All Comments on 'Back to Bristol Ch. 14'

She loves me,

She loves me not!

O, What am I to do ?

Boyd

The writing thus far has been excellent. The story has the jarring inconsistancies of real life without looking forced.

You are positing a plausible reason for Chris to change his mind.

However this ends, you have painted molly as a real person that doesn't deserve to set adrift on an ice floe

I admire the way you have (slowly) developed the characters. It is only now that I have begun to really empathise with the protagonist. Similarly, Molly has been an enigma -- apparently to herself as well -- until a rationale for her perceived behavior has emerged.

Thanks.

this chapter is really BAD... I mean it smells bad. Not the writing and NOT the story... But both Molly and Chris are so pathetically stupid I am almost rooting for Susan...

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For example... Given all we know going into chapter14 and what Molly and Chris Know about what Susna has done and what she is capable of doing they bdecide that NO susan could not of possibly chnaged naything when she typed the letter. Susan would not stoop that low...

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<b> Please given what has happened no one in this situation could be this obtuse and stupid. Its mind boggling !!! </b>

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SECOND... Given Molly's view and feelings about how she wants Chris back <b> How exactly does Molly show at Chris place wearing a perfume Peter selected then tells Chris about it?</b>

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can anyone be this fucking stupid?

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THIRD does Chris actually say NO to a counselor because he does NOT want to talk to a strnager about Their problems?

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<i>"Whoops. Sorry. It's just that I don't want to share this with someone else, a complete stranger. This is just us. What happens between us is all that matters. </i>

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But he is willing to talk to Carole within days of arriving at Bristol as well as Ralph Piers Myra Helene James Bond Dick Cheney and Osma bin laden ???

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FOURTH... Molly's inability to listen. Chris made it very clear that he was having Dinner with Myra and it was not a dinner date. Yet Molly assumed the worse... NOT A GOOD SIGN !!

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Those supporting reconcilation are basing it on susan gross interference or the fact they are well mortons. If I see another post for this Moron NIGHTOWL blaming another man for the wife's cheating I am going to blow a gasket.

The problem is that Susan manipulations makes Molly's from 4 years ago look very weak BUT nothing she has done Now shows any growth. see examples above

Chris is Shocked AND Disgusted! Chris has PERSONAL HATRED for Susan!....HORRORS! Let's see now, Myra who he barely knows gives him an parallel story, he sort of mocks it, Jeannette gives a parallel story, he interrupts, because he cannot see the point. But she perseveres and finishes the story. And now he is upset, OMG, I am guessing that he just wrapped his heart within an iceberg for the last 13 chapters. Forget going to a counselor,he doesn't want to talk to strangers. BUT, he will talk to Jeannette, who he has only seen, what TWICE? Now, Chris wants to start talking to Molly, 'We don't need any counselor' we can sort this out ourselves!!!! Where was this four chapters ago? Is Chris finally going to EXPRESS himself? hmmmmmmmmmmm....

Gary, this story is getting better and better...Thank you

hubby sounds like a drama queen,take her back and go foward with his family.

we might climb out of that hole.<BR>

But all this conjecture and arguing about possible ways the story may go is because of the way it is being drip fed to us.

a man that would drink a fine Balvenie matured in Port Wood serving instant coffee!

I have to say that Susan is not a nice person (says Jack, the master of understatement).

I am having fun with this - look forward to the rest of it.

(Hey, any chance of you keeping Molly and giving me the Balvenie?)

Regards, Jack

<p>I’ve followed this story for 14 chapters and now I’m exiting. For a number of reasons, this story does not make sense. It doesn’t stay true to it’s own rules. I can no more believe that Chris is an executive than believe that Pete is a brilliant researcher. Their actions are completely inconsistent with their positions.</p>

<p>Chris’ dialog about his wife has been repeated now for almost 6 chapters! He is saying virtually nothing new! If you don’t believe me, please read the last 6 chapters. His dialog varies slightly. As a result, the plot is stuck and I am caring less and less about the story. </p>

<p>I can no longer tolerate Chris, a supposed mature man, in a highly responsible position, soliciting literally everyone to comment on and advise him about his marriage. Asking Jeanette, his subordinates wife, her opinion on his marriage, was the last straw. That was beyond the bounds of propriety.</p>

<p>There has not been one character in this story who recognizes the concept of privacy, of boundaries. I’ve been waiting for someone, anyone, to stand up and tell Chris <b>“please do not include me in your private matters”</b>. Even Molly seems surprised that Chris is speaking to Jeanette about their marriage, yet she doesn’t bother to ask him not to, or to voice an objection.</p>

<p>How can Chris take offense when junior members of his staff talk about his relationship in jest when he himself is blabbing it all over the office? Are we seeing a cultural difference in storytelling? As an American I value privacy, I thought the English did to. This story paints them culturally as a nation of gossips. </p>

<p>In the last chapter Chris conspires with Piers and Neil to chastise Peter for being absent one day. But we’ve been told that Peter is a senior member of the staff, and an important resource in their research. Yet he cannot be absent one day without threat of firing? Rank has no privileges, and Chris’ action amounts to harassment.</p>

<p>Now in this chapter, Ralph dredges up 2 4-year old letters? Did anyone else find this to be an incredible discovery? Too incredible for me. And what’s with all the drinking or talking of drinking? This like reading about frat boys, not mature men. Using a drink occasionally as a plot device is fine, but in this story it has been grossly overused. </p>

Both the story and that some people are exiting. I can only hope it becomes a trend for those who insist on reading a multi-part story just to bitch at the end of every chapter. I have never been one to agree with the "dont like it, dont read it" crowd for one chapter stories. How can you tell you dont like it until after youve read it after all. For a story of this length though, its pretty asinine to keep reading only to make the same bitch after every chapter. <p><p>

If I see "When will it end" or words to that effect one more time, I think Ill snap. It can end whenever you bloody well want it to end - just stop reading. Reading 14 chapters of a story only to say you hate it because its too long just strikes me as about the dumbest thing I can think of. When you keep doing it (posting its too long and the story sucks) several chapters in a row, it moves from being dumb to being retarded. <p><p>

There are lots of other reoccurring themes that individuals have kept posting chapter after chapter as well but the too long thing really jumps out at you. Posting "I hate all the characters/plot/writing/etc" after several chapters is almost as bad. Again, if you dont think there is any reason to read the story, stop reading it. Its not rocket science. I guess now I know how JPB felt and why he turned off comments. Bob must have been pulling his hair out to see the same comments by the same people story after story acting surprised and offended that there were sluts and wimps involved. People are getting on my nerves in this story and I didnt even write it. <p><p>

Makes me think of the saying about the definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different outcomes. I think 14 chapters is enough for people to decide if they like the story or not. I can be as critical as the next guy but I really dont see reading a story you dont like just so you can post "I really hate this story, the characters, their actions, the plot, and the style" over and over after each chapter is criticism at all. Its more like self-abuse that you keep reading when you hate it so passionately. <p><p>

Sorry for the rant. I still like the story and think its moving along ok. We had some real movement in this chapter - Chris is moving off his position wrt to ex and more of the co-conspiritors actions are coming light.<p><p>

I have to say that I agree with JennyBear's comment last chapter regarding Molly. I was worried for a while a couple of chapters back that Gary was going to make her a villain but now it seems that wasnt his intent. She does seem to show some growth as a person and the author is going out of his way to make sure she isnt totally unlikable. <p><p>

I also still wonder why people are still crawling up Chris' ass for not being more forgiving and/or decisive and/or warm/open. The author was very clear that Chris' attitude/behavior was a coping mechanism because he was so hurt by the original breakup of his marriage. Chris has also been very clear that he isnt looking to reunite with Molly. Maybe his position is softening but it wasnt like he was stringing her along like some people keep saying. He said no in about as many different ways as possible but people keep pushing him (and he keeps saying no). He was interested in developing a civil relationship with her for the sake of the children but he was clear about reconciliation. If he says no and people keep asking him the same question, that hardly qualifies as being indecisive. WTH is he supposed to do, spit in her face, kick her in the crotch and then run away with the boys and marry someone else? <p><p>

Anyway, I think the author is doing a good job of making a reconciliation desirable. Im starting to feel sorry for Molly and not just Chris. Im beginning to think Molly has suffered enough and hoping that she and Chris can live happily ever after (and that Susan/Peter are fucked over hard). That makes this a very good story imo because I dont often hope/want reconciliations (dont think Im hard-hearted, just think that authors dont usually do a very good job setting up the reconciliation). Thanks again for writing.

Only because this whole investigative scenario is what should have happened at the beginning, when Molly and Chris were first splitting up. Molly should have asked these questions herself, and should have blown by her mother to talk to Chris. Chris should have looked for some definite answers for everything that he knew seemed contraditory. All of this subterfuge would have been exposed a long time ago. The people who knew Peter at the onset of he and Molly's relationship were quite aware of the type of person he was. IF Molly and others knew that Peter had some infintile traits, wouldn't that have thrown up a BIG red flag, especially with children involved? She should have definitely asked some serious questions about the man she was going to marry, especially if she had only fucked him once. If Molly was so intelligent, then why wasn't she questioning her mother's motives and attitudes. None of this occurred at the time of the separation, and in my opinion, these facts are cause enough to not warrant any reconciliation. The level of immaturity apparent at the time of Molly and Chris' breakup indicates that they certainly should have never been married in the first place, and way too immature to have had kids. Chris still acts like a child in his personal life and Molly should have matured to the point that she should be looking for someone way more mature to make the third time a charm. I have come to the conclusion that all the main characters in this saga are extremely weak (beyond flawed), far to weak for their stations of responsibility. I look for ITI Franks to go belly up very quickly with this top management crew. Most Multi-National Corporations insist that their management have morals and scruples, it's what ensures longevity and integrity in the marketplace. But then again, this is only fiction!!!!!!

Gary, thanks for taking the time and effort to write another very entertaining story. its not perfect but certainly is an enjoyable read. and thank you for the very timely posting of each chapter...... don

The story has attracted a lot of attention, with the daily input of chapters, there is a sense of soap opera to it. But it isn't soap opera , it is a mature work that articulates the pain of betrayal, and the difficulty of reconciliation against such a backdrop. So far, the ride has been wonderful. The crafting of the ending is of course difficult and challenging. But I for one think that Gary is up to it!

So it's all the wicked mother-in-law's fault? *snort* Sheesh, this is jus' like a long lost episode of <I>Dallas</I>! Do any of these people have brains of their own? If so, have they ever used them?

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I felt just like Gomer Pyle when Ralph's miraculous discovery of Susan's evil handiwork was revealed. Surprise, surprise, surprise! Then I started wondering who would still have their computer from five years ago? Hmmmmm, I don't. Do you? Right.

Okay, it's official. Molly is dumb as a box of rocks. So she's crying and begging and hoping and pleading for a reconciliation with Chris. Yet she comes over wearing a perfume her current husband gave her as a gift, AND TELLS CHRIS SO. <br><br>

Believe me, no woman in her right mind, who wants a man as badly as Molly supposedly wants Chris, would do such a thing. So either we as readers are supposed to think of Molly as the village idiot, or I don't know what.<br><br>

Molly, as written, is a weak character. She allows her mom to manipulate her, she cries all the time, she's always mooning around. As a woman, I find her character, as written hard to swallow, and even harder to like. <br><br>

I too found it silly for Chris to say he doesn't want to talk to a counselor about a possible reconciliation, or their relationship issues -- why the heck not? As others have pointed out, Chris has talked in great detail with all and sundry about what happened between he and Molly, his current sex life, heck, he even sat down with Piers and they did some sort of wacky flow chart at the Abbey. Yet he doesn't want to talk to a professional counselor -- probably because the counselor will tell him he's full of hooey.<br><br>

At this point, all I'm really concerned with are their two kids. Gee, I hope they don't grow up to be like either mom or dad. Chris is as annoying as Molly -- don't tell me he didn't enjoy hurting her by mentioning his lovely evening of casual sex. That man cannot be discrete if his life depended on it. Whoopdedoo Chris, you drink expensive Scotch and you go out on a Saturday night and get laid, no strings. He's sure setting a wonderful example for his kids. First he sleeps with a co-worker, now he's picking up strangers in a pub. Wait that's right - he only sees his kids once a week, even though he lives right in their town. Never mind, they don't see dad but for 8 hours a week, but yet he's a great father. Lord love a duck, but between Chris and Molly, there's just not that much to like here. Even Carole is grating on my nerves now, as she clearly enjoys having her own personal soap opera at the office, going so far as to ask about installments. Tacky.

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Well Gary, sorry to be so harsh. You have certainly entertained many with this long story. I was amused at first, but when the characters never moved beyond their deliberate cluelessness, I stopped finding them amusing and they became annoying. However, I think your writing skills are very good. Just because I don't like your main characters does not detract from the fact that you can write very descriptively and definitely bring the reader into the story, love it or hate it, or somewhere in between.

If you think Susan is one of the most evil characters written in LE?

Anonymous in NorCal Girl wrote what I wanted to say. Crap, now I don't have anything to add...so on to the next chapter where clueless Molly and supposedly, analytical Gary will still argue about a reconciliation or not until someone tells them what to do.

he now knows mil was and is a bitch...i think in all this story he does need to look at giving molly a chance as yes you can tell he still loves her...but i also think he needs to watch out for peter not only for him but also for molly...susan herself needs taken care of ...wheather its ralph divorcing her sorry ass ...well maybe that is the solution ...ralph divorces her ...molly divorces peter ...and they marry ...then ralph can find a woman to travel wit him or just travel by himself ...he could definitely find a woman companion if he so wants...lol just another day of there lives right ..i think my wife would enjoy this as its more like her romanticals that i constantly laugh about her reading...oh well please continue as for once even though i usually dont like reconciliations ...maybe in this case as it stands now ...well maybe ...i am at the point im actually looking for another plot twist or 2 ..good story

You are one of my favorite authors and I wait every

day for the next chapter. However, I stopped reading halfway down the first page today because of frustration

with Chris's attitude. He continually is cold to his

ex and tells her there is most likely no chance

of their getting back together. At the same time he is jealous.

He needs to grow up and quit whining. Will Molly

and Chris finally get together? Will I read any

further to find out?

First, a couple minor details:

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>>raises hand<<

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Some people post comments and read stories based upon their own experiences and reference only their own background when it comes to assessing the reality of characters and story line. Frankly, this makes you as shallow and two dimensional as the story and characters you complain about. Some are able to read to gain experience in relating to the world around us in ways that are new and foreign to themselves. Try reading with an open mind in the future.

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Now, as for this story, I can say that as a fairly recently divorced person this chapter begins to make sense and the two recent anecdotes from Myra and Jeanette help to ties things together. They are not out of realm of reality, in fact quite the opposite, they are the way that some people deal with trauma. Separation and divorce are traumatic events and if you've never been through it you cannot believe it yourself. Counselors do treat them as if they were deaths. To me, anyway, this does help me to see why Molly may have reacted the way she did. As well as the way Chris is acting now. Talking to others that are acquaintances or friends is sometimes easier than a counselor. The stigma of what a counselor or therapist means can turn people off to them unless they truly want that kind of help. Chris NEEDS to talk, there is no doubt about that, but who he talks to is almost unimportant to him. As it turns out, what he does is share his story, his ideas, sometimes his feelings to people he feels confident in. And, here is the catch, he does it until he finds the people who have the knowledge and/or background to help him understand his questions. He is not so much telling every Tom, Dick and Harriet his life story at the drop of a hat, but he is searching for answers to his questions and continues to search until he finds what he needs. Certainly, a counselor might have been able to answer his questions quickly and clinically, but you must agree that Chris' personality would not have allowed him to hear and understand those answers in a way that he will now. <BR><BR>I had hoped if I stuck with this story long enough Gary would bring us the answers that not only work to tie things together but are also plausible. And, in my opinion, he has done that.

Gary, I have two major comments that I would like to make. The first addresses your writing and the the story line that I have been enjoying for the past two weeks. The second is addressed to some of the comments that are being made. <p>

First, with respect to the plot, I think you did a fine job this chapter of addressing two major plot points. The first point was a simple question that Molly asked Chris "What does it take?" I found this a major step forward because, perhaps for the first time, it showed Chris and Molly starting to discuss a resolution as opposed to rehashing past grievances.<p>

In real life, I have done some conflict resolution in various settings. One of the first rules of resolving a conflict is to get the parties to consider the issue of "what do you want and what will it take (and conversly, what are you willing to pay/give up) to get it?" A very common chararacter trait shared by too many people is their inability to get to this point in a conflict without some outside pressure. By simply asking this question, Molly has changed the whole nature of her discussion with Chris.<p>

The second point I liked was Jeanette's story. Gary has done a good job in exploring the conflict that Chris is feeling in trying to reconcile "the intelligent Molly that I knew, that had been here in this flat until a few minutes ago, with the fucking stupid idiot that allowed her life to go so wrong." <p>

This issue is an issue that is rabibly debated in the comments to many stories on this site, including this one (Dumb Molly! Bad Molly!). Jeanette's story provides a vivid analogy that can suggest an explanation that is both believable and understandable. While it may not provide enough for Chris to consider reconciliation, it certainly gives a rationale for the apparent dichotomy in Molly's character. <p>

By so doing, (and whether you agree with his reasoning or not), Gary has done far more than most with this story. <p>

My final comment is addressed to the readers. There has been a lot of space devoted to comments questioning the motivation and believability of Gary's characters. I'm beginning to wonder if there might be some cultural differences at play in these discussions. <p>

Dispite all the similarities between the US and Great Britain, there are some major cultural differences as well. Heck, there are cultural differences between regions in both the US and Great Britain as well. When I look at where the various comments are coming from, I think that at least a portion of the comments are the result of a failure to consider those cultural differences.<p>

Well this comment is long enough. Once again Gary, thanks for a complex and highly entertaining story. <p>

CCM

In the Story Tags of each and every chapter, it appears the Reconciliation one.

first I would like to say that my background is latin. I agree with your comment, but there is one aspect that most people, that are making comments don´t mention, that is the pasion and/or the fantasy we have about any relatiomship. Theirs, after all that happened, may be too 'real' to survive, or like the Fenix, to come bake from the a dust. Gary, tks for writing to us. PS; sorry for my poor English.

Having the note be changed explains why she stood in front of him not able to say a word, etc. Nice idea.

Finally a chance for the writer to capitalize on a plot line that has been set up so sluggishly over the course of the story. Molly discovers her mother's deception and betrayal that factored significantly in the breakup of the marriage and yet we the readers get this:

I drained my coffee, and asked, "How's Molly taken it?"

"What would you expect? Shell-shocked. Disgusted. At the moment, she says this is the last straw. She's saying that she doesn't want to see Susan ever again. She's disowned her. In fact she thought she might write her a letter to tell her that. At least she could see the funny side of that, she thought she might apologise if it was an emotional scrawl."

That's it? Second hand observance related in one paragraph by wooden characters in a passionless setting. The only people in this tale worth an investment in time is Ralph (How do you say "smack dat bitch" in England?) and Piers because he has the best whisky. Put this story out of its misery like a Virginia Pit Bull.

I thought that was a rather clever tactic, albeit possibly dangerous one, on Molly's part. "Dangerous" because the dance they do is SUPPOSEDLY for Molly to work her way back into Chris's life, not vice versa (although in reality probably both are trying to work their way back into each other's life, knowing that the pasture is really not that greener elsewhere, after having grazed there the last 4 plus years). <p>

But the little exchange between them, particular on Molly's hand job on herself fantasizing Chris [esp. that Saturday where Chris was fucking that older hooker who dressed herself as some smart, no-nonsense, but attractive [not vulgar]), has given Molly enough confidence in her ability to still get Chris all worked up, wanting to have sex with her, that knew she had to draw some blood from Chris for his seemingly retarded ---"I am, as far as I know, not committed to any body and so I can fuck anyone I want, when I want, where I want, any time"--- attitude. <p>

And, yes, Molly achieved that. Chris immediately said, "Fuck, THAT hurt [ie. Molly telling him the nice perfume on her was given to her by Pete Fucking Davies]" <p>

That, again, was a calculated risk that Molly decided she was going to take; and she believed she had laid down enough groundwork to more than offset whatever real repurcussions that little stinking act may have caused: Molly had already told Chris, explicitly she was divorcing Pete; and as an added bonus, she said without telling Chris, she's also wanting to sever herself from "Susan" once and for all. <p>

Remember, y'all, Molly's biggesst assets, where Chris's concerned, are her ass [crude for her sensuality] and those early memories in Chris's head. Of course, the two boys they have created, too, it goes without saying. But that's an actually interesting thing: Chris know he doesn't have to get back with Molly to continue being a decent part of their boys lives. He thinks so at this point soley because Molly has never played the boys against him, both know that. <p>

In order to keep Chris staying perturbed, disturbed, angry, but also involved --- against his own wishes or will --- Molly knows she needs to up the ante in some clear way like wearing the OTHER man's marking scent to Chris's domain, again, as an undeclared retaliation for his daily and seemingly casually telling her he can and he DOES fuck any woman he sees, since he's STILL AS OF NOW a bachelor not yet committed, blah, blah. <p>

Aggain, calculated risk, but if there's any sign Molly's playing a subtler card, attesting to her cunning, this was one of the few times... <p>

... Molly knows she's done Chris great wrong, even if she's not articulated all those wrongs in a more satisfying way; but she also knows her every move, her every thought, her every action STILL AFFECT Chris, still being tracked by Chris, NOTWITHSTANDING whatever Chris keeps saying to himself and to John, Paul, Osama, Noriega, Hussein, the King of Thailand, King Abullah, the Dalai Lama, the Pope, Carole, Piers, Jenneatte, Keith, Don, Ralph, Mum, Len, Brian, Prince Harry, Prince Charles, George Bush, Dick, Donal Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, the Christian Right Group, Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority, Jesus, God, and Myra.

I think Chris is going to discover that this is not as simple as gathering the facts and making a decision as he does in the business world. The heart has 51% of the vote and can chose to conveniently ignore the facts if it so desires. He has been floundering for quite a while, he doesn't know what he wants. I find it rather interesting that he tells others that Molly said the sex with Peter wasn't that good. He is desperately looking for a reason to believe. Molly got to him with that. I hope it works for him.

I don't think Susan had sex with Peter. Ralph got me thinking today his comments about Peter seeming immature like a young schoolboy. He was not as confident as everyone thought. Perhaps he was womanizer by necessity because he couldn't hold a woman. Susan ran them all Ralph, Molly and Peter. Peter was as easy to control as Molly. She jumped at the chance to get rid of Chris because she couldn't manipulate him. My husband plays up to my mom something fierce. He thinks she is eating it all up but she is playing him. At the end of the day she will get what she wants and he doesn't have a clue.

Dialogue I'd like to see:

"Molly, I'm a bachelor with no commitments. I can have sex with an old skank if I want."

"Chris honey, if memory serves me right I was divorced from you when I married Peter Fuckin Davies."

I'm just in a playful mood today, don't take it too serious.

GaryAPB is one slippery character. He’s taken very two-dimensional characters and, in fourteen chapters (So far) made them into three-dimensional ones by slowly revealing their motivating inputs. Chris still needs a little work with things such as the “no counseling” stance. Here’s a supposedly able executive who 1. won’t listen to expert advice and who 2. wont gather all the facts and, 3. refuses to delegate something as important to him as organizing a professional discussion about the most critical episode in his life, the lack of which organization has lead, he has to admit, to MAJOR misapprehension in the past. Well, perhaps he’ll have an epiphany in chapter 15.

Even more slippery, he’s convinced me to change my opinion of the tale from 0 to 100. I didn’t believe that so much mitigating factor development was possible.

We now have it that Chris is wise enough to know that physical fidelity and a one time fling are not as important as how the fling developed and what the “flinger” has learned about herself and what is the prospect for a future that best serves his (Chris’s) needs. It would appear that reconciliation is not only possible but in his best interest. (For all you that somehow feel that sacrosanct is sacrosanct including marital vows, kindly remember that we all have “lust in our hearts” to quote an ex president, even if it is only for a quick round of golf when wifey needs your time for something truly important. That’s infidelity too.)

I also would like to refute a comment about gentlemen of a certain age made after chapter 13, to the effect that we all want reconciliation above all. Since I’m even past the age mentioned and have NOT reconciled broken affairs and marriages of my own, I can tell you that 1. generalizations are so bad as to be immoral and 2. that people of all ages hope that people can “just get along.” In the beginning there were some who were so hopeful that someone should have slapped them upside the head but by now all those who insist on revenge are going back to other authors (whom I don’t read.)

The perfume bit was something I don’t think anybody would forget not to rub salt in about, even if the person liked the fragrance.

I can see that, if Susan was playing Iago to Molly’s moor, Molly would trust that her own mother would not be quite so evil.

I can refute the comment that management at ITI Franks is punk. It seems quite good at focusing on real business issues at the right management levels. (Bet my MBA & experience against yours.)

I think that Average-Joe just about “got it right” up to this point.

I think that Kanga40 is all wet.

I have never complained about the pace or the detail, although, when in a hurry, I have skimmed the odd paragraph. (Usually had to go back to get it all together right, after I saw that it was something useful to the plot development.)

Finally, we seem to be unable to offload an enormous number of sophomoric thinkers. (Sophmorons?)

...still thinking. umm....nope! hmmm....maybe. ugh!!

Molly seems to have no problem cheating and leaving them dry. first Chris, then Peter. not even worth talking? what a bitch.

oh, and the story starts to drag.

The author has posted all 22 chapters on another site. I can't wait to finish this story!

... that will SOL've my problem. ;-)

OK, Jeanette's story at least gives us a rationale for Molly's behavior. Now Chris is going to finally confront his problem: 'To Be Or Not To Be?' (to quote some other writer). I always enjoy Gary's writing, but I found a couple parts of this chapter unsettling. Other posters have covered the points as well.

Primarily, we're finally given reason to believe Molly isn't the stupidest person on the planet and then she pulls the stunt with the perfume? Why not just poke him in the eye with a sharp stick? After repeatedly admitting she had no idea how badly she had hurt him (adding an extremely belated, "Oops, I'm sorry), Molly decides to reward Chris for inviting her to his flat by wearing perfume that Peter had given her? All of Chris and Molly's interaction has come about either on Molly's turf or in neutral territory. He finally brings her into his new life and she is so grateful that she decides to commemorate the event by marking herself with his rival's scent, wearing it into his personal space, and immediately letting him know? Can she really be this lacking in empathy? It has been suggested that she may have done this as a clever tactic. It's hard to see this tactic doing anything beyond telling Chris that NOTHING HAS CHANGED, she's still trying to use Peter to goad him into behaving as she desires. Manipulation tactics like this are what got them to this point.

The second unsettling point for me concerns Chris's refusal of professional councilling. For chapter after chapter, Chris has gotten councilling from all and sundry, many of whom are virtual strangers to him, but he's going to refuse to talk to the one stranger who would be qualified to listen, ask the right questions, and give professional advice? Is a Managing Director going to listen to amateur advice or a trained consultant?

Minor quibbles aside, thanks for writing Gary, and please keep it up!

It's actually all an exercise in futility.. Just a coupla days ago he told Molly it wouldn't happen.. Had to dash that hope of hers, right?? All along he has said it is impossible to take her back in a capacity.. So, after all, it will be goodbye.. What else CAN it be from everything he has said??

I’ve seen some wispy excuses for cheating, but this is probably the single most idiotic yet. They’re used to spontaneous sex and he wasn’t there so she naturally did it with Peter.

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Gee, your Honor, I’m used to pouring boiling water on ants on my sidewalk. There weren’t any that day so I poured it on my neighbor because he was.

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The second thing roiling my stomach is the analogies. All behavior is excusable because you can come up with a single instance of someone else’s behavior that somehow seems to have a parallel.

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The third is Molly’s efforts at reconciliation that have all the grace and subtlety of an elephant performing ballet. Why don’t we just move in with you? Let’s do it already. Don’t think about it; just do it. I love you so what’s the problem? Let’s go to bed and reconcile.

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She’s been portrayed as stupid, confirmed by the perfume incident (unless it shows she’s brilliant) but this is fatuous. There has not been a single piece of evidence from the author to suggest she could just say, “Let’s get back together,” and he would do it, forgetting there had ever been a problem.

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I’d really enjoyed the story until the last few chapters. But I’m getting the feeling my response to the ultimate ending may wind up being, “Huh?”

I find it rather strange that a man in such a high paying position would let basically every single subordinate interfere in his private life... And they're not even people he has known for a long time. I could understand his parents and maybe even his best friend. But come on, his secretary? research director and his wife? a woman with whom he has spent a few dates? Jebus it must not take a whole lot to get this guy to spill his guts to any random stranger in a bar...

Kudos, you are doing an outstanding job!

I smell the blood of an English WIMP!

I hate wimps too, but this story is much more complicated than simple cheating. I look forward to the rest of the tale.

I’m sorry, maybe I’m just cold-hearted, but Molly is an adult, presumably intelligent woman. How she thought that Chris could/would get over her “fling” with Peter without putting on her big girl pants and going to see Chris, confess/explain all, and beg his forgiveness is beyond me.

To then to so swiftly go off and marry Peter, and then expect Chris to just take her back after FOUR YEARS, displays a remarkable emotional immaturity.

Why does she keep saying he’s a “good man”? Good men don’t prey on women, ESPECIALLY married women, and they certainly don’t refuse to go when it is made clear that they are NOT wanted.

Assuming they do build some sort of a friendly relationship, why is he so adamant that there is no way to re-build a romantic relationship? NOT go back to the old one, he is quite correct that that is impossible, but a NEW one. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, treat their prior relationship as if it happened with two other people.

If there is to be any reconcilement with Susan, besides apologizing she has to come clean with EVERYTHING she did, like the “meeting” with Chris that never even happened.

The “forged” letter is DESPICABLE! I think it definitely calls for the estrangement of Susan, to the extent that it can be done without hurting the boys.

If the financial implications of a divorce are unpalatable to Ralph, he can just go for estrangement – do his traveling with or (hopefully) without her, limit his time with her, I’m sure Molly would welcome him to spend time with the grandsons without Susan, etc.

I've been writing these notes as I go, so as to not forget a point I wanted to comment on, that is why you may see mu view changing within a post.

This is happening now with my view towards Molly. Jeanette's story about her neighbor's grief really worked for me as a way to understand Molly's dependence on her mother.

I'm definitely starting to lean towards a reconciliation.

I think that Molly is another stupid cheater. So far she has done everything wrong. Remember that advice is something that you listen to and YOU still have to make your own decisions. You still have to take responsibility for your actions. Molly does not want to do this. Sure peter and her mother are despicable characters but they led a supposedly intelligent character around like a dog with a leash. To wear a perfume from her supposedly good guy estranged husband to meet her ex and try to reconcilesh with him??? You can blame everybody else but the bottom line is she still cheated. After drinking all night she goes back to his apartment??? This ex husband has to get over his angst and move on with life with Molly as a friend without benefits.

Congrats. Great chapter. Five out of five. I knew I was right about Susan interfering with the letter. I predicted it several chapters ago. But then Molly said she wrote the letter and I shut up because I felt kind of dumb at being wrong. But the author brilliantly showed how Molly's mother managed to sabotage the letter. It is actually quite a clever plot point. Good old Ralph comes through with the smoking gun of the two different copies of the letter. And then Piers and Jeanette - mostly Jeanette - give Chris the talk about their friend and the impact of shock and depression to explain why Molly married Peter. Marvelous. This may be the best chapter in the entire story to date. But we still have lots of chapters to go. I have been steadily increasing my like for Molly and this chapter cements it. At one point I thought she was such a ditz she didn't deserve to get back with Chris. Now I am hoping for them. But I suspect our author still has some twists up his sleeve. This story is almost as good as When We Were Married and Boston to Birmingham. Well, time to walk the dog and make breakfast. Cheers Steve

Just a pity Chris continues to be a self opinionated shit who understands nothing but thinks he knows everything. Sorta spoils the story a bit.

Drinking and driving dissent seem to enter their heads

It seems that all the 'BAD' in Chris' life is being laid at the door of his mother-in-law.... How convenient for Molly!

It is just too convenient and unconvincing. Obviously the mother had a big hand in their separation and divorce, but it is just not reasonable to dispel the blame that really rests with Molly.

Good story though. It engrosses the reader, bring them (me) into the situation as a somewhat partial observer. Nice to see the LW theme get a good treatment, though I think the to'ing and fro'ing on what actually happened is going on far too long.

PULL THE BANDAID OFF and get on with it

This story is developing in an excruciatingly slow manner, but I empathize with the author. His job, if he's planning a reconciliation, and that seems to be where we're headed, is to redeem the wife who started all this by cheating on her husband.

He painted her as a bad wife from the beginning, so now he needs to convince his readers that she's actually worth taking back into our protagonist's trust. It's a difficult job, it has to be done slowly, step by step, if the author is seeking our approval. So I understand why he's moving so slowly, but honestly, I wish he'd move a bit quicker.

This seems like a very realistic story though, and I congratulate him on how well-written it is. Thanks for posting.

So Molly is a fucking backstabbing whore but it is her mom's fault?

Who would have thought?

the bit with Jeanette and Piers was a fascinating explanation of the situation, and reflecting back over events in my life I can see that it's plausible. The reconciliation requires getting past the one-off adultery and the apparent rejection of Chris in favor of Davies. The second is being handled deftly. The first is being minimized in a sense, but it was a one off before the divorce, there's repentance, and years to have dulled the pain.

"He is a good man"

AND MOLLY IS STILL DEFENDING PETER.

truly unbelievable.

"It's L'Air du Temps. Peter gave it to me for my birthday."

Wow, she goes to see her ex, who she totally loves, wearing the perfume her current husband bought for her, and she admits it to her ex.

How caring of her, truly /sarcasm

"my wife of seven years went with that man to his flat and fucked the afternoon away? That isn't a good start."

"You know it wasn't like that."

It was exactly like that.

True contriteness, she's really sorry about what happened and yet she's incapable of owning up to it.

She jukes and jives and ducks and dives responsibility by blaming everyone but herself.

This slut could win Olympic Gold at Mental Gymnastics.

"one moment's stupidity, especially fuelled by alcohol or circumstances, should be allowed to ruin a family or a good marriage. Instead, it's something to be got over, recovered from"

One, it wasn't one moment's stupidity, it was a whole host of decisions that landed her naked with her legs spread for another man at said other man's place.

Two, it clearly wasn't that good a marriage in her mind if another guy was able to to get her in his bed with a bit of alcohol.

Finally, yes, just get over infidelity, just sweep that shit under the rug like a good little cuck. Pretend it doesn't take a bit of drink and a good set of abs for the slut to open her legs for another dude.

And to top it off we have the psychobabble making an appearance.

"It' wasn't Molly's fault, she just couldn't handle the consequences of her own behavior!"

Give me a break.

I dont get this story

.

at every turn he admits he is a cuck who would have taken the cheating whore back if only she had apologized

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he has now been presented evidence the cheating whore did, but was stymied by her mother

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so mow he is hanging his hat on bizarre reasons not to take the slut back

.

youve already established he is a spineless cuck desperate to take her back, so what's with all the odd roadblocks?

What? As a manager who uses his staff to counsel others he hates counseling? BTW, ever hear of private investigators? Seems high time. At this point drawn out drivel.

Just think that with the amount of thinking this captain of industry, this man amount men gets through then no wonder it’s 22 chapters long. A little less thinking and a bit more doing would have rounded this out at two chapters.

Jeeesh can that guy actually run a company?

I mean do we really need 22 chapters of the same dribble?

Blah, blah, blah.

Getting to really dislike the actors in this soap opera. They are all so invested in other peoples relationships, they don’t seem capable of managing their own.

You win- I quit! What a total waste of my time.

It comes as no surprise that a 'captain of industry' is incompetent outside of his career. But at the very least I'd expect it to be a character flaw that causes all the problems rather than an inability to communicate, accumulate facts and make sound judgements.