So I would simply move out. I'd live somewhere else, probably sharing the address only with my brother Michael, and keep a household account funded to cover the bills and food and other expenses. I'd leave my email and phone active so the slut and her protégé could communicate with me on things they wanted or needed, and I could then decide if I would cover the cost. Certainly Holly's days of getting nearly anything she wanted were over; in particular that car that she's been after for the last couple of years. To think I was just about to 'give in' and get it for her.
Since I handled the finances and the family business, I could easily get things set up over the next couple weeks. As long as Becky's credit cards worked when she swiped them everything was fine as far as she was concerned. I would look for a place to move into as well, but that shouldn't be too hard.
I decided I would simply not play the games. I wouldn't pretend everything was fine but nor would I stomp my feet and make a big deal out of it either. As far as I was concerned I was now sharing a house with a roommate and her daughter until I could make other arrangements. I had nothing to gain or lose one way or the other. Holly would at some point know that I was aware of her role in her mother's betrayal, and I admit to being curious to how she would react.
I walked up the stairs with the goal of taking a shower and planned to take myself out to dinner. I'd be damned if I was going to sit at a table with the traitors after the day I had had.
As I opened the door to the kitchen both the she-devil's eyes swung in my direction. Maybe I imagined the smirks on their faces or maybe I didn't. It didn't matter; I knew what they thought of me. Holly came bounding to me as she usually did.
"Hi daddy!"
She tried to wrap me up in a hug as usual and I would normally squeeze her right back, but this time I just stood there until she was done. She pulled back, a perplexed look on her face.
"What the matter, daddy?"
I simply looked at the both of them then silently walked into my bedroom. Well, I guess it wouldn't be mine much longer. I'd move my stuff into one of the spare rooms until it was time to move out. But for now, I locked the doors and climbed into the shower.
Of course, my wife couldn't let it rest. Damn those stupid indoor locks and their generic 'keys', which are nothing more than glorified screwdrivers. I had hoped locking the door would let her know I wanted to be alone, but that was too much to hope for. Becky found her way in then set to giving me crap.
"What the hell was that about? If you want to me angry with me that's your childish decision, but don't take it out on your daughter. She hasn't done anything to you."
I just stared at her for a moment before returning to my shower.
"So, it's the silent treatment, is it? How very mature of you. Well that's fine. When you're done with your little snit let me know. Dinner's ready, by the way."
She walked out, slamming the doors as she did so. I simply shrugged my shoulders and went about my business. I no longer cared about what she thought or had to say.
I put on some slacks and a nice shirt. I stepped out of the bedroom door and saw the girls at the table eating whatever it was that Becky had prepared. They stopped talking rather abruptly when I entered the room; whether that was because I wasn't supposed to overhear or they simply wanted to see what I was going to do next I don't know. I glanced in their direction and Holly put on a big smile, perhaps thinking (or at least hoping) that I would come sit with them and talk like always, and maybe apologize. But I turned the other direction and walked out the front door. I was in my BMW and backing out of the driveway before anyone came out the door, assuming they even moved.
I ate alone at a local steakhouse. I ate slowly and spent a good amount of time reading various news articles online as I did so. It was really just a way to pass the time. I was keenly aware that no phone calls came from either of the females in my life. I caught a late movie that let out at 12:30 in the morning, putting me back at the house about 1:00am. To my delight the place was asleep, and I quickly crashed in the guest room.
*****
My good times were not to last of course, though it's true that some 'times' are worse than others. I can't deny Becky's physical appeal to me, so when I woke up with her soft, naked body pressed against mine a certain part of my anatomy reacted exactly as you would expect, the traitor. Not that I planned to do anything about it, but this certainly made it harder to maintain my resolve in that department.
"Good, you're awake. Why on earth did you sleep in here last night?"
"Because I was avoiding you, Becky; I had no interest in sleeping with you."
"It seems pretty clear at least part of you was interested."
She reached down to try and take hold of me and I quickly rolled away and slid out of the bed. Becky's face took on a look of disappointment.
"C'mon Henry; It's still me, the woman you've loved all these years and who loves you with all her heart. Let me take care of you."
"You are most definitely not the same woman I've loved all these years, and it's not your heart you've been sharing, Becky. As long as there is another partner in your life I will not have sex with you. It's that simple, and it's your choice. You can either have your husband or your fuck buddy."
"I can see you're not ready to be reasonable about this. That's okay; I can wait. I know you love me and that eventually you'll see the logic in what I'm saying and doing. I know you want me to be happy and eventually you'll give me this one little thing."
She walked out and down the hall to the master bedroom naked as a jaybird and without concern for her daughter seeing her, though the walk was over with quickly.
Sunday went much the way Saturday had. I spent the bulk of the day puttering in my workshop then took myself out to dinner again. I had to work tomorrow so I returned at a far more reasonable hour. Holly was already in bed and Becky again made overtures to me but I again declined her advances. After she left I took care of myself manually. Hey, I was still human and Becky was still sexy.
*****
The next two weeks went by quickly, helped along by my staying at work late every night. I had never been so caught up. But every night I made a point of finding Becky and asking her not to go, so when it all ended I could genuinely say I had made the effort. The conversation was always roughly the same:
"Becky, I'm going to ask you again to please not go on this trip. Call and tell him it's over and lets work on us."
"Henry, I understand that this is difficult for you. But I want to go, I need to go, and I'm committed to going. It's just one week, and then you and I will go back to the way things were."
"Meaning you'll keep seeing him but you'll be discrete, but not actually just you and me."
"Yes, Henry, I'm going to keep seeing him. I'm sorry that it's hurting you but it's something I need and if you love me you'll understand."
This went on right up until the night before she left.
As for Holly, she finally pinned me down a couple days after I overheard her conversation with her mother that fateful day. She sat down on my lap as I tried to watch a basketball game on TV.
"Daddy, no more avoiding me. You're upset with me for some reason. You always said we should talk things out so we can work through them, but if you won't tell me what's wrong we can't solve it. Please daddy. I love you."
"Holly Ann, I could tell you why I'm angry with you, but I really think there's someone else that can elaborate on that much better."
"Someone else? What are you talking about?"
"Perhaps, my child, you should ask your teacher, Mr. Harrington, what it is that's bothering me. You seem to be very close to him these days, even setting him up with your mother so she can cheat on me. Maybe he can give you the answers you want."
Holly's face caught a sudden look of surprise as I revealed that I was aware of the role in this whole thing and that I knew the name of Becky's paramour, but the apologetic look I had hoped for (though didn't really expect, to be honest) never showed. Just like her mother, she looked at me like I was wrong to be upset by this.
"So you know I introduced them. How'd you find out?"
"I overheard you and mom talking about it the day she told me about the trip to Hawaii."
"It's not a big deal, dad. It's just sex. She doesn't love him."
"Why does everyone say that like it somehow makes it okay. Marriages are more than sex and love."
"Well, she's going and there's nothing you can do about it. Just make the best of it and you can keep getting yours."
With that she walked out of the room. I was flabbergasted. It was bad enough that she was part of this and eagerly so, but that she was so dismissive of me and my feelings while spouting the same nonsense as her mother really cut me to the quick.
We pretty much avoided each other the rest of the time until her mother left.
*****
Finally the 'big day' arrived. Becky was all packed and ready to go, and was waiting in the living room for the taxi to pick her up. I half expected her to ask me to drive her to the airport but she didn't. Holly was waiting with her and they talked excitedly with each other, presumably about the trip and whatever 'surprises' awaited Becky.
I was in the work shop again and I finally heard a car pull up outside. The basement door opened.
"My cab's here, honey. I'm leaving."
"Bye. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."
"This won't mean anything. You'll see."
She waited another few moments, perhaps waiting for some response.
"Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye?"
"Nope."
"Suit yourself."
Eventually I heard the door close and her footsteps across the kitchen floor. Moments later the front door closed and then the sounds of Becky's suitcases being loaded. Then finally the engine starting and the crunch of the tires as they pulled out and drove away. That was the sound of the end of my marriage.
*****
I had arranged to take off the week that Becky was gone. I didn't want to tip Holly off to what I was doing, so I slowly moved things out of the house while she was at school. I actually moved things out of the guest room and back into the bedroom, thinking that might lead Holly to believe I had decided to move back in there, and might then report this back to her mother. This would lull them into a false sense of security.
I had purposely avoided any mention of my moving out or of the word divorce. I wanted Becky to believe I would be here when she got back so the surprise of her walking in and seeing all my things gone would be total. She was due back Saturday evening and I would be completely gone by then.
A couple nights into the trip, and after I had finally gotten everything moved, I got my wish. Since Holly knew I was aware of her taking part in her mom's affair she made little effort to hide what she was doing and saying.
She was in the kitchen making herself some dinner (I steadfastly refused to do anything for her and she knew why). My phone rang and the caller ID showed it was Becky so I refused the call. Then I heard Holly's phone ring. Of course I only heard Holly's side of the conversation.
"Hi mom. How's the trip?"
"Sounds great. Have you been keeping track of your orgasms? Ha ha?"
"No, he's here, but since he knows who it is and that I introduced you so there's no sense in hiding."
"He moved his stuff back to your bedroom as soon as you left. He was bluffing, just like you said. I guess he's finally resigned to it."
"Okay, I'll tell him. I'll let you get back to it. Bye mom. I love you."
She walked into the living room where I was sitting.
"Mom says to tell you hello and that she loves you, and to again tell you everything will be the same when she gets back."
I just looked at her and nodded my understanding of her message.
*****
The rest of the week went much like this as well. Holly went to school then came home and did her homework, and at some point made dinner for herself. I moved things over to my new apartment little bits at a time during the day. I was taking only my personal items as I had already stocked the new place with food, utensils, and furniture. I had no interest in anything else from the house.
It was Friday night, the evening before Becky was due to return from her trip, that I thought my relationship with Holly had been permanently and irrevocably damaged. She had finished her dinner and I was again sitting in the living room killing brain cells on some TV show that I hadn't the least bit of interest in. Holly came in and sat next to me.
"So, are you ever going to speak anything but grunts and one-word answers to me again? You've forgiven mom; what about me?"
I turned and looked at her with questioning look on my face.
"What makes you think I've forgiven your mother?"
"You moved back into the bedroom. Obviously that means you're going to sleep in there with her, so that must mean you've forgiven her."
"Holly, I have not, nor will I ever, forgive your mother for what she's done to me. Regardless of where I sleep she has destroyed what we had and we will never go back to it."
"I don't understand why you're acting like this. So she's fucking some guy that she doesn't care about. Big deal; she needs it."
"No, she wants it, and that is a crucial difference. You're barely 18, Holly; you don't fully understand..."
She stood up and got very angry all of a sudden.
"Just because I'm only 18 doesn't mean I can't understand what mom is going through. She explained it all to me."
I got my dander up a bit as well, standing up myself and elevating the level of my voice to match hers.
"Yeah, she explained it all to you from her own selfish perspective. She's decided that she's the only one that matters and doesn't care what anyone else thinks."
"That's bullshit, dad. She's been here for you and me every damn day of her adult life and when she finally decides to do something for herself you get all in a twist. She needed to get herself a nice hard cock and it's not her fault you can't get it up anymore!"
She couldn't have hurt me anymore if she had knocked me upside the head with a 2 x 4. I can only assume the look on my face conveyed to her that she had crossed a line.
"Oh daddy, I'm sorry."
The rage and hate (yes, hate) that I suddenly felt for my daughter at that moment was like nothing I had ever felt before. It took all I had to not slap her right across the face for that. I had never hit a woman and I wasn't going to start now, but as far as I was concerned I no longer had a daughter.
"Holly Ann, don't ever speak to me again."
I walked out of the living room and up the stairs to my bedroom for what would be the last time. Holly was crying, realizing the damage she had done in that one moment of anger.
"Daddy, I didn't mean it. Please, daddy, talk to me."
I ignored her and walked into my room, closing and locking the door. I was up all night packing the rest of my things.
*****
BECKY
I took a cab home from the airport rather than having Rick drop me off. Holly had told me that Henry had moved back into the bedroom so obviously he had gotten over himself, and I didn't want to take any chance that seeing Rick would make him upset. I finally had things how I wanted them and didn't want to rock the boat.
It was nearly dinner time when I walked in the door with the cab driver hauling my stuff inside and I had actually expected Henry or Holly to have something cooking but there was nothing. Maybe Henry was planning dinner out to celebrate my return. I heard footsteps on the stairs and then Holly appeared and ran to give me a hug. It looked like she had been crying.
"Hey baby. I missed you too but it's not worth crying over."
She just kept her face buried in my shoulder and I could hear her sobbing and feel her body shaking. This was clearly more that her missing me. I pulled her face away from me.
"Baby, what's the matter? Where's daddy?"
She was trying really hard to get her emotions under control so I just waited her out, and after a few minutes she managed to get to the point where she could speak.
"Daddy...daddy...daddy moved out! I drove him away!"
"What are you talking about, Holly? You told me yourself he had moved back into the bedroom."
"He did, but then last night we had a fight and I said something really awful and this morning him and all of his things were gone and there was that note on the table."
I glanced at the table and saw the note in question, which I hadn't noticed before now. With trepidation and a growing sense of dread I walked over to the table and picked it up. It had been printed off of the computer with the exception of Henry's signature at the bottom. I assumed Holly read it already. I sat down in one of the kitchen chairs and read Henry's note.
---
Becky,
Wow, I thought. Not even 'Dear Becky', just 'Becky'.
Becky,
I hope that your week in Hawaii, a place that we had planned to experience with each other, with Rick Harrington was all that you wanted it to be, because it has cost you your marriage and will likely cost Rick his job. The school board takes a dim view of their teachers sleeping with the married parents of their students.
You will soon find, if you haven't already, that I have moved out. I've taken only my personal belongings. I hope to eventually get my tools and woodworking things but I have nowhere to put them at this point so that will have to wait. If it proves to be an issue I can simply replace them so don't think you can hold them over my head.
I wish I could understand why your sexual needs became more important to you than I did, but that's obviously what happened. I was prepared to try and forgive you for the year-long affair if you had cancelled the trip and sworn to never see him again, but our marriage was over when the cab pulled out of our driveway.
I also can't understand why you chose to involve our daughter in your affair, even to the point that she set you up with your lover. The contempt and disrespect she now shows me is plain and obviously the result of what you have told her about things that should be private between a husband and wife. You have apparently filled her head with the same destructive ideas about fidelity and marriage that you had in yours, which were probably planted there by your own mother. I doubt Holly will be able to have a normal relationship with a man thanks to your 'guidance'.
I have only walked away from you and your daughter; yes, I meant y our daughter. I have not walked away from my obligations. All of the household bills will continue to be paid automatically as they always have, and the household account will continue to be funded so that you can cover other necessary expenses. Do not expect there to be much left over for things like entertainment. Your pleasure is no longer my concern. But you obviously have assets you're willing to trade so perhaps you can make arrangements.
I have left my email address and my cell phone active. Do not expect me to answer when you call; it is primarily for emergencies. If there is something you want or need please communicate via email and I will decide if I am prepared to fund that request and let you know. Please do not fill my email with requests for me to come back home or rationalizations for what you have done. I will delete those without reading them and will cancel the email account if needed.
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