Obviously the story was long... but... its great when a story is long and it is so well writen. The characters pain was felt by all who read it leading to a story that wraps you and doesn't let you go. I always enjoy a great read and you gave us one. Thank you for your time and your words.
I appreciate your emphasis on how hard it is for two people to recover from infidelity, lies, and deceit. I went through a situation painfully close to this one but we we not successful in reconciling (I ended up raising our children).
Well told tale. I think you could flesh it out and turn it into a novel.
I've been reading stories here for over four years now, and this one is bouncing between the one and two spot as my top story. This story is amazing for the depth of character development and the intenisty of the plot. The tension hits a high point in the first couple of pages and doesn't ease down until near the end. Oh, and thank you for putting this story together as a single read. It helps keep the story moving at a tight pace which can't but help the intended emotional highs and lows.
Longhorn, You've joined Softly, Wanderer, and Ronde as my top authors!
More specifically, Barbara's grandmother, Nony, is a work of art. Wish I'd had a grandmother like her when I was a teenager! I also loved his defense of the working guy when he verbally takes on Jimmyboy at that dinner! As for his depression, I've been there myself, staring at the shotgun standing in the corner of my bedroom, and thinking about how one tight squeeze would end my own pain. Thankfully I also thought about how much pain I would cause in my family and friend's lives.
Best Wishes,
Kydreamer
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Anonymous11/03/05
Great Writing, but
This is a bit unbeliveable. There's no way Steve should take her back. No job would MAKE someone go to counseling. The writing more than makes up for this unplausible story.
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Anonymous11/03/05
Simply Outstanding
Excellent story. The character development was superb, and actually made me care about the actors; a rare feat. Keep up the good work!
great love story and cheating wife story combined. Nicely done and very enjoyable. Thanks for a great read Longhorn. Now I'm going to bed! I'm very tired and my eyes hurt.Vastie
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Anonymous11/03/05
Best on site
Great writing, great characters, great storyline. Maybe in the real world a cheater will always be a cheater, but isn't that part of what makes stories great? Its not the real world?
If I take the 1 in 10 figure by 53-yo anonymous, there are in excess of 50,000,000 marriages in the US. Over half end in divorce. Let's use a conservative 50% from infidelity, 12,500,00. One in ten is 1.25 million instances in which the cheater gets it and doesn't reoffend or the parties can reconcile effectively. Even if the odds aren't good, the sheer number of instances means it happens a lot.
Next, people change. Almost everybody changes. It's one of the reasons people who marry young have a much higher divorce rate - they are very different at 40 than they were at 20. Some mature, some don't. Some change for the better, some don't. Dr. Phil's line is that past behavior is the best PREDICTOR of future behavior. The very word, predictor, admits that it is far from a certainty, that there is wide variation in the behavior. Many people learn from their mistakes. And these mistakes tend to be dramatic enough so that they are easier to learn from. You may lose your spouse, children, home, job, respect of others, even your family. Even if you reconcile, your life is changed and your relationship is likely not as good. On top of all that, you have caused incalculable pain to someone you love, or did love. That's enough to make a sufficient impression to remind you not to repeat the behavior.
However, on the other side of the ledger, Phil also says you teach people how to treat you. This suggests that the easier the innocent party makes it to reconcile, the more likely it is to happen again (again, suggests is a word that doesn't imply certainty of the result). The less pain, the less memorable. The lower the cost, the less the need to avoid the behavior. The auto companies make that calculation. Does it cost more fix the car or pay off the death claims?
One final item, so I don't have to add a post. The answer to did I deserve to be betrayed is almost always no. Maybe I contributed to the conditions, but your behavior has to be pretty brutal to deserve it. Most of whatever happened was a choice somebody made. It is certainly painful. But the betrayal tells you much more about the betrayer than the betrayed. Just like when someone goes out of their way to insult you, that tells you much more about them as a person than it does you about some weakness or defect in your character, even if the insult is dead on. The one thing a betrayal may tell you is that you make unwise estimations of people's character. I don't say this to minimize the emotional impact of being betrayed, but to say that to consider harm to yourself is, obviously I hope, not a rational approach to fixing a defect in somebody else's behavior or character.
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Anonymous11/03/05
Too Damn Long
I'll buy a book if I want something that takes all day to read!
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Anonymous11/03/05
Very impressive
16 pages and I only saw one typo (paid instead of pain). Other authors should have such clean writing! I also enjoyed the story, even if it was a bit long. I just don't know what I would have cut. Kudos.
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Anonymous11/03/05
Long but great
Yes it was long but it was also one of the best I have read. I might be dead at work in the morning but it was well worth it. Keep up the good work.
This is a very-well written story except for what I am going to say next.
When I reached the end of Chapter 3, I think, I was hoping he would not attempt to put them together but alas! I practically gave up when Nony was about to teach Barbara how to use the toilet. At least I thought that was coming next.
Longhorn is an excellent author who almost always if not always ends his stories with reconciliation. There is no problem in that per se. The problem is whether it makes sense to do that in the given circumstances.
I realize that the more outrageous the offense is, the more challenging it is for the auther to put the spouses back together. Everybody knows that. The authors compete in setting up for the hardest challenges that put their creativity and writing skills to the test. The problem is that it puts their skills to the test all right, but they fail at varying degrees of misery. Some problems simply cannot be resolved. There are cases where divorce or separation make sense. Authors need to acknowledge that.
For this story, Barbara started as a moron. Her grandmother and the counciling built up her wisdom and brains at an unbelievable rate. If she had opted to continue that a month more, she would have beaten Einstein.
Maybe this happens in real life as someone worked on some probability below. However, I do not like reading about morons. Other people may like that. I like to read about people of about average intelligence.
I apologize for being a little harsh, but the grade of the author and the expectation from him were well above what he delivered here. I expected a near perfect story. I did not get it. After all, I can only express my opinion here.
I travel a great deal and this current cross country trip was the perfect occasion to read this wonderful story. I sat in seat 4A, angled my laptop away from the person next to me, and proceeded to be drawn into this rich and extremely well written story as I flew from Atlanta to the Pacific Northwest. I take this flight often but this time I was oblivious to almost everything around me save this story.
With so many comments having been left before me, I’m sure that all of the pertinent superlatives have been used up. So I will simply say well done and thank you very much for sharing your talent with us.
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Anonymous11/03/05
Excellent...
...story, very well told. I appreciate the real time and effort that you must have put into this - it took quite a while to read through - which is good! How can you build characters and a storyline without the details...!
As for the comment by someone else....
"TOO DAMN LONG - I'll buy a book if I want something that takes all day to read!"
There are PLENTY of short stories you could have read! It's not the author's fault that you have the attention span of a concussed goldfish. The fact that you put this comment in the comments section of the story meant that you DID read it! Who forced you?
Extremely well written...and perfectly editted. What I found most unusual was the author's ability to change the dialog for the different characters, to perfectly conform with each one's personna. Verne Houston *always* talked like a therapist. Lloyd, like a father-in-law, etc. Perfect character development. Soon we felt comfortable with our understanding of each character, only to find out later we gained further insight into what made each tick -- and our first impressions were not diminished, but reenforced! That is, indeed, a gift to be able to write like that.
Making a cheating wife story come out so the husband can take her back without being a wimp is one of the most difficult tasks of erotic story telling. The author tricked us by having the wife's cheating get up to, but not cross, the line of bedroom infidelity. That gave the husband some wiggle room when he had to struggle with his own emotions.
Again, the author tricked us when Steve, in his awful depression, attempted suicide, with Kim as the weapon, then allowed Barbara to show her complete devotion by committing her own "suicide" as well -- like two lovers jumping off the bridge while holding hands
At first, its length appeared daunting. But as I got involved with it, finding time to finish the read was the daunting problem. I almost passed this one by, it's title didn't grab me. Fortunately for me, I came back to it. Surely, it will be one of the top scoring stories of the entire library!
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Anonymous11/03/05
Thank You
A great story. I really appreciste your effort. Keep writing.
At first the length of the story scared me. I don't mind long stories like this but they do a bit to make me think twice. In this case though I've enjoyed all of Lonhorn's stories so far so I went right into it. Though I made sure to not read it all at once. GREAT story, one of your best. The way it was writen I felt for the guy, most of all though with the situation of the sister. She's present as being this somewhat innocent young woman, perhaps a bit of a tease with a big crush on the husband that seemed to grow with time. Yet all of that came crashing down the second the story talked about the video she was and then the husbands revelation as to what she actually was and was like. That's just from an outside point of view, that kind of image being shattered like that has to be extreme in a real family setting. I guess that kind makes it seem like the husbands and wifes problems not as important but I guess it put things in the proper light to a certain degree to make them realize just how bad things can get due to the sister and the parents realize what he himself was going through cause they most certainly didn't before that.
I did get a bit confused about him not picking up any STDs. Him not getting HIV I can understand since a person can be lucky like that I guess but nothing lesser though was a bit much. Hell even the HIV thing was pushing it a bit due to all the drug use, sex, etc.
Still in the end the emotional conflict was good and was starting to wonder if the wife would ever understand. The whole sister thing finally made her feel, at least to a degree, what he felt then the whole sleeping with him when she thought he was going to die so she could as well cause she didn't want to live without him speaks volumes. People say that but to actually go to the degree to make sure you share what that person has really does make a persons real feelings known I think.
Looking forward to the next one.
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Anonymous11/03/05
LEAVE HER
SHOULD NEVER TAKE HER BACK
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Anonymous11/03/05
Fabulous !!!!!
Without any quastion ... One of the greatest epic ever posted on literotica.
This should have been submitted as a novel. Why? If it had, each chapter would appear 'new', and you would have a lot more reads. As is, it will fall off the 'new' board in a few days and after that be ignored. Why not rework it and submit it as I have suggested?
BTW, it's certainly a great effort.
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Anonymous11/03/05
Wonderful Story
It has taken me on and off all day to read, but it was well worth the time and trouble. The two main characters had flaws, which made them far more real and in the end I was cheering for both of them. Great stuff.
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Anonymous11/03/05
Whew
I finished it! And it was WELL worth it. Great job Longhorn!!!!
Well that would without a doubt be one of the best stories I have read in a while. You told the story so well, the reader could share all the emotions with the characters, hate, betrayal, anger, etc.
I couldn't put it down (well i know it's on screen but you know what I mean)It was well worth not getting any work done for the best part of a day to read it. Would make an excellent movie. I don't know if you write for a living but with your talent maybe you should consider it. Good luck in the future.
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Anonymous11/04/05
Very Good ! ! !
This was a long story, but I am glad I took the time to read it from beginning to end. This was better than breaking it up into parts.
Steve was hurt by the actions of Barbie and he did the right thing by showing all of her indescritions to her family, lying to him and her family and kicking her out of the house. He did make some mistakes. First: He took her back and that was the biggest mistake. Once a cheat, always a cheat and she had proven that two time while they were married. He said he could not trust her and if he didn't know when he would ever be able to trust her again. She said she did not know if she could stop doing what she had done in the past, cheat. Well Folks, in my opinion that would be the final straw. With her saying that, he should have told his lawyer to proceed with the divorce no matter what roadblocks her attorney put up. Second: He let his boss discriminate over him be seeing a marriage counseler or he would not get the promotion. If Steve was as good at his job as the story portrayed him to be, then he should have let his firm fire him or not promote him based on him not seeing a marriage counselor and sued the firm for everything he could get his hands on. Since he was well repected, if he wanted to, I am sure he could have found another job and it would probably have been better that this one. Third: He liked and loved Barbie's grandmother, but she stuck her nose were it did not belong. Steve should never forgive her for interfering in their marriage problems and helping her resolving it by seducing him. When a man wants to have sex with his wife, he will ask, seduce her or take her. Just another example of an old TEXAS FART puting her two cents in where a dollar is required.
As all the others have said, this has to be one of THE best stories on this site. For once, an author has actually taken the time and effort to really explain WHY the husband takes the cheating wife back, though in this case I don't agree with him. I can understand the reasons because Longhorn took a lot of time to cover all the bases but I disagree with his conclusion. Unlike a lot of cheating wife stories Barbara didn't actually have sex (vaginal) with her lovers but Steve didn't know that so it was her lies, continual and unremitting lies, that did him in. He's already forgiven her twice and this time he actually catches her 'in the act' so to speak and he's more than justified in his actions.
I was really cheering for Steve as he pounded nail after nail in Barb's coffin in front of her parents. I really thought we had a guy who would stand by his convictions. He's not that old, late 20's, they'd only been married 4 years and she's cheated on him three times, so what does he really have invested in this marriage? Nothing, really.
I too question why Steve caved to the pressure of counseling. I have to believe that good old Lloyd and Steve's boss were golf buddies or something to make him put that kind of pressure on Steve. I agree, if he's willing to kill himself over the bitch he should have told his bosses to stick it in their butts.
I was also very disappointed in Steve and Kim. I was disappointed in Steve for falling for her crap. I was half expecting it to be a set-up to get Steve in a compromising position, film him as he had done with Barb and then for Lloyd to take him to the cleaners. That didn't happen but Steve succumbing to Kim was just as disappointing. For him to give in to his depression and willingly give himself whatever diseases the skank had showed that he should have been under a doctor's care if anybody had really given a crap about him but not even Nony did that.
It was a real shame to see what Longhorn did to Kim though. Was there any reason for him to make her such a coked out whore? No, not really. I sincerely believe it was WAY too over the top. What really should have happened is Kim should have been a good girl who resented the way her bitch sister AND her family had treated a really great guy who she’d loved since she met him. Now that she was old enough I would have liked to see her work to bring Steve out of his shell and fall in love with HER. Barb has had her three strikes, it should have been Kim’s turn.
However, what really got me was how everyone conspired against Steve when he was the injured party. It was refreshing to actually hear Steve tell Barb off about how nice it was that she was 'finding' herself and how great that was but nobody was doing a damned thing for him and he was the innocent party.
I agree with Steve too in that the 'I don't know why I did it' excuse is pretty lame, despite his running that red light. The two things have NOTHING to do with each other except to show that Steve had a brain-fart once and Barb didn't have a brain for years and years! That one person was right; she'd have been Einstein if the story had gone on much longer considering how intelligent she got in so short a time.
For those people who complained about the length of the story, you must have no idea of what character development is. A story this complex has to be long, this one probably should have been a little longer but it was at least long enough to give the reader a chance to make up their minds as to whether they agree with the reasons for the reconciliation or not. I, personally, think Steve was foolish to allow the pressure everyone put on him to succeed. He was correct, three times is enough for any man to 'forgive and forget'. It was an imposition for anyone, even Nony, to expect Steve to give her a fourth chance. For them to cry 'overreaction' is the height of hypocrisy.
As to Barb screwing Steve when she thought he was dying of AIDS, well to me that only proves she’s mentally unhinged. The romantics in the crowd will swoon to think that she loves her man so much she can’t live without him and was willing to die a slow painful death instead. I guess, but I think she’s nuts, plain and simple, especially since she didn’t KNOW Steve was HIV positive for sure. As with everything else in her life and this marriage she’s still acting without thinking first. God forbid she’d try to engage her brain before making a decision. She’s learned nothing after all those months of counseling. She and Steve had agreed that before they were intimate again they would both agree on it so what does she do at the first opportunity? She jumps his bones while he’s sleeping so he won’t leave her alive to have to deal with the results of her stupidity. She’s still the same selfish “me, me, me” bitch she’s always been. She doesn’t deserve Steve.
Thanks for writing a great story Longhorn, I just wish you'd ended it differently. Steve deserved better.
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Anonymous11/04/05
Excellent!!
It completely captured my attention all the way through! I can't wait to see what you do next...
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Anonymous11/04/05
Finally!!!
Took me two days to read it. Very good story, the only problem I had was at the end of each page, started again on the next page. Could have cut it down at least four pages if the editor was on the ball.
The story itself I liked it.
Thank you.
Great story. A little laborius to read at times but very good.
I didn't have a problem with Kim, I have known 3 Kims in my day and I am sure there are allot more Kims out there than anyone would guess.
Really loved Lydia's character, you could do a whole story on that character.
Thanx
CW
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Anonymous11/04/05
Very nice
Longhorn, you continue to impress me. I am, admittedly, not a fan of the reconciliation stories. For some reason, though, you seem to be able to thoroughly articulate the thoughts and feelings of the betrayed spouse. Even though I may not agree with the outcome, I can appreciate the eloquence in which it is written. Great work! Now, when is the next story...
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Anonymous11/04/05
I can’t take it any more!!!
I have “just” reached chapter five, but I can’t take it any more. This is an overwrought, long-winded and the most verbose contribution I have seen in LIT. Which movie was it where one of the characters says “If you want to shoot - shoot; Shoot and don’t talk”? Ah, words of wisdom! You have the evidence - bring it on. What person would conduct this kind of drawn out drama with Mama, Papa, Grand Ma, did we bring the dog too? And did we forget anyone else? Oh yes, the wife came too. What a Soap opera!
Thank god for readers’ comments which alerted me to the coming of the inevitable “THERAPIST”. Suddenly I had a déjà vu. It’s like “Lyin’ Eyes”. You could not portray a worse distortion of a therapist if you tried. Based on four long chapters it seems to be even worse here. Fortunately I will not be there to be re-traumatized.
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Anonymous11/04/05
longwinded and dreary
Wrap it and put it on a shelf maybe, condensed to 25% would help.
It drags.
This was my second reading of this long, long story. My first grading of it was very harsh and I am sorry for that. But I remain....convinced that it was entirely too long. And it is not very much along the lines of erotic, or literotic, if you will. It instead gives the feeling of a novel. Entirely too much is offered in the counselling sessions with little eroticism included. The reader does not need so much definitive occurrences at the shrink's office along with all the debating. It took me well over 5 days to read it all, and to put it honestly, I got very bored in reading it. I gave you a '75' which would have been easy to give a '100' instead if it had not been for the lengthy descriptions of areas not at all erotic. There was not much fantasy, which I expect in these Literotica stories. There was also way too much machismo feelings in a husband "having been wronged". But that is just indicative of our sick, sick society that relies on dogmatic behavior to live under, as opposed to what God created in us and called "good", allowing for a freer swinging scenario(s) between grown men and women past their puberty years.
I suspect by your writing that you are capable of much more erotic stories with fantasies....I cannot help but wonder at why you would devote so much time to a story such as this in writing it with its serious lack of eroticism and fantasy.
Longhorn, I rate your story high because it was extremely well written and grabbed my attention and held it throughout. You told the story in your own way and the length to tell it is yours and yours alone to decide. To me it didn't matter if it was going to be long or short.
I appreciate your efforts a great deal and want you to know that. My comments below should not be construed as though I didn't like your story because I did a great deal.
The only problems I have with the storyline are as follows:
1. Steve may have overreacted because he thought she did more than she actually did. Not his fault though, because most of us would have assumed the same. And make no mistake, what she did was betrayal, but it could have been a lot worse. When he did overreact however he pushed long and hard for no contact and a non-compromising divorce action, but then gave in. Hard to believe.
2. When Lydia intervened and got his bosses to force the counseling issue, based upon where he was at that point, I do not believe he would have accepted the counseling. He was just too adamant that he was done with the marriage. A more believable response from him would be to tell his bosses to stuff it and get a comparable or better job with a competitor. I can't buy that he wouuld have caved at that point.
3. Once the counseling started we all knew that it was going to end up in reconciliation even though it took a lot of agony to work through it. It took Barb that long to realize just how badly she had messed up. Perhaps they could have reconciled on their own if she wasn't so blind to what she actually was doing to her husband. Anyway, deep down inside I am glad they reconciled and became more stable people sharing their fears, loves, desires, etc., but I still find it hard to believe that it could happen that way.
4. I also knew there would be a new baby in the end. *S* The whole miscarriage thing pointed to that. Might as well be totally happy right?
Thank you again for a very engaging story.
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Anonymous11/04/05
Length No Problem; Plotting/Character Buildin, Yes
Long Horn is to be commended for having invested so much time, most of it quality time, in Literotica, "entertaining" us with his/her long, reconciliatory stories,,,
But as the last author/reviewer said: some of the things went on were not believable enough.
The wife --- he insisted --- having fucked up the marriage from her (to him) sexual activities was not enough. He would also need to fuck it up more, especially with her teenage drug addicted kid sister?, in order for him to feel real or good or satisfied?, so they could continue with the therapy (which took 3/4 of entire story!!!), so they could come to some mutual understanding about fucking up a marriage, so the smart therapist could make them open up to each other, shear mutual tears and such?
Complete nonsense!
For a man who's been wrong and who's been doing so much agonizing and soul searching as this husband --- always showing the in-laws pictures and videos of THEIR DAUGHTERS doing sex acts and drugs activities,,,, this guy's deviance turned out to be worse than both sisters deviance put together!
The author didn't likely know that! I'm sure he had the intention to create a long suffering, torn, and confused husband,,,, but his final product was a husband of the worst kind: vindictive, voyeuristic, unfaithful, faithless, unreasonable,,,,,
But, again, over-all a good job on the laborious writing.
A number of commentators on this and other stories have stated that the counseling was not realistic. That tells me nothing.
I plead ignorance on what real counseling should feel, look and sound like. Why don't you people who know, tell us what that is, so we all know.
Until you do that, Longhorn_07's description must stand, in the minds of those of us who don't know, as being a reasonably accurate portrayal. Merely stating otherwise does not validate your comment. At that point, it's just your opinion with no facts to back that up.
Please let inquiring minds know.
In the absence of any information to the contrary, I liked the story as written and consider it acceptable as is.
I think it is very well written and it is just as long as it needs to be. The reconciliation seemed ok to me. It took quite a bit of time for it to occur. It really wasn't an overnight switch. Ok, so her charater did some major adjusting. It would seem logical it would change altogether rather than just one small segment?? Does the "once a cheater always a cheater" apply to those who go through counseling?
Lydia is a good character, likable and earthy and still a little tricky.
Barbara hasn't 'changed' so much as 'returned' to her earlier character--when they first married.
Steve runs the emotional roller coaster, so finally coming to a halt wasn't that hard to accept. And he really loves Barbara so he really wants to believe she is repentant. Not hard to believe for me.
Really enjoyed the all day story!
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Anonymous11/05/05
Excelent
Great Story with the depth that is lacking in most of the writings here. Took a while to get through, but was worth the time. A great and enjoyable read.
Longhorn:
That's not a complaint about the length of your story. Rather it's a complaint about trying to read the whole story at 2:00 am. I didn't want to read it in bits and pieces so I soldier'd (sailored?) on. When I finished it I was too tired to comment. I've had some comments here and there about some of my stories being overly long so I know whereof I speak. It is a great story. Not of infidelity, although that's the central theme, but rather, can it be overcome? You spend most of the story dealing with the process and the mental adjustments necessary by all concerned which will allow it to happen. That is unusual on this site as that is usually added to the stories in a very superficial manner. Well done for the worthwhile reading, and for the way you covered a hard subject. Thank You. Ronnie W.
Now that the dust has settled, I'd like to clear up a few items. First, because of its length, I submitted this story to LE in the Novels & Novellas category. LE changed the category to Loving Wives, albeit with my permission. Second, the problem where some lines from the bottom of one page are repeated at the top of the next is a product of the processing “machine” LE uses. I don’t know what causes it. Perhaps someone from the staff could explain it to all of us. Third, “Steve” did have some STDs he caught from his unprotected sex with “Kim.” He was allergic to penicillin but was desensitized so the STDs could be treated. I apologize for not making that section clearer; I think I was more concerned with getting the products of my research in that area correct than I was in writing coherently. I’ll use the confusion I inadvertently created there as a lesson learned.
To those professional counselors who have emailed me with compliments on how well I developed the character of the counselor, as well as the couple’s counseling sessions themselves, thank you. I spent many hours reading up on counseling techniques and your kind words are my reward for doing that.
Thanks also to all those who emailed me, either anonymously or with their email addresses in the message so I could reply. I will respond to all messages with a “return address.” For the folks who ask questions, please make sure you aren’t sending the question anonymously, okay? I can’t respond if I don’t know where to send one. :)
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Anonymous11/14/05
Incredible!!!!
This story is very long, but would not have the impact it does if it wasn't. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the ability to get into the characters. You did a magnificent job--WELL DONE!
Sam
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Anonymous11/28/05
Very good
Longhorn seems to like long and detailed stories, but he puts the effort into the story that makes it rewarding to read. It does have a couple places where plot points are telegraphed a bit in advance, such as ending with Barbara being pregnant, and when Barbara's sister is the one Steve has sex with during the counseling.
The counselling showed a lot of attention to detail and consideration of real issues.
I look forward to the next story by Longhorn
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Anonymous12/13/05
Very Well Written...
I like adventure and adventure stories. Longhorn really has put a lot of work into making this a reading adventure. I liked the way it helped me consider my own motives and acting-out fantasies and actions.
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Anonymous12/31/05
Amazing story!
Freaking brilliant. There were so many good scenes I can't even pick one to comment on. The best was when she thought he had HIV. You really had me going, I thought I somehow missed that she actually KNEW he had it. I was afraid I was going to be depressed all night. It was an amazingly clever way of her demonstrating how afraid of losing him she really was. A+
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Anonymous01/15/06
well done
This was masterful. All the characters had more than one dimension, even the minor characters of Elaine, Lloyd, and Kimberly. Very believable storyline as well, it kept me reading, kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.
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Anonymous01/18/06
Encore!
The story was brilliant it self! Durring the begining where the mood was dark, you felt as if you were in his shoe's. Then towards the end when everything got better, it felt like I could breathe again! The only problem was the lack of sex seeing as how there was about only 4 sex acts in this, decent length though. However the whole store it's self made up for it. Brilliant!
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Anonymous01/20/06
Good job.
Good story, even if it did turn out to my liking. Thanks for wriring.
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Anonymous02/01/06
WOW
That was great... simply great... it helps in my mind to understand the forgiveness part without the wimpness part.. Thanks alot for your time and consideration on this story!
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Anonymous02/10/06
exellent
great writing ..look forward to more stories like this
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Anonymous03/03/06
Pretty weak
I felt like the husband was a real whiner in this tale - a pretty big baby.
English
Length
Obviously the story was long... but... its great when a story is long and it is so well writen. The characters pain was felt by all who read it leading to a story that wraps you and doesn't let you go. I always enjoy a great read and you gave us one. Thank you for your time and your words.
What a story
Thanks for putting this all in one post.
I appreciate your emphasis on how hard it is for two people to recover from infidelity, lies, and deceit. I went through a situation painfully close to this one but we we not successful in reconciling (I ended up raising our children).
Well told tale. I think you could flesh it out and turn it into a novel.
One of the best stopries I've read yet
I've been reading stories here for over four years now, and this one is bouncing between the one and two spot as my top story. This story is amazing for the depth of character development and the intenisty of the plot. The tension hits a high point in the first couple of pages and doesn't ease down until near the end. Oh, and thank you for putting this story together as a single read. It helps keep the story moving at a tight pace which can't but help the intended emotional highs and lows.
Longhorn, You've joined Softly, Wanderer, and Ronde as my top authors!
More specifically, Barbara's grandmother, Nony, is a work of art. Wish I'd had a grandmother like her when I was a teenager! I also loved his defense of the working guy when he verbally takes on Jimmyboy at that dinner! As for his depression, I've been there myself, staring at the shotgun standing in the corner of my bedroom, and thinking about how one tight squeeze would end my own pain. Thankfully I also thought about how much pain I would cause in my family and friend's lives.
Best Wishes,
Kydreamer
Great Writing, but
This is a bit unbeliveable. There's no way Steve should take her back. No job would MAKE someone go to counseling. The writing more than makes up for this unplausible story.
Simply Outstanding
Excellent story. The character development was superb, and actually made me care about the actors; a rare feat. Keep up the good work!
Finally!! It took me all day but I read it all
great love story and cheating wife story combined. Nicely done and very enjoyable. Thanks for a great read Longhorn. Now I'm going to bed! I'm very tired and my eyes hurt.Vastie
Best on site
Great writing, great characters, great storyline. Maybe in the real world a cheater will always be a cheater, but isn't that part of what makes stories great? Its not the real world?
A word on improbability
If I take the 1 in 10 figure by 53-yo anonymous, there are in excess of 50,000,000 marriages in the US. Over half end in divorce. Let's use a conservative 50% from infidelity, 12,500,00. One in ten is 1.25 million instances in which the cheater gets it and doesn't reoffend or the parties can reconcile effectively. Even if the odds aren't good, the sheer number of instances means it happens a lot.
Next, people change. Almost everybody changes. It's one of the reasons people who marry young have a much higher divorce rate - they are very different at 40 than they were at 20. Some mature, some don't. Some change for the better, some don't. Dr. Phil's line is that past behavior is the best PREDICTOR of future behavior. The very word, predictor, admits that it is far from a certainty, that there is wide variation in the behavior. Many people learn from their mistakes. And these mistakes tend to be dramatic enough so that they are easier to learn from. You may lose your spouse, children, home, job, respect of others, even your family. Even if you reconcile, your life is changed and your relationship is likely not as good. On top of all that, you have caused incalculable pain to someone you love, or did love. That's enough to make a sufficient impression to remind you not to repeat the behavior.
However, on the other side of the ledger, Phil also says you teach people how to treat you. This suggests that the easier the innocent party makes it to reconcile, the more likely it is to happen again (again, suggests is a word that doesn't imply certainty of the result). The less pain, the less memorable. The lower the cost, the less the need to avoid the behavior. The auto companies make that calculation. Does it cost more fix the car or pay off the death claims?
One final item, so I don't have to add a post. The answer to did I deserve to be betrayed is almost always no. Maybe I contributed to the conditions, but your behavior has to be pretty brutal to deserve it. Most of whatever happened was a choice somebody made. It is certainly painful. But the betrayal tells you much more about the betrayer than the betrayed. Just like when someone goes out of their way to insult you, that tells you much more about them as a person than it does you about some weakness or defect in your character, even if the insult is dead on. The one thing a betrayal may tell you is that you make unwise estimations of people's character. I don't say this to minimize the emotional impact of being betrayed, but to say that to consider harm to yourself is, obviously I hope, not a rational approach to fixing a defect in somebody else's behavior or character.
Too Damn Long
I'll buy a book if I want something that takes all day to read!
Very impressive
16 pages and I only saw one typo (paid instead of pain). Other authors should have such clean writing! I also enjoyed the story, even if it was a bit long. I just don't know what I would have cut. Kudos.
Long but great
Yes it was long but it was also one of the best I have read. I might be dead at work in the morning but it was well worth it. Keep up the good work.
Great But ...
This is a very-well written story except for what I am going to say next.
When I reached the end of Chapter 3, I think, I was hoping he would not attempt to put them together but alas! I practically gave up when Nony was about to teach Barbara how to use the toilet. At least I thought that was coming next.
Longhorn is an excellent author who almost always if not always ends his stories with reconciliation. There is no problem in that per se. The problem is whether it makes sense to do that in the given circumstances.
I realize that the more outrageous the offense is, the more challenging it is for the auther to put the spouses back together. Everybody knows that. The authors compete in setting up for the hardest challenges that put their creativity and writing skills to the test. The problem is that it puts their skills to the test all right, but they fail at varying degrees of misery. Some problems simply cannot be resolved. There are cases where divorce or separation make sense. Authors need to acknowledge that.
For this story, Barbara started as a moron. Her grandmother and the counciling built up her wisdom and brains at an unbelievable rate. If she had opted to continue that a month more, she would have beaten Einstein.
Maybe this happens in real life as someone worked on some probability below. However, I do not like reading about morons. Other people may like that. I like to read about people of about average intelligence.
I apologize for being a little harsh, but the grade of the author and the expectation from him were well above what he delivered here. I expected a near perfect story. I did not get it. After all, I can only express my opinion here.
Lucky me
I travel a great deal and this current cross country trip was the perfect occasion to read this wonderful story. I sat in seat 4A, angled my laptop away from the person next to me, and proceeded to be drawn into this rich and extremely well written story as I flew from Atlanta to the Pacific Northwest. I take this flight often but this time I was oblivious to almost everything around me save this story.
With so many comments having been left before me, I’m sure that all of the pertinent superlatives have been used up. So I will simply say well done and thank you very much for sharing your talent with us.
Excellent...
...story, very well told. I appreciate the real time and effort that you must have put into this - it took quite a while to read through - which is good! How can you build characters and a storyline without the details...!
As for the comment by someone else....
"TOO DAMN LONG - I'll buy a book if I want something that takes all day to read!"
There are PLENTY of short stories you could have read! It's not the author's fault that you have the attention span of a concussed goldfish. The fact that you put this comment in the comments section of the story meant that you DID read it! Who forced you?
Great story
Extremely well written...and perfectly editted. What I found most unusual was the author's ability to change the dialog for the different characters, to perfectly conform with each one's personna. Verne Houston *always* talked like a therapist. Lloyd, like a father-in-law, etc. Perfect character development. Soon we felt comfortable with our understanding of each character, only to find out later we gained further insight into what made each tick -- and our first impressions were not diminished, but reenforced! That is, indeed, a gift to be able to write like that.
Making a cheating wife story come out so the husband can take her back without being a wimp is one of the most difficult tasks of erotic story telling. The author tricked us by having the wife's cheating get up to, but not cross, the line of bedroom infidelity. That gave the husband some wiggle room when he had to struggle with his own emotions.
Again, the author tricked us when Steve, in his awful depression, attempted suicide, with Kim as the weapon, then allowed Barbara to show her complete devotion by committing her own "suicide" as well -- like two lovers jumping off the bridge while holding hands
At first, its length appeared daunting. But as I got involved with it, finding time to finish the read was the daunting problem. I almost passed this one by, it's title didn't grab me. Fortunately for me, I came back to it. Surely, it will be one of the top scoring stories of the entire library!
Thank You
A great story. I really appreciste your effort. Keep writing.
Great story
At first the length of the story scared me. I don't mind long stories like this but they do a bit to make me think twice. In this case though I've enjoyed all of Lonhorn's stories so far so I went right into it. Though I made sure to not read it all at once. GREAT story, one of your best. The way it was writen I felt for the guy, most of all though with the situation of the sister. She's present as being this somewhat innocent young woman, perhaps a bit of a tease with a big crush on the husband that seemed to grow with time. Yet all of that came crashing down the second the story talked about the video she was and then the husbands revelation as to what she actually was and was like. That's just from an outside point of view, that kind of image being shattered like that has to be extreme in a real family setting. I guess that kind makes it seem like the husbands and wifes problems not as important but I guess it put things in the proper light to a certain degree to make them realize just how bad things can get due to the sister and the parents realize what he himself was going through cause they most certainly didn't before that.
I did get a bit confused about him not picking up any STDs. Him not getting HIV I can understand since a person can be lucky like that I guess but nothing lesser though was a bit much. Hell even the HIV thing was pushing it a bit due to all the drug use, sex, etc.
Still in the end the emotional conflict was good and was starting to wonder if the wife would ever understand. The whole sister thing finally made her feel, at least to a degree, what he felt then the whole sleeping with him when she thought he was going to die so she could as well cause she didn't want to live without him speaks volumes. People say that but to actually go to the degree to make sure you share what that person has really does make a persons real feelings known I think.
Looking forward to the next one.
LEAVE HER
SHOULD NEVER TAKE HER BACK
Fabulous !!!!!
Without any quastion ... One of the greatest epic ever posted on literotica.
Many many thanks from the bottom of my heart.
submitted in wrong format
This should have been submitted as a novel. Why? If it had, each chapter would appear 'new', and you would have a lot more reads. As is, it will fall off the 'new' board in a few days and after that be ignored. Why not rework it and submit it as I have suggested?
BTW, it's certainly a great effort.
Wonderful Story
It has taken me on and off all day to read, but it was well worth the time and trouble. The two main characters had flaws, which made them far more real and in the end I was cheering for both of them. Great stuff.
Whew
I finished it! And it was WELL worth it. Great job Longhorn!!!!
QUALITY
I wish that every author could write with this quality. Good thing they don't -- I wouldn't get anything done but read their stories.
that was fantastic
Well that would without a doubt be one of the best stories I have read in a while. You told the story so well, the reader could share all the emotions with the characters, hate, betrayal, anger, etc.
I couldn't put it down (well i know it's on screen but you know what I mean)It was well worth not getting any work done for the best part of a day to read it. Would make an excellent movie. I don't know if you write for a living but with your talent maybe you should consider it. Good luck in the future.
Very Good ! ! !
This was a long story, but I am glad I took the time to read it from beginning to end. This was better than breaking it up into parts.
Steve was hurt by the actions of Barbie and he did the right thing by showing all of her indescritions to her family, lying to him and her family and kicking her out of the house. He did make some mistakes. First: He took her back and that was the biggest mistake. Once a cheat, always a cheat and she had proven that two time while they were married. He said he could not trust her and if he didn't know when he would ever be able to trust her again. She said she did not know if she could stop doing what she had done in the past, cheat. Well Folks, in my opinion that would be the final straw. With her saying that, he should have told his lawyer to proceed with the divorce no matter what roadblocks her attorney put up. Second: He let his boss discriminate over him be seeing a marriage counseler or he would not get the promotion. If Steve was as good at his job as the story portrayed him to be, then he should have let his firm fire him or not promote him based on him not seeing a marriage counselor and sued the firm for everything he could get his hands on. Since he was well repected, if he wanted to, I am sure he could have found another job and it would probably have been better that this one. Third: He liked and loved Barbie's grandmother, but she stuck her nose were it did not belong. Steve should never forgive her for interfering in their marriage problems and helping her resolving it by seducing him. When a man wants to have sex with his wife, he will ask, seduce her or take her. Just another example of an old TEXAS FART puting her two cents in where a dollar is required.
Besides that, it was a well written story.
Great Story But....
As all the others have said, this has to be one of THE best stories on this site. For once, an author has actually taken the time and effort to really explain WHY the husband takes the cheating wife back, though in this case I don't agree with him. I can understand the reasons because Longhorn took a lot of time to cover all the bases but I disagree with his conclusion. Unlike a lot of cheating wife stories Barbara didn't actually have sex (vaginal) with her lovers but Steve didn't know that so it was her lies, continual and unremitting lies, that did him in. He's already forgiven her twice and this time he actually catches her 'in the act' so to speak and he's more than justified in his actions.
I was really cheering for Steve as he pounded nail after nail in Barb's coffin in front of her parents. I really thought we had a guy who would stand by his convictions. He's not that old, late 20's, they'd only been married 4 years and she's cheated on him three times, so what does he really have invested in this marriage? Nothing, really.
I too question why Steve caved to the pressure of counseling. I have to believe that good old Lloyd and Steve's boss were golf buddies or something to make him put that kind of pressure on Steve. I agree, if he's willing to kill himself over the bitch he should have told his bosses to stick it in their butts.
I was also very disappointed in Steve and Kim. I was disappointed in Steve for falling for her crap. I was half expecting it to be a set-up to get Steve in a compromising position, film him as he had done with Barb and then for Lloyd to take him to the cleaners. That didn't happen but Steve succumbing to Kim was just as disappointing. For him to give in to his depression and willingly give himself whatever diseases the skank had showed that he should have been under a doctor's care if anybody had really given a crap about him but not even Nony did that.
It was a real shame to see what Longhorn did to Kim though. Was there any reason for him to make her such a coked out whore? No, not really. I sincerely believe it was WAY too over the top. What really should have happened is Kim should have been a good girl who resented the way her bitch sister AND her family had treated a really great guy who she’d loved since she met him. Now that she was old enough I would have liked to see her work to bring Steve out of his shell and fall in love with HER. Barb has had her three strikes, it should have been Kim’s turn.
However, what really got me was how everyone conspired against Steve when he was the injured party. It was refreshing to actually hear Steve tell Barb off about how nice it was that she was 'finding' herself and how great that was but nobody was doing a damned thing for him and he was the innocent party.
I agree with Steve too in that the 'I don't know why I did it' excuse is pretty lame, despite his running that red light. The two things have NOTHING to do with each other except to show that Steve had a brain-fart once and Barb didn't have a brain for years and years! That one person was right; she'd have been Einstein if the story had gone on much longer considering how intelligent she got in so short a time.
For those people who complained about the length of the story, you must have no idea of what character development is. A story this complex has to be long, this one probably should have been a little longer but it was at least long enough to give the reader a chance to make up their minds as to whether they agree with the reasons for the reconciliation or not. I, personally, think Steve was foolish to allow the pressure everyone put on him to succeed. He was correct, three times is enough for any man to 'forgive and forget'. It was an imposition for anyone, even Nony, to expect Steve to give her a fourth chance. For them to cry 'overreaction' is the height of hypocrisy.
As to Barb screwing Steve when she thought he was dying of AIDS, well to me that only proves she’s mentally unhinged. The romantics in the crowd will swoon to think that she loves her man so much she can’t live without him and was willing to die a slow painful death instead. I guess, but I think she’s nuts, plain and simple, especially since she didn’t KNOW Steve was HIV positive for sure. As with everything else in her life and this marriage she’s still acting without thinking first. God forbid she’d try to engage her brain before making a decision. She’s learned nothing after all those months of counseling. She and Steve had agreed that before they were intimate again they would both agree on it so what does she do at the first opportunity? She jumps his bones while he’s sleeping so he won’t leave her alive to have to deal with the results of her stupidity. She’s still the same selfish “me, me, me” bitch she’s always been. She doesn’t deserve Steve.
Thanks for writing a great story Longhorn, I just wish you'd ended it differently. Steve deserved better.
Excellent!!
It completely captured my attention all the way through! I can't wait to see what you do next...
Finally!!!
Took me two days to read it. Very good story, the only problem I had was at the end of each page, started again on the next page. Could have cut it down at least four pages if the editor was on the ball.
The story itself I liked it.
Thank you.
Love that Lydia
Great story. A little laborius to read at times but very good.
I didn't have a problem with Kim, I have known 3 Kims in my day and I am sure there are allot more Kims out there than anyone would guess.
Really loved Lydia's character, you could do a whole story on that character.
Thanx
CW
Very nice
Longhorn, you continue to impress me. I am, admittedly, not a fan of the reconciliation stories. For some reason, though, you seem to be able to thoroughly articulate the thoughts and feelings of the betrayed spouse. Even though I may not agree with the outcome, I can appreciate the eloquence in which it is written. Great work! Now, when is the next story...
I can’t take it any more!!!
I have “just” reached chapter five, but I can’t take it any more. This is an overwrought, long-winded and the most verbose contribution I have seen in LIT. Which movie was it where one of the characters says “If you want to shoot - shoot; Shoot and don’t talk”? Ah, words of wisdom! You have the evidence - bring it on. What person would conduct this kind of drawn out drama with Mama, Papa, Grand Ma, did we bring the dog too? And did we forget anyone else? Oh yes, the wife came too. What a Soap opera!
Thank god for readers’ comments which alerted me to the coming of the inevitable “THERAPIST”. Suddenly I had a déjà vu. It’s like “Lyin’ Eyes”. You could not portray a worse distortion of a therapist if you tried. Based on four long chapters it seems to be even worse here. Fortunately I will not be there to be re-traumatized.
longwinded and dreary
Wrap it and put it on a shelf maybe, condensed to 25% would help.
It drags.
Good, but could have been better
This was my second reading of this long, long story. My first grading of it was very harsh and I am sorry for that. But I remain....convinced that it was entirely too long. And it is not very much along the lines of erotic, or literotic, if you will. It instead gives the feeling of a novel. Entirely too much is offered in the counselling sessions with little eroticism included. The reader does not need so much definitive occurrences at the shrink's office along with all the debating. It took me well over 5 days to read it all, and to put it honestly, I got very bored in reading it. I gave you a '75' which would have been easy to give a '100' instead if it had not been for the lengthy descriptions of areas not at all erotic. There was not much fantasy, which I expect in these Literotica stories. There was also way too much machismo feelings in a husband "having been wronged". But that is just indicative of our sick, sick society that relies on dogmatic behavior to live under, as opposed to what God created in us and called "good", allowing for a freer swinging scenario(s) between grown men and women past their puberty years.
I suspect by your writing that you are capable of much more erotic stories with fantasies....I cannot help but wonder at why you would devote so much time to a story such as this in writing it with its serious lack of eroticism and fantasy.
Good Story
Longhorn, I rate your story high because it was extremely well written and grabbed my attention and held it throughout. You told the story in your own way and the length to tell it is yours and yours alone to decide. To me it didn't matter if it was going to be long or short.
I appreciate your efforts a great deal and want you to know that. My comments below should not be construed as though I didn't like your story because I did a great deal.
The only problems I have with the storyline are as follows:
1. Steve may have overreacted because he thought she did more than she actually did. Not his fault though, because most of us would have assumed the same. And make no mistake, what she did was betrayal, but it could have been a lot worse. When he did overreact however he pushed long and hard for no contact and a non-compromising divorce action, but then gave in. Hard to believe.
2. When Lydia intervened and got his bosses to force the counseling issue, based upon where he was at that point, I do not believe he would have accepted the counseling. He was just too adamant that he was done with the marriage. A more believable response from him would be to tell his bosses to stuff it and get a comparable or better job with a competitor. I can't buy that he wouuld have caved at that point.
3. Once the counseling started we all knew that it was going to end up in reconciliation even though it took a lot of agony to work through it. It took Barb that long to realize just how badly she had messed up. Perhaps they could have reconciled on their own if she wasn't so blind to what she actually was doing to her husband. Anyway, deep down inside I am glad they reconciled and became more stable people sharing their fears, loves, desires, etc., but I still find it hard to believe that it could happen that way.
4. I also knew there would be a new baby in the end. *S* The whole miscarriage thing pointed to that. Might as well be totally happy right?
Thank you again for a very engaging story.
Length No Problem; Plotting/Character Buildin, Yes
Long Horn is to be commended for having invested so much time, most of it quality time, in Literotica, "entertaining" us with his/her long, reconciliatory stories,,,
But as the last author/reviewer said: some of the things went on were not believable enough.
The wife --- he insisted --- having fucked up the marriage from her (to him) sexual activities was not enough. He would also need to fuck it up more, especially with her teenage drug addicted kid sister?, in order for him to feel real or good or satisfied?, so they could continue with the therapy (which took 3/4 of entire story!!!), so they could come to some mutual understanding about fucking up a marriage, so the smart therapist could make them open up to each other, shear mutual tears and such?
Complete nonsense!
For a man who's been wrong and who's been doing so much agonizing and soul searching as this husband --- always showing the in-laws pictures and videos of THEIR DAUGHTERS doing sex acts and drugs activities,,,, this guy's deviance turned out to be worse than both sisters deviance put together!
The author didn't likely know that! I'm sure he had the intention to create a long suffering, torn, and confused husband,,,, but his final product was a husband of the worst kind: vindictive, voyeuristic, unfaithful, faithless, unreasonable,,,,,
But, again, over-all a good job on the laborious writing.
Counseling not realistic?
A number of commentators on this and other stories have stated that the counseling was not realistic. That tells me nothing.
I plead ignorance on what real counseling should feel, look and sound like. Why don't you people who know, tell us what that is, so we all know.
Until you do that, Longhorn_07's description must stand, in the minds of those of us who don't know, as being a reasonably accurate portrayal. Merely stating otherwise does not validate your comment. At that point, it's just your opinion with no facts to back that up.
Please let inquiring minds know.
In the absence of any information to the contrary, I liked the story as written and consider it acceptable as is.
Thank you for using your talent to entertain us.
Phil
Very good story!
I think it is very well written and it is just as long as it needs to be. The reconciliation seemed ok to me. It took quite a bit of time for it to occur. It really wasn't an overnight switch. Ok, so her charater did some major adjusting. It would seem logical it would change altogether rather than just one small segment?? Does the "once a cheater always a cheater" apply to those who go through counseling?
Lydia is a good character, likable and earthy and still a little tricky.
Barbara hasn't 'changed' so much as 'returned' to her earlier character--when they first married.
Steve runs the emotional roller coaster, so finally coming to a halt wasn't that hard to accept. And he really loves Barbara so he really wants to believe she is repentant. Not hard to believe for me.
Really enjoyed the all day story!
Excelent
Great Story with the depth that is lacking in most of the writings here. Took a while to get through, but was worth the time. A great and enjoyable read.
You wore me out
Longhorn:
That's not a complaint about the length of your story. Rather it's a complaint about trying to read the whole story at 2:00 am. I didn't want to read it in bits and pieces so I soldier'd (sailored?) on. When I finished it I was too tired to comment. I've had some comments here and there about some of my stories being overly long so I know whereof I speak. It is a great story. Not of infidelity, although that's the central theme, but rather, can it be overcome? You spend most of the story dealing with the process and the mental adjustments necessary by all concerned which will allow it to happen. That is unusual on this site as that is usually added to the stories in a very superficial manner. Well done for the worthwhile reading, and for the way you covered a hard subject. Thank You. Ronnie W.
Author's Note:
Now that the dust has settled, I'd like to clear up a few items. First, because of its length, I submitted this story to LE in the Novels & Novellas category. LE changed the category to Loving Wives, albeit with my permission. Second, the problem where some lines from the bottom of one page are repeated at the top of the next is a product of the processing “machine” LE uses. I don’t know what causes it. Perhaps someone from the staff could explain it to all of us. Third, “Steve” did have some STDs he caught from his unprotected sex with “Kim.” He was allergic to penicillin but was desensitized so the STDs could be treated. I apologize for not making that section clearer; I think I was more concerned with getting the products of my research in that area correct than I was in writing coherently. I’ll use the confusion I inadvertently created there as a lesson learned.
To those professional counselors who have emailed me with compliments on how well I developed the character of the counselor, as well as the couple’s counseling sessions themselves, thank you. I spent many hours reading up on counseling techniques and your kind words are my reward for doing that.
Thanks also to all those who emailed me, either anonymously or with their email addresses in the message so I could reply. I will respond to all messages with a “return address.” For the folks who ask questions, please make sure you aren’t sending the question anonymously, okay? I can’t respond if I don’t know where to send one. :)
Incredible!!!!
This story is very long, but would not have the impact it does if it wasn't. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the ability to get into the characters. You did a magnificent job--WELL DONE!
Sam
Very good
Longhorn seems to like long and detailed stories, but he puts the effort into the story that makes it rewarding to read. It does have a couple places where plot points are telegraphed a bit in advance, such as ending with Barbara being pregnant, and when Barbara's sister is the one Steve has sex with during the counseling.
The counselling showed a lot of attention to detail and consideration of real issues.
I look forward to the next story by Longhorn
Very Well Written...
I like adventure and adventure stories. Longhorn really has put a lot of work into making this a reading adventure. I liked the way it helped me consider my own motives and acting-out fantasies and actions.
Amazing story!
Freaking brilliant. There were so many good scenes I can't even pick one to comment on. The best was when she thought he had HIV. You really had me going, I thought I somehow missed that she actually KNEW he had it. I was afraid I was going to be depressed all night. It was an amazingly clever way of her demonstrating how afraid of losing him she really was. A+
well done
This was masterful. All the characters had more than one dimension, even the minor characters of Elaine, Lloyd, and Kimberly. Very believable storyline as well, it kept me reading, kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.
Encore!
The story was brilliant it self! Durring the begining where the mood was dark, you felt as if you were in his shoe's. Then towards the end when everything got better, it felt like I could breathe again! The only problem was the lack of sex seeing as how there was about only 4 sex acts in this, decent length though. However the whole store it's self made up for it. Brilliant!
Good job.
Good story, even if it did turn out to my liking. Thanks for wriring.
WOW
That was great... simply great... it helps in my mind to understand the forgiveness part without the wimpness part.. Thanks alot for your time and consideration on this story!
exellent
great writing ..look forward to more stories like this
Pretty weak
I felt like the husband was a real whiner in this tale - a pretty big baby.
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