, and kneeling in front of her, he took her in his arms. Alicia tried to push him away, but Gary was too strong. She finally resigned herself to his embrace and slumped into his shoulder. "How can you stand to touch me? I'm so sorry, please, please forgive me." Her body shook as she cried out her pain. Gary held on tightly to his wife, whispering, "I do forgive you baby, if I hadn't been so foolish back then this would have never happened. I need you to forgive me too." Alicia just nodded her head, speaking in a little girls voice, the force and anger from earlier gone, "You'll stay with me? You won't throw me away like the others?" "I love you and you alone Alicia. You are my wife, and mate, the mother of my children, and my best friend, I could never leave you," Gary's voice was soothing and very calm. He wondered about the idea of throwing her away? Where it had come from? Alicia mumbled something and Gary asked her, "Honey what did you say, I didn't hear you? Something about throwing you away, I don't understand." Alicia looked first at Gary then at Kit before turning her head to look out the window she became very still, then began speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "When I was in high school I dated a guy named Brian." Gary could see she was trembling but didn't understand why. He looked at Kit who was nodding, "I remember him not much taller than you Alicia, short curly brown hair." Alicia replied, Yes that was him. We dated for about fifteen months and after twelve months of him trying I finally caved in and gave him my cherry. We weren't active often but it was intense and the newness made it so special. But within a few weeks of me letting him have me I began noticing subtle changes, making excuses to break dates, wanting to just go out and screw instead of taking me out places first. I was beginning to get pissed then my best friend told me she had something to show me one night about three weeks before my senior prom. She picked me up and brought me to a restaurant about twenty minutes later in walks Brian with one of the band girls. She was a cute little redheaded sophomore and it was very obvious they were a couple. As a matter of fact she was wearing his ring he had asked me to give back to him so he could get it cleaned. I was so damn mad and at the same time so stunned I didn't say a word I just sat there and quietly cried. My friend told me she had heard about them through another of her friends in the band and needed to find out. She also told me that his newest conquest had also just given him her virginity. He had been dating her for almost seven months. The next night he came to the house to pick me up and I unloaded on him but right in the middle of my tirade he shrugged and said, "Well I was through with you anyway and Bessie is a much better lover so see ya around." I stood on the front porch slack jawed as he walked casually to the car. Just as he got in he looked up at me and said, "You know the guys at school consider any guy who gets five virgins an 'Ace.' You were my number five notch Alicia, Thanks." I ended up going to prom with a foreign exchange student; it was an ok night only because I found out from Brian's best friend that my ex couldn't take his current steady. It seemed her mom had caught them in the act and had taken Bessie to the doctor for birth control only to find out she was pregnant." Alicia giggled, then continued, "Brian had an eventful spring as he graduated high school, got married and joined the Army in about six weeks time. I never heard from him again." Alicia turned back towards the window staring into the gathering darkness. Taking a deep breath she continued, "Gary when I met you I told you I had dated four or five guys and had not been with anyone since my last boyfriend broke up with me." Gary answered, "Yes I remember, the last guy, Kyle, I think you had been with for about a year," he raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders hoping he was right. Alicia said, "Thank you for listening to me, you're right his name was Kyle. We dated for about a school year. It was during that year I became involved with The Middleboro homeless shelter. I organized a couple's dinner as a fundraising event. I came home to my apartment early about ten days before the dinner and found Kyle and my then best friend Jeanette screwing on the couch. He was pounding her doggie style and she was just screaming out in passion. Kyle noticed me about the time he finished, and nudged Jeanette after he filled her up. He looked at me and said, "Well you were going to find out sooner or later so instead of a messy breakup you can see I'm a much better fit with Jeanette. So go away and leave us alone we are kind of busy right now." Jeanette gave me this empty-headed giggle and said, "Sorry Alicia but he was just too good to pass up." I went down to my car and cried. Then I waited for them to leave, packed my things and went back to the dorms. I ended up going to the dinner stag. It was so humiliating because I was the person who put it together, and there at the head table were Kyle and Jeanette. I left after the awards portions?? and cried myself to sleep for weeks. Don't you see Gary? I am so scared. Every guy I've had sex with has cheated on me..." Alicia began to sob, her voice cracking as she pressed on with her story. "Then, after cheating, they just threw me away... I was so scared Gary. I just knew you were going to do the same thing..... I'm sorry." Wrapping her arms around her stomach she rocked her self back and forth, and her body seeming to convulse with each new anguished sob. Gary went over and held his wife, allowing her to work through her grief and despair until she calmed down. He looked her in the eyes and said, "Yes, I cheated on you a long time ago but I will never throw you away Alicia. I stopped the affair because I understood I love you, I had been so heartless and so wrong. I want only you - I can't live without you baby." Gary kissed her face and hands, Alicia grabbed him and held her man. For most of the rest of the evening Alicia was either sitting on, or straddling Gary's lap, his arms locked tightly around her. After Alicia calmed down Kat asked, "I don't understand Alicia, why now? How did you find out about us? Why did you have the affair?" Kat's eyes were big, almost beseeching, as she tried to make sense of her sister's actions. Brooding for a minute Alicia, sat up in Gary's lap brushed the hair out of her face and with a tone of determination began to tell her story. Alicia's Story "When I sent Gary up to help you pack out almost four years ago," Alicia stopped and looked at both of them. "That's when it started. Correct?" Gary and Kat both nodded. Alicia just lowered her head and shook it, "I knew something had happened when Gary came home. I just couldn't bring myself to admit my gut feelings were right. God, if I had acted on that feeling this whole episode would have never happened." Alicia explained how strangely Gary had acted over the next few weeks and especially any time he was around Kat. She'd been pleasantly surprised that Gary found a romantic streak during that time, taking her out more, being much more attentive, bringing home little gifts and cards. Shortly after that, she became pregnant with Emily. "Fairly recently my photographs had been getting more and more attention because the bureau chief is the type of person who feels praise should go to the people who do the work. I felt like I was on top of the world six months ago; two great children, a husband who was now a partner in his firm, a great marriage. My boss gave me a new assignment about five months ago. The field office she worked out of had just received a special digital photo enhancement processor and her boss wanted the two of us to learn how to operate it. The machine, based on satellite photo technology, is so precise and accurate that it lets you see the label on a pack of cigarettes from 25 miles up in space. The machine the local office received can't do nearly as good, but it is amazing. It also uses a computer to digitalize and sort images, so what first appears as a blur can be washed and the most likely option given as to what the blur might be. The processor is another great tool. It has a 'search and find' mode which looks for specified objects, colors or material within a photo or negative." Looking at Gary and Kat to see if she had lost them when she described the photo processor, and satisfied she hadn't, Alicia continued, "The second week I was working with the machine we decided to have a few people bring in photos from home to see how it would work, real world. Different photo labs have different controls, so the colors can vary, so we wanted to test the computer. I was working through lunch when I found something interesting on one of the photos I brought in. The computer had latched onto a distant portion of one of the family reunion photos from four years ago. After about a dozen washes I had a shot of a man's butt, his red shorts down, and a girl's legs wrapped around his waist, a purple and white top was evident on his right side. They were in the woods about seventy to a hundred yards out. The digital enhancement was cool, but I couldn't get the focus any clearer so I gave up. I remember giggling because I felt I had caught one of Uncle Gerry's boys pumping his girlfriend. I was putting my pictures up to leave for home when the words 'color match 99.7%' caught my eye. I looked over at the table and, laying on top, where the input lens scans for specifics, was a picture of seven people at my family's last reunion four years ago. Two people specifically, you Kathleen, wearing white skin tight hot pants and a daisy duke tie top, purple with white polka dots; the other was Gary in red shorts and an off white tee shirt. I was trembling as I looked over to see what color the machine had matched, it was the purple and red from the picture sweep I had just completed. I slumped down in my chair as a wave of nausea swept over me. I felt the bile rising in my throat and ran to the restroom and lost my lunch. I put on my best face, collected the pictures, erased the file I made and went home. For the next week, all I could think of was my little sister and my husband having an affair. I have never cried so hard in my whole life. I was in emotional pain so intense I ended up with a migraine headache, which covered my tearful outbursts rather well. God, I wanted to die! My lover, my partner, the father of my children, the only man I had ever loved, had betrayed me with my sister! Was I too old looking, or too fat? I had put on a few pounds with the kids. But this started before the kids, it doesn't make sense. Wasn't I sexy to him anymore? Didn't he love me? Did he want a divorce? What was I going to do without my Gary? I vacillated between hopelessness, fear, and finally despair. Did he love her? Did she love him? Would he throw me away? I couldn't eat for two weeks and lost about 15 pounds." Alicia took a deep breath before continuing, "I think I was looking at everything concerning you two with an almost paranoid reaction. I read into every piece of information as a clue that you two were still seeing each other. If Gary was out of his office and I couldn't get Kat at work or at home, you were meeting. Never mind that you both had a dozen people around you and were physically separated by a hundred miles. I didn't see how silly it was at the time. I would also read into anything that could be taken out of context on e-mail. 'Hope to see you soon,' was the key word for 'meet with me this week'. I know now all of this was silly, but I kept finding reasons to feel victimized, and then responded to the paranoia those feelings invoked. I'm so sorry Gary." Gary cuddled Alicia tighter and replied, "No baby, if I hadn't of strayed you wouldn't have been so vulnerable to all this turmoil I caused within you. Alicia sat back for a second to catch her breath; she was shaking and felt weak. Kat got up and poured a cup of water for her sister then sat back down. Alicia said, "Thank you," and continued after taking a sip and placing the water on the end table. "For the next few weeks I was determined to show Gary I was the one who loved him. I initiated love making more often, and when we did make love I threw myself into it. I was determined to make sure he would be too sore to touch 'little sister' or anyone else for that matter. I was able to piece together many things about the affair, or more specifically what I convinced myself about the affair, over the next few weeks. I have a locked file on the computer. It covers the whole time period I thought you were active, if you really want to see it." Both Kat and Gary shook their heads. Alicia moistened her lips with her tongue as if to continue, only to exhale deeply and become very quiet. Kat asked, "Alicia, when you found out about us, why didn't you just get us together to talk?" "I wouldn't have known where to start, or how to explain how I was feeling, and I was afraid of your response. I suppose, like Gary, I wanted ammunition before I started firing." Letting out a big sigh Gary said, "I've known about your affair for about four weeks, and you're right I didn't say a thing until I had everything I needed to confront you and see if I could stop the foolishness." Kat nodded, "Alicia how did you get involved with this other guy? Was it retaliation? or what?" Kat and Gary could see Alicia trying to think through her answer. After a few moments she said, "I don't want to think it was retaliation Kat, although that thought could have been buried somewhere in my mind. It's so confusing to me, everything I did and why I did it all seems jumbled up in my mind. Maybe I was striking out at you? Or just trying to prove I was still desirable? I don't know." Alicia sat down, her head bowed - she didn't want to have to look either of them in the eye - and started pouring out her soul. "I normally go to either Book-A-Million or Barnes and Nobles on my mom's night out. I have a flavored coffee or tea and read a book or magazine. The night I met Rory was about three weeks after I found out about the two of you. It had been a tough day and the pressure from the affair was rapidly pushing me towards the edge. I honestly felt so lost, I didn't feel worth anything as a person, and with you banging my sister, I had no self worth. I didn't feel sexy at all, I was sure I wasn't wanted. My god, Gary can you see why I wasn't sure about you? About us? Or our marriage?" Secrets and Betrayals Ch. 02 Gary's head nodded as tears welled up in his eyes. Kat was quietly weeping as the pain of her foolishness with her brother had finally come home to roost. Alicia cleared her throat, took a sip of her drink, and continued. "Eleven weeks ago on that Monday night I was in one of the new booths just installed at Barnes and Nobles. I didn't realize I'd started crying, but I felt a presence beside the booth. I looked up into a handsome face, a face with gentle, serene features and blue eyes." He introduced himself and asked if I was Ok. I said yes but was soon blubbering. Rory was so nice. He went to the café and talked them into giving him a towel for me. He returned with the towel and a cup of water. Setting them down in front of me, he slid in across from me and said, "I probably can't help, but I'm a good listener." I hadn't realized how unstable I'd become. I needed something, someone to hold onto in the cyclone of emotions I was trapped in. Once the emotional dam in me broke the pain, betrayal, and loss just flowed out. Rory wouldn't let me flow into anger, or get too out of control. I was probably as close to a suicidal thought during that time, as I will ever be. Rory was so sweet. He told me how beautiful I was, and how great our kids must be, he was so understanding. By the end of the night, he was holding both my hands from across the table, just listening for the most part, but it made me feel good to be the center of his attention. Just before he left, Rory looked at me and said he hoped to run into me again soon. I left after telling him I was usually at one of the two bookstore coffee shops on Monday nights. His smile lit up my very depressed world. For the next few Mondays we met and cried, or giggled, or laughed. I honestly looked forward all week to seeing him. But each time I got home I felt just a bit cheap and even a bit dirty, even though we hadn't done anything yet. I would come home and take a shower before going to bed." Pausing for a few moments, Alicia looked up at her sister, then at Gary. Her face was drawn and her puffy red eyes seemed almost ghoulish. Gary and Kit were both numb at the depth of Alicia's obvious pain. Pain they had both been directly involved in causing. "Gary, you have no idea how many Monday or Thursday nights over the last few weeks I wanted to come home and tell you everything. I needed you to hold me, to tell me you really loved me, only me, but I was so confused and felt so dirty. I was afraid you would see right through me, your dirty little slut wife, and completely shut me out of your life. I just knew you were going to throw me away, exactly like Brian and Kyle had done before you. About three weeks after I started seeing Rory I accepted his invitation to dinner. I thought I was being so smart, so clever, with my 'girls night out' ploy. I know now I was a fool. The pictures and other things you have proved that. Anyway we went dancing after dinner; he would hold me or cuddle me; his arm was constantly around me. I had so much fun. I didn't think about you or the kids once, and that fact haunted me so much over the following days." She trembled and shook her head as if to deny she had actually done that. "That's how our relationship developed. We would meet at the Bookstore on Mondays and find a booth or a quiet corner, then talk and laugh and giggle. On Thursdays we would go out to eat, or a movie, or even to the Officers' club on base. I thought about putting my dresses and other things for our nights out in my car so you wouldn't see them, but it struck me you might still accidentally find them, so I came up with the idea of using the frozen food bag in the back of my car. I knew we bought it to help keep cold things from thawing out when we went shopping. But we stopped using it a few months after we got it and I've almost thrown it out dozens of times. Now it gave me a way to slip my outfits in and out of the house without you getting curious." Looking up at Alicia, Gary could see the pain her deception had caused her, as well as the genuine regret for her actions, etched in her facial expressions. Nodding in understanding, Gary motioned for Alicia to continue. "He made me feel important and cared for. I knew it was wrong but I liked how he treated me. I needed it at that moment, and I realized later I was letting him build up my very fragile ego. I was infatuated with him, a nice looking younger man who cared for me. At least that's what I convinced myself; I wasn't thinking about him as anything other than a person providing for my emotional needs. Four weeks ago we were out at a pub to get some beef stew, Rory heard from friends it was a good place to eat. We were playing electronic darts and both of us had a few drinks over our limit. I agreed to stop at his house afterwards. He'd been kissing me for two weeks, and I have to admit I liked it. That night we'd been making out in the pub, sharing long deep kisses. After we got to his house we kissed and he asked me, he didn't just try, he asked me if he could touch me. Something no man other than you had done. We were making out on his couch for an hour and I was about ready to pop. I was in the haze of raw lust; he had me and he knew it, so he went slowly. Twice that night we had sex, once on his couch and once in his bed sleeping in between. That's why I was so late that night; I made up that story about Charlene to cover my activities. I was feeling the guilt and pain the next morning. I had cheated on you, broken my marriage vows. Do you have any idea how I felt after that Gary? Kat? ...I allowed myself to be cheater. Yes, I did it! I allowed it to happen - neither of you forced me to do it. Seven different times I cheated. BUT; you put me in a position to do what I always thought unthinkable. I desperately needed to be wanted, I needed to be told, to be shown I was desirable. I will never do anything like that again, my self respect and self worth mean too much to me." Her sobbing became almost convulsive her body shaking, Alicia got up and moved to the other end of the couch. Gary waited until his wife cried herself out then moved to come to her but she held up her hands indicating she was not ready for him to come to her. "I never wanted to hurt my marriage, my children, my man. I was so happy with you Gary, the man I chose. When I came home those nights after Rory and I had sex, I couldn't even look at you Gary, I was so ashamed, so dirty. Even though I had already showered at Rory's house I still came home and took another shower. God! I don't know how you two managed to live with it. You have no idea how many of those nights I turned on my side crying myself to sleep. I'm appalled at the very small part of me that kept looking forward to seeing him the next time." "I couldn't handle the guilt. What had I done wrong to drive my husband into the arms of another woman, worse my own sister?" Alicia's voice was breaking as she fought to keep control of her very fragile emotions. "I felt hopeless; I'd been tossed away again, this time by the man I love. I was also at odds with myself; unsure of my own self worth. I had no feeling for Rory, yet I let him walk me down a simple pathway to his desires. I'm still not sure why I allowed him to bed me." "In the last five weeks we would go out and talk on Monday at dinner and then go to the Bookstore, and Thursdays were dinner and his house for sex. I noticed your decrease in desire towards me Gary. I figured it was par for the course, you were bedding Kat so often that you no longer wanted me and our lives were spinning out of control." Alicia looked over at Gary, who had a troubled look on his face. She gulped then continued, "I need to tell you before you ask, no, he wasn't a better lover than you. I just craved the feeling of being needed and the sex was an after thought for me. In fact, I flat refused to go down on him even after he did on me. I almost ripped his balls off last Thursday when he tried to slip a finger into my ass; you know how I feel about that." A long slow hiss escaped Alicia's lips, the disgust obvious in her facial expression. "I knew after last Thursday night driving home that I wasn't going to 'be used' by Rory any more; I honestly knew it was over. I was going to tell him face to face the following Monday. You see last Monday night at the bookstore I broke it off with him. I had to relieve myself when he arrived, so I headed to the ladies room. As I was coming back to the table a few minutes later, I overheard Rory talking to some guys he obviously knew. I stopped behind a bookshelf and listened. What he said shocked me." One of the guys asked him, "So Rory, is the little lady we saw you with a minute ago the same piece of married ass you keep bragging about at work and the club that you're tapping?" He answered like some self important braggart, or some self absorbed high school kid. "Yeah that's my little sex buddy. Hot isn't she? And she is one fine roll in the hay, trust me. She's always wet and in heat. She was so ready to latch on to someone after hubby broke her heart. I don't know why her old man would look someplace else; she's a good looking woman and an awesome piece of ass." "Well stud, if you get tired of tapping her, send her my way." One of the guys in the group Rory was talking to replied. "In your dreams, she is still too stuck on hubby. Maybe in a few months, I'll be able to get her to do a threesome with another guy...we'll see. Right now you guys need to scram I expect her back at anytime." Alicia's face flushed red, more from anger than embarrassment, "God that hurt. He was gamming me from day one and used me when I was most vulnerable. I wanted to puke and scratch his eyes out. Walking over to him I picked up my stuff then I slapped him so hard his head jerked to the side. I could see the imprint of my hand on the side of his face before his own hand came up to cover the reddening flesh." "Shit what was that for?" He stuttered back at me. I was nearly yelling, "Leave me alone and never talk to me again. Good-bye you low life son-of-a-bitch." Alicia's tone was almost gloating as she remembered her response to Rory's arrogant comments. Her body seemed to stiffen for a brief moment; her eyes suddenly alight with remembered, justifiable anger. Then she continued, "It was extremely satisfying to hear the sound of the slap echoing in the room and see his stunned look. The combination of the surprise, the slap, and my scene at the booth totally embarrassed him. It was enough so he didn't move to follow me, because every other person in the café area just stared at him. I wasn't going to be used by Rory anymore. Turning, I stormed out. He hasn't called or tried to contact me since. And if he does I'll go to his commander and fry his pitiful career. I found out that the military still holds you responsible for adultery." Her voice was now high pitched and forceful as if to emphasize the point of her indignation. Alicia stood and her shoulders slumped as if she was drained by her confession. For a long time no one spoke. Alicia stared out the window while Gary and Kat just sat silently waiting for whatever was to come next. "All day Tuesday I fought my emotions and came to realize if our relationship, our marriage was to survive these two affairs and move forward, the three of us needed to talk." Turning again to face Gary and Kat, Alicia said with a forcible exhale of air. "I decided to have Kat come into town today, I was going to expose your affair and expose mine. I couldn't take it anymore. It had to end here, tonight." Her countenance turned dark again, as Alicia pondered her next comments. Continuing she said, "I had planned to farm the kids out, take a long bubble bath and really do myself up to the nines. I was going to put on my sexiest things tonight and see if there was any response from Gary. I looked for my dress and sandals before I bathed, then remembered they were still in the bag in my car. That's why you found the bag in our bedroom. I was going to throw out the dress and bag after tonight, then replace the bra and panty set with identical new ones as soon as I could. I will also get rid of two other dresses I wore while with Rory. I want no things connected with him in our home or touching my body." Gary and Kat watched as Alicia became agitated again. She was moving around on the chair, her breathing ragged and the level and tone of her voice became markedly higher as she began speaking. "Gary, I knew I wanted my marriage no matter what. I wasn't expecting you to come home and expose my affair. I wanted to tell you it was over before I explained it. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for getting involved with him." She started crying even as she continued speaking. "But it didn't happen that way, you caught me so totally off guard. Actually, I'm not so sure it would have worked the way I planned it anyway." Tears rolling down her face, Alicia moved cautiously over to Gary and said in a tear choked voice. "I am so sorry Gary, for everything. My jumping to conclusions, my actions and reactions. I want my husband and my marriage. Please tell me I haven't destroyed it all. Please..." Alicia's words crumbled into gut wrenching sobs and she sat there trembling. Gary pulled Alicia onto his lap and held her. They both clung to one another like a drowning man would a life ring. "I'm sorry too baby so very sorry, I only want us too." Kat asked, "Can both of you forgive me, please. It would kill me to lose either of you in my life. I am the one who instigated the affair with Gary. I only had three drinks that night and was warm and mellow but far from buzzed. I had also made sure Gary's drinks were doubles. I had made sure he couldn't refuse me." She hung her head looked at the floor in front of her. "Why, why my Gary?" Alicia's voice went up an octave as she asked her baby sister the question. Kat cried and said, "I had a crush on him since I was fifteen and you first brought him home. Gary always treated me like an adult. I felt I wanted to prove to him I was the adult he interacted with. I've thought this over for the last four years; I still had the high school mentality, you know, 'to hell with couples, take what you can get'." Choking up with tears, Kat had a hard time talking. "I understood quickly after I began my silly little game, that what I had done could easily cost two people a lifetime of happiness, and destroy my relationship with you. I'm so sorry sis. Please... forgive me." Her voice sounding suddenly small and lacking the normal animation she was so noted for. "I will get over all of this but right now I'm so mad at what you did. I don't hate you, I'm just so damn mad you can't believe it." Kat just nodded as she looked at her sister. Aftermath Gary changed the subject before Alicia spun up again. "Baby I think we need to find a counselor and get these issues worked out, Ok." Nodding Alicia said, "But we need to find someone who can help all three of us in this mess, as she looked at Kat. They all nodded their agreement to one another, the emotional drain of the last four hours beginning to tell on all three of them. Alicia got up and took Kat to the guest bedroom. Then, pulling Gary to their bedroom she made sure they followed their nightly routine and were soon in bed and holding tightly to each other as they fell asleep with hope dominating their thoughts. Gary asked Alicia to get an STD screening prior to resuming any sexual activity. She was shocked to find out she had a 'Chlamydia' infection. Since Gary had stopped all physical activity with his wife at roughly the same time she became active with Rory, Gary didn't test positive. Rory, who had not been wearing any protection during their interludes was the only possible source of infection. Alicia was both stunned and scared to death when the doctor said she had been lucky it could have been HIV, which would have later developed into AIDS. Alicia and Gary were relieved when further testing for HIV at the appropriate intervals were all negative. Epilog: Twelve weeks later "Hey! Lieutenant Benefield. Wait up sir!" Rory turned to see a perky little airman running towards him. Rory smiled he loved it when the junior officers and enlisted called him sir. He particularly liked it when Airman Guadalupe Delgado called him that. Good Lord she was a stunning package he thought as she ran towards him, a tad bit taller than normal, but lithe and well proportioned for her frame. His relationship with her wasn't correct in any sense of the word according to the Air Force, and he could get into big trouble if they found out. But her tight little pussy and her willingness to please made it worth the risk. She saluted sharply and Rory returned her salute in kind. "Yes, Airman Delgado what can I do for you?" "The Squadron Commander wants to see you in his office. He didn't look all that happy when he told me to find you." Looking at her he quipped, "I wonder which all important report I didn't fill out correctly now." They saluted again and she turned leading him to the Commander's office. She walked down two doors and left First Lieutenant Benefield to see the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the squadron. He walked in to the outer office, and Maggie the Colonel's secretary looked up and gave him a knowing smile. "Lieutenant Benefield, is here Sir," she said as she used the intercom. "Good send him in Maggie," came his usual terse reply. Maggie looked up and said, "Go on in Lieutenant." Rory felt she was almost grinning at him, sort of like she knew something. Rory had tried to get her to go out when he first arrived, but she was one of only a handful of women that had ever turned him down. He grinned back and entered the office. After Rory reported, Lieutenant Colonel Marvin Avery nodded over Rory's shoulder and the squadron's legal officer walked up to the desk to read Rory his Article 31 rights. Rory listened in stunned silence as the Major finally said, "Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you First Lieutenant Benefield." "Yes!" Rory squeaked out, his throat suddenly too dry and too tight to talk. "Do you give up the right to counsel?" Came the Major's professional voice. Rory nodded then said, "Yes." 'What the hell is going on?' He thought to himself. Colonel Avery pulled four packs of photographs out of a brown envelope. Rory looked at the first one it was of him and one of the junior enlisted man's wife. Her husband, a Technical sergeant, had been transferred a year ago. His affair with her had lasted six months. Rory gulped, then took the second package. It contained pictures of Alicia Putnam, his hands all over her body with her wedding rings very obvious in the pictures. There was a definite slump in his shoulders as he took the third package and looked in side. He felt the color drain from his face the top photo was Lupe Delgado, both of them nude with his cock in her mouth. A piece of paper was attached to the back of that package he flipped it over and read the words, 'Four to six weeks pregnant.' Rory almost passed out. He was screwed and he knew it. Then the Colonel pushed the last package into Rory's hands, snatching Lupe's package from him. Rory glanced down at the girl, it was Gina. The picture left no doubts to what they were doing as he was balls deep in her little pussy and more or less posing showing his penetration. She was eighteen and a civilian. Why was she there he wondered. He handed the pictures back and asked, "Sir I understand the first three women but the last girl was of age, and a civilian. Why is she included?" The Colonel's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Do you admit having sex with two married women one of which was an enlisted Airman's wife from your squadron. You also admit you have had sexual relations with an active duty, enlisted Airman directly under your authority and chain of command?" Secrets and Betrayals Ch. 02 Rory trembled, "Yes sir I admit to those relationships." He replied in a high squeaky voice, giving away just how scared he was. The Colonel was almost shaking as badly as Rory, when he lashed out at him. His voice identifying that he had his own anger barely under control. "Then Lieutenant Benefield, you can also not deny that you are having sex with the fourth girl." Rory's "Yes sir," seemed to be a whisper compared to the Colonel's voice. The older man continued, "Yes Sir! Is that all you have to say to me after admitting to fucking my eighteen year old daughter who was still two months shy of her high school graduation?" The snarl and explosiveness of his voice cowered Rory. The Colonel's disclosure of Rory's predicament became crystal clear in the younger man's mind. Rory thought for a second, 'Oh my God! I'm well and truly fucked.' The Colonel who was barely maintaining his restraint looked at Rory, "First Lieutenant Benefield, you are a poor example of a United States Air Force Officer. I am referring you to Courts Martial and I am forwarding the following charges to be considered. Violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Article 134 Specifically- Adultery (Two counts), Article 134 Specifically- Fraternization (One count), Article 133 Conduct unbecoming an Officer (Four Counts). I am awaiting the counsel of the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force on whether a child still in high school can be considered a minor. More charges may be forthcoming, First Lieutenant Benefield. Your are hereby placed under arrest and confined to quarters until a board of inquiry can be convened and formal charges leading to Courts Martial can be drawn up and forwarded to the Air Wing Commander. Any Questions First Lieutenant Benefield?" "No Sir," came the stunned reply. "Then you are dismissed Lieutenant." After he cleared out his office and calmed down, Colonel Avery called Gary Putnam, the phone rang twice. "Good Morning. Gary Putnam, may I help you." Came a cheerful voice. "Mr. Putnam this is Colonel Avery." "Yes Colonel, what can I do for you.?" "I just wanted you to know that First Lieutenant Benefield, has been charged and is under arrest pending further investigation. I also wanted to thank you for turning over all the information your private investigators turned up during their investigation of the unfortunate events with First Lieutenant Benefield and your wife. Your people were right about the younger girl and the other wife. We found another improper relationship also. Amazing how much that Officer liked to play and brag. I am also amazed that he had kept the digital pictures of his lady friends on his computer." "Well Colonel I must admit I forced my wife to let me call you, I didn't want her to be held responsible for this issue." "Well, you don't have to worry. Our First Lieutenant Benefield is about to pay in spades for multiple lapses in moral and professional judgment. I again want to apologize to you and Mrs. Putnam on behalf of the United States Air Force for the problems this officer caused." "Thank you Colonel, I'll leave the situation in your hands and consider it a closed issue, goodbye." Gary heard a mumbled goodbye and the hang up. He sat back in his chair and sighed as he put his hands behind his head thinking. 'I wanted to make that little weasel suffer from the moment I read the final report on the investigation. Damn, that conceited little ass loved just had to brag to everyone. Although only the first name of the younger girl was known, obviously the military is smart enough to track things from there. We will be able to put this affair behind us more easily now I know that creep is suffering too.' 'Kat and I have already been in hell over our stupidity, I am hopeful Alicia can eventually forgive both of us. I know I need to forgive Rory too, some day, but not just yet.' Gary sat forward and called the florist and had an arrangement sent to his wife at work. The card read "Just Thinking of You—Love Gary." ************** Alicia and Gary were released from counseling sixteen months after that painful Thursday encounter. They both lost something very precious during the affairs; the innocence of their love had been plundered. The unwavering trust and completeness each had with the other before their foolishness now had its limits. However, every day that passed has allowed both of them to rebuild the torn fabric of their relationship, albeit slowly. They also slowly allowed Kat back into their lives but she and Gary only met when Alicia was present. Three years after that fateful night, Alicia gave birth to a little girl. They named the child Hope Kathleen, with that child, all three of them finally felt the past had been buried, and the future with all of its possibilities had opened up to them. The End