The Other Woman

A special thanks to O'Henry for the great ideas and editing

This is a different Loving Wives in that everyone wins. Enjoy!

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"Julie? This is Linda. I wanted to let you know he got a late start this morning. Sorry, I was feeling a little frisky and knowing I would have to wait until Monday night I...you know...scratched the itch."

Julie laughed. "I'll forgive you. Just don't make a habit of it. By the way, what are you buying Jim for his birthday? I planned on buying him a couple of golf shirts. We can't buy him the same thing two years in a row."

"You're right about that." Linda chuckled." You should have been here when he unwrapped another brief case. When I saw his oh no expression, I told him I kept the receipt if he wanted to change the color. You should have seen him breathe a sigh of relief. How about I give him a gift certificate at the pro shop?"

"Great idea Linda. I'll make sure the shirts are generic without a course name on them. That way he won't have to hide them from you. Call me Thursday when he leaves your house."

How it began ---Linda's story

My name is Linda Thompson. I have been married to Jim for 30 years. We live in Peoria, Illinois. I'm 55, and work as a trainer for Business Solutions Company. Jim is an independent insurance broker. He is a good and loving husband but is on the road 4 days out of the week; He leaves on Thursday morning and returns on Monday. When he is home, he treats me like a queen.

About three years ago, I had to go to Springfield, Ohio, right outside of Dayton, to train the staff of a food distribution company on an upgraded version of an order processing program they use. I wouldn't have been doing the training except the scheduled trainer for that area had a family emergency. So after running right back home to pack I was loaded on a plane and sent to Dayton with hotel reservations, a car reserved for me and directions to the company in Springfield.

The short flight was OK, the car was waiting for me, and the directions were excellent. The room was one of those mini suites. I figured this was a good sign. My contact was a Julie Thompson. A little strange but Thompson is a fairly common name. Julie was a charming woman maybe a couple of years older than me. She was about my height, 5'5", and a few pounds heavier than my 110 pounds. She had this bubbly attitude that seemed to infect everyone she came in contact with. When I introduced myself, she laughingly said we must be related.

She had a training area all set up for me and her people organized into training groups. I started training that afternoon and ended the day about 5:00pm. I stopped by Julie's office to tell her the training was going well and I would be back tomorrow morning at 8:00 to continue. Julie told me she would have the next group waiting for me.

She said she would take me out for a drink except her husband was returning tonight from being on the road and they had a dinner date. I told her I understood since my husband also traveled. In fact he had left this morning and wouldn't be home until Monday. We said goodnight and I headed for the hotel.

I called Jim's cell and told him about my day. I don't think I ever mentioned what town I was in. He told me he had a successful meeting and made one contact visit today. Also that he would soon be stopping for the night. . I told him not to wear himself out and I would talk to him tomorrow. I ate at the hotel restaurant, and then returned to my room for the evening. I reviewed my training presentation before turning off the lights and going to sleep.

I checked out of the hotel, loaded my luggage in the rental and drove to the training site. I had a 6:30 flight tonight back home.

Julie's people caught on to the added features quickly and by early afternoon I had all the Friday scheduled people finished.

"Julie," I have all the people you scheduled for Friday completed. I'll be back next week to train the missing people and answer any questions your people have."

"I only have 5 left for you to train," said Julie, "I'll keep a list of questions or problems my people encounter for you to address next week."

When Julie noticed me looking at a picture on her desk, she passed it to me.

"This is my family," explained Julie, "my husband Jim, and our children Jim Jr. and Stacy. It was taken many years ago in front of our home. The kids are now out of college and married. Jim and I were married when we graduated from college 35 years ago. He started with an insurance company and I started here. Jim Jr. was born before our 2nd anniversary and Stacy arrived about a year later. Do you have any children Linda?"

"I have been married for 30 years but we never had children. I had an accident when I was a teen and can't have children. Say would it be OK if I return on Wednesday instead of Thursday?"

"Wednesday is fine," answered Julie, "I will plan on see you then."

We said our goodbyes and I left. I had a lot to think about. You see that was my Jim in the picture.

I don't remember driving to the airport or even the flight home. I felt almost numb by the time I walked into our condo. All I could think about was that picture on Julie's desk. Jim had a family in Ohio for 35 years. He was married for 30 years to me in Illinois. He's been living this lie for over three decades.

Why didn't I suspect something? What did I miss? Wasn't I a good enough wife? Wait a minute! Wasn't Julie a good enough wife? She was the first one he married. I tried to decide what to do. What to say to Jim. Then, the phone rang. I knew it was Jim! If I let it go, he would call back. If I didn't answer him, he would worry. Calm down. Breathe slowly. Pick up the phone.

"Hello" I said.

"Hey gorgeous! How did your day go? Did the flight back go OK?

"Hi Jim. Everything went fine. I'm just tired from the trip. I thought I would take a hot shower and go to bed early. I'll clean the place tomorrow and pick up groceries on Sunday. Anything you need from the store?"

"No Hon," Jim replied, "whatever you want to have next week is fine with me."

"You will have to fend for yourself Wednesday. I have to return and finish that training I told you about. Maybe you and your buddies could eat at the club after a round of golf?"

"Good idea" said Jim "What would I ever do without you? Call me Wednesday when you land. Love you and miss you. "

"Love you too Jim. Bye."

That was harder than I thought it would. I wanted to yell and scream at him. I wanted to call him a cheating bastard. How could he calmly tell me he loved me and would miss me when he was headed for Julie? I took a long hot shower. Made a strong drink and leaned back in bed. The tears started running down my cheeks as I tried to deal with Jim calmly lying to me for all these years. Did I really know him? Does he love her or me? Am I just someone to be with until he returns to his family? Damn, he had kids with Julie. The thoughts kept running through my mind. The tears flowed as I told myself what an ignorant gullible fool I was.

Sometime during the night I must have set the drink down and crawled under the covers. I had nightmares all night of being in court divorcing Jim. The deputies were taking him away to jail for bigamy. Julie and her kids were standing there crying. Jim kept saying he loved us all. He didn't mean to hurt anyone. He just didn't like to be alone.

I woke up exhausted like I had worked all night. I went through my house cleaning routine like I was in a trance. Finally about 2:00, I lay down and took a 3 hour nap. I ate a light lunch, dressed, and went to the grocery store. After I put everything away, I changed into my sweats, made a drink, put on some soft jazz, and tried to make some sense of my marriage without breaking down and crying again.

Over the next two days, I kept having the same nightmares. I went through sadness, depression, rage, uncontrolled crying until I reached a level of calm. It was early Monday morning about an hour before my alarm would go off. I had decided not to talk to Jim but to tell Julie about Jim. Hopefully together we could come to a decision that would avoid as much pain as possible for each.

I went to work feeling better than I had in the last three days. I was quieter than normal but no one seemed to notice. When I got off work I went home and started dinner. Jim would be home in about an hour.

When he walked through the door, Jim squeezed me tight and kissed me just like he did every time he returned home. While I set out the meal, he told me how his work was going. As we finished eating, Jim commented on how quiet I was. I told him it was a busy day; nothing a hot shower and early bed wouldn't cure. He chuckled and agreed with that.

Jim took my hand and led me to the bathroom, undressing both of us. He washed me front and back from my head to my toes, paying special attention to his favorite parts. Jim quickly washed himself before drying us both off. We walked into the bedroom where he placed me in the middle of the bed. He slowly began to make love to me like he had every week since we had been married. He was a thoughtful, caring, lover always making sure I experienced my pleasure before he had his. As we lay on our sides cuddled together, I pondered my... no our problem. I fell asleep thinking that I had something to talk to Julie about on Wednesday.

Why it began—Jim's story

I married Julie right after we graduated from college. Julie went to work in the office of a food distribution company. Within a few years Julie advanced in the company while taking care of our two children. I had landed a job with an insurance broker. It was a small operation with just the owner, a secretary and me. After I was there a few years, the owner said he was thinking about retiring and offered to sell me the business.

I knew if the place was properly updated into the computer age and a couple more agents added, the business could boom. He agreed to a 10 year buyout and I borrowed to automate the office and hire the agents.

Our business quadrupled within two years. I had started traveling further out from Springfield in search of new business. I was winning the business but I was spending much of my week away from home. I was coming home feeling totally drained. I especially missed the evenings with Julie. She knew what to say and do to make the stress of the day disappear.

I didn't like being alone on the road, but I wasn't interested in a series of one night stands. I thought about trying to hold on for another year to add as many clients as I could in northern Indiana and Illinois. Then I would sell the operation and become a local agent for one of the big companies. I wouldn't make as much, but I would be home every night.

I was checking out leads in Illinois when I heard of another small broker wanting to sell. I made him an offer like I did my former boss and he took it. Using the same business model that worked in Ohio, I called in Business Solution Company to computerize the operation. That was when I met Linda. She came in to train my staff and me. She assumed I was one of the traveling agents, so I didn't tell her any different. I could tell we hit it off. I began feeling very comfortable around Linda, almost like being with Julie. I had this wild dream that night, so crazy I knew it could work.

I asked her out the next week I was in town and she accepted. We slept on the third date and married 3 months later. Linda told me up front she couldn't have children. She was happy when I told her it didn't matter. We lived in her apartment for the first 5 years because we both traveled a lot with our jobs. Linda and I bought a condo when she eventually became based mainly at the Peoria office. She would only have to travel if it was a short day trip or a big time emergency for the company.

I knew when I married her that I became a bigamist, but I loved both women. So that is when my double life began. I would travel from Illinois to Ohio on Thursday. I would work in Ohio Thursday afternoon thru Monday morning. Then travel back to Illinois on Monday. Work in Illinois Monday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then back to Ohio on Thursday to Julie who had me Thursday night thru Monday morning. Linda had me Monday night thru Thursday morning.

For over 30 years of 3 and half days each it has been working beautifully. I even opened an office in South Bend, Indiana five years ago. I moved one of my original agents in Ohio and made him manager. I stop by on my way between Illinois and Ohio. They can all reach me on my cell if necessary. My laptop is mobile with cellular capability. The business is great and both my wives are happy.

Julie finds out

Upon arrival I asked Julie to join her for dinner then trained the rest of Julie's staff by Wednesday afternoon. I had addressed all their questions before 5:00 then on to Julie's office and on with her to dinner. I said we first had much to talk over which Julie accepted thinking it involved staff training. I had rehearsed in my mind what and how I was going to say to Julie when we talked.

I brought Julie to my room and offered her a seat alongside me on the couch I set down 2 glasses and opened a bottle of wine.

"Julie, when we first met you commented on our last names. Kidding you said we must be related. Well last week in your office I found out how close we really are." I finished my glass and quickly refilled her's as well. Then I passed a picture of Jim and me over to Julie to look at. Of course Julie was stunned. She looked at me with tears rolling down her cheeks waiting for an answer. I held Julie until her crying stopped.

"I met Jim over 27 years ago when I was training the insurance staff in Peoria. We started dating and were married 3 months later. I didn't know about you until I saw your family picture. I gave thought to divorcing him, but I still love him. Plus I am afraid if either of us tries to divorce Jim, somehow the other marriage would be exposed. They would want to prosecute Jim for bigamy. He would go to jail, and then we would both lose him.

So let me ask you something. Jim comes to our home Monday night. He stays until Thursday morning when he leaves on his trip. How about at your house?"

"Just the opposite" Julie answered in a quivering voice. "He arrives Thursday night and leaves on Monday morning."

"That tells me he is not cheating on either one of us." Linda said "When he is home with me I receive all his attention. He works during the day and we either go out to eat or spend quiet evenings in. He occasionally will golf with a few friends about once a month. Since you are the first wife, I have one very big question for you Julie. Since he married me, has he decreased making love to you or shown any less affection toward you or the kids?"

"No" Julie replied. "If you hadn't brought it up, I would not have known you even existed. Nothing has changed in our relationship except for the better in all these years."

"Now the real question Julie, do you want to divorce him? I was mad as hell at him last weekend feeling cheated and deceived. Then I realized Jim has treated me with love and respect all these years. He has encouraged and supported me in my job. Except for not mentioning you or your family, I have never caught him in a lie or intended omission. As much as I can't believe I'm saying this, I still love him. "

Julie sipped her wine and wiped away the tears with a tissue.

"I don't know what I want to do," said Julie "This is a hell of a shock. One minute you think you have a great marriage to a wonderful man, the next you find out he has another wife 2 states away."

Linda checked out and followed Julie to her house where they continued their discussion through the night.

"Whatever you decide," Said Linda, "I hope you listen to your heart. We may never know why Jim did what he did, but I now believe his heart is big enough to love both of us. I don't think he intends to hurt either one of us."

Linda left for Peoria after breakfast. Jim would be coming to Springfield and Julie that evening.

Julie called in sick and went to bed. Sleep was interrupted by visions of her crying and screaming at Jim as he carries his clothes out of their house for the last time. He had tears running down his face and he keeps professing his love for her and their children. Then everyone finds out Jim had another wife.

Julie was exhausted and had a blinding headache. She drank some juice with 2 aspirins. She made some coffee; put on her thick comfy robe; and curled up in her favorite chair. She sipped her coffee as she stared out the window focusing on nothing in particular. She kept thinking about how angry she was that Jim had deceived her, but then she would think about what Linda said.

Jim had taken nothing away from them. He had treated her the same or better than the day they were married. There was no shortage of money or affection. In fact, Jim was always in a better mood than when he used to return from his trips in the very beginning. In those he would return so tired and depressed, she wasn't sure Jim would survive another week on the road.

It was like all the love and happiness was drained out of him. Julie would have to cuddle with him for hours before his depression would lift. Julie realized it was about the time Linda said she married Jim that he started coming home without being depressed. He would actually be happy and want to do family things.

Jim arrived at the usual time Thursday evening. Julie didn't feel like going out, so Jim ordered Chinese. He told Julie she didn't look well as he took her into their bedroom. He cuddled up on the bed with Julie rubbing her back and kissing her forehead. They fell asleep that way only waking up hours later to remove their clothes and slide under the covers. Jim made slow love to Julie before they fell asleep again.

The Beginning... and the end

"The only thing I am having trouble with is what do we do when we get older and retire," asked Linda.

"That's easy," Julie said. "Jim has had his secret all these years. When you and I decide to retire, we will find the place we want to live. Then when Jim comes to see it we will both be waiting for him. We will tell him it's our choice to all live in the same house. I can't imagine his face or his non-acceptance of what we want."

So that's how it's been for the last eight years. Julie and Linda keep each other informed of Jim's travel and health. Jim still hasn't a clue his wives know and the wives are happy with the consistent loving attention Jim shows each.