Nothing To Talk About Ch. 01

This story is in response to "Something We Have To Talk About" by nici. I thought the writing was good, but the characters bothered me. The dichotomy between what the wife said she felt about the husband and what her actions showed was too much for me. This is the first of what may turn out to be three chapters. This is my first story, so constructive criticism would be appreciated.

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Eventually Jonathan regained control and began to think about his situation. He had been in a state of shock and denial since his wife had calmly informed him of her infidelity earlier that night. At first, he had reacted with anger. The pain caused by her admission had been all but unbearable. His immediate reaction had been to get drunk and vent his anger toward her. Now somewhat sober he began to realize how vulnerable he felt. Not since the death of his father had he felt so lost.

He had loved Susan for practically his whole adult life. Sure, they had problems, but he had never considered them to be all that large. Did he still love her? Of course, he loved her. He absolutely despised what she had done to their marriage. He also began to realize how easily love so intense could be fanned into hate under the right circumstances.

Susan had been betraying their wedding vows for more than a year. While he had been working himself until he was bone-tired for months in order to have the "big house" in the "right" neighborhood that Susan had so wanted, she had been carrying on with a younger man. A man she said she loved and would continue to keep seeing no matter what.

"Yes I love her", thought Jonathan, "but I can no longer live with her". She had put him in a position that no real man could agree to. He no longer knew who she was. He had come home to what he would have proudly proclaimed as the best wife in the world only a few hours ago to find she had been cheating and lying to him for over a year. On top of that she had chastised him for not understanding and calmly informed him she was holding all the cards. She had looked him right in the eye and with a mocking smile told him if he sought a divorce, he would end up impoverished and without his children. He could not fathom who this selfish, indulgent person was and what had become of his wife.

Finally, unable to stay at the scene of the demise of his happiness any longer he showered, dressed, got into his truck and drove off into the night.

He drove aimlessly until he came to a small diner. Realizing he had not eaten in about 16 hours he parked and went inside. The diner was cozy, well-lit and clean. Shunning the stools at the counter, Jonathan found a booth in the corner and settled in with a forlorn sigh. Deep in thought, he barely remembered ordering an omelet and coffee.

Though he should have been starving, he merely picked at his food while consuming cup after cup of strong black coffee. The shock of his wife's confession was no-longer a white-hot blaze of rage and turmoil preventing any rational thought. Caffeine and cold anger now spurred his brain into action.

He was unsure how long he sat deep in thought, nor how many pots of coffee he had consumed. Eventually he realized it was light outside and people were out and going about their business. Jonathan realized he needed a plan. With a renewed sense of purpose, he paid for his meal, used his cell phone to call in sick for the day, and left the diner.

He headed for Ben Lawson's office. A friend since childhood, Ben also happened to be a reputable and competent divorce lawyer. Ben, though surprised to see him, smiled genuinely and shook his hand.

"Jon, What a surprise. I haven't seen you in months! How's life treating you?"

"Sorry about that Ben. I've been working my ass off for months now. I wish I could say this is a social visit, but unfortunately I am going to need your professional services."

Ben couldn't help but notice the pained expression on his old friend's face.

"Damn Jon, I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear that. Have a seat and tell me everything."

He didn't think he was ready to talk fully about what had happened, but with Ben's supportive guidance he was able to relate all that had taken place. The effect of completely baring his soul was extremely cathartic. All the feelings of anger, jealousy, hurt, betrayal, loss and self-pity had come flooding out. He suddenly understood that Susan had hit him with her best shot, and he was still standing, bruised and battered, but still standing.

He and Ben put together a strategy which included, among other things, hiring a private detective. It was going to be expensive, but he had been putting quite a bit of money aside for some time now. Money Susan didn't know about. Money for a long romantic vacation for their coming 15th wedding anniversary. He obviously wasn't interested in any romantic trip with Susan now!

Next he went by his in-laws and picked up his children. Mary and Bert Roan lived in a modest home in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. Mary had recently retired after 30 years of teaching higher math at the local high school. Bert owned a small hardware store. Jonathan had come to love and respect his in-laws almost as much as his own parents. When his father had died over a year earlier, they had both been there for him. He hoped that wasn't going to come to an abrupt end in the near future.

His mother-in law was obviously surprised to see him.

"Jon, what are you doing here? Why aren't you at work?", queried an obviously perplexed Mary.

"I've come to realize I have been working too hard during the best years of my life and that I'm missing my children grow into young adults." "From now on that is going to change," he replied.

She peered at him intently. She knew something was wrong. First her daughter Susan had been acting more and more strangely of late. Now her son-in-law, a man who worked as hard as anyone she had ever known, was in her kitchen in the middle of a workday.

"Jon, is anything wrong?"

He gazed directly into her eyes. Did she know anything? Was she an accomplice to Susan in his cuckolding? She returned his gaze without any sign of duplicity. For now, he would assume she knew nothing. However, he was not ready to fill her in on the details of the last twenty-four hours yet. For now he would be playing his cards close to his vest.

"Mary, I can only say I am suddenly aware of how precious this time in my children's life truly is and I don't want to waste another minute that isn't absolutely necessary."

She noticed a mix of pain and loss in his eyes. Suddenly she had an intuition her daughter had put them there.

She gazed lovingly into his eyes, grasped both of his hands in hers and said, "Jon, if there is anything Bert and I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask. You are like a son to us. Please remember that!"

Promising that he would take her up on her offer if needed, he gave her a hug, gathered up his children and drove to his once happy home.

Arriving home he noted his "faithful wife's" car wasn't there yet. Breathing a sigh of relief at not having to face her just yet he gathered his children in the living room and told them he and their mom were not getting along right now and that he was going to move into the basement for the time being. He assured them they were the best kids anyone could ask for and that none of this was their fault.

Joey and Nancy ran to their rooms with tears in their eyes. Both had friends who were now living in broken homes. Each felt as though their world was about to fall apart. Cindy sat staring at her hands for a long time. Finally, she looked up into her dad's eyes and with her voice cracking wailed, "It's because of that man I saw doing those things with mom in the living room isn't it?" Then she jumped up and ran into her room.

He heard them in their rooms, the otherwise quiet house racked with the sounds of intense sobbing.

Things had just become far more complicated.