Believe Only Half of What You See

Good Story

She was obviously too busy jumping to conclusions to think straight, but his pride was just over the top. Took him long enough to ask the important questions and realize what is really important in life. Nicely done.

fool

YOUR SOMETHING BUT IT NOT A WRITER.

VERY VERY GOOD... but some may not agree

The reactions to this story are going to vary widely. Some folks will argue that Bob was being too hardheaded for too long since Julie knew almost immediately she was mistaken and tried to tell Bob how sorry she was almost immediately.

There really is no right or wrong answer as to whether or not the husband was being pigheaded or hardheaded. Everyone's view is going to be different.

If there is a case to be made that the husband is being hardheaded ...IF... then it is based on the idea that Bob took way too long period before he asked the ultimate question... Am I better off with or without Julie?

However from Bob's point of view... he was seriously disturbed by Julie's refusal to even consider that he MIGHT be innocent. One or two minutes of conversation with Bob that night when he was locked out of the front door would have provided Julie with some doubt as to whether or not he had in fact cheated with that other woman... Sandy.

Bob would of said something like this... if we were cheating with Sandy why she passed out at Mark's Place? Why would Mark bring her to his place where Josie would see her?

From Bob's point of view... IF you let something like this slide with no consequences then it is going to happen again. Indeed as Julie later confesses the idea that Bob might of been cheating on her was planted by Bill her boss who was probably trying to get into her panties!!!.

This just supports Bob's main concern... that Julie can be manipulated by another man so easily and he (bob) can be found guilty without even a question being asked.

As the story goes I think this is a pretty terrific story. I am glad Bob and Julie did not break up and is reconciled. I think the tone of the story was good and Bob's reactions were not too much over-the-top.

Good read

The basic plot was pretty good — should be, a classic: boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back again. LOL! You have some technical writing issues to address. If you don't have an editor to give the story a quick read through, you should get one. An extra set of eyes help; after you've read your story so many times during the writing process, you just can see the errors that another reader will.
As far as the characters — the response of your protagonist seems a little overblown. Maybe you could have built up a history of the wife always thinking the worst of him, so that when she does the same thing THIS time, it's a 'straw breaking the camel's back' issue.
I was also somewhat confused by the dialog, which sounded as if you were sometimes trying to have the main characters be black, but other times, it was unclear. It wouldn't be important either way, but some consistency would help.

Oh, what a piece this is...

Pussy whipped, Pussy whipped is what he is. He left his wife because she had already made up her mind that he was a womanizer before know all of the facts were in. He should have let her see a lawyer and get a divorce. If she accuses him once, she will do it again, just give her time. And now they want to have a couple of kids to make their marriage stronger? This is the ultimate of stupidity and he is very stupid. If they have kids and then they get a divorce, he will be broke from paying alimony and child support. Think about it Marvin. Do you really want to be in this mess?

I liked the story

Not much of a chance for this couple's future in the long term though... Just too much explosive temper ready to be set off by too many unreliable and very short fuses like: immaturity, insecurity and bad judgment. Yes, they have started to climb up the learning curve as a couple, but will their mutual experience as a couple be strong enough against their powerful shortcomings? Statistics give them less than 50%...
The story on the other hand was realistic and engaging - something in the nineties...

Only one problem

My only problem with your story is that you neglected to tell us about Bob's next meeting with Bill.

Nicely done

I really liked this one. People do over-react and both did. Having sat in the bar giving Sandy advice he didn't take either his own or Mark's, which he supported. That, I think, is where the reality lies.

Good work, keep it up

Oh the people who comment.

"YOUR SOMETHING BUT IT NOT A WRITER." Seven words if you count "A" and he mispelled two of them. Yep, this person is definitely a finely-honed critic. Keep writing.

An Episode of Hardheads!

Nice job. A car salesman could not be expected to be familiar with The Poems of Alfred, or Edgar A. Poe's musings. I was surprised not to hear Sandy throw Bob's advice back in his face.

I liked it.

Nice story, could Sandy file a complaint against Bill?

Once again nice story.

The writing is getting better but I would still suggest a proof reader. Anyway as far as the story goes? Is this you by any chance? are YOU BOB? It doesn't really matter either way. Did the wife over react? in my view yes she did. Did the husband then over react in kind again in my view yes he did. There is a trust issue here, just a small issue but it will always be there. Should they try and stay together and make a go of it. Of course they should. What's life without a little risk? Keep the stories coming your doing well.

Absolutely Fantastic Story.

I don't think I'm capable enough to give you any suggestions, but still, please STOP writing 'A newby trying to get started'. You ARE an excellent writer. This story was really fantastic. I enjoy reading your stories. Looking forward to read more from you & good luck for your future projects.

Great Story!

Good story and an interesting read. Hope we see more of your work soon! Thanks...

Excellent Work

It is Harry in spades this time! I have to agree with everything he said! I would add on that Bob could have
asked himself why he had not moved on which also would get him pointed in the right direction. One observation worth making is that she recovered fairly quickly from being scared to death by his explosions of rage. This could be a further indication that she truly cared for him because the natural tendency would be to flee further contact with the madman who kicked in her doors. Thanks very much for a fine story.

Good Story, hubby's an ass though

IF this were a true story, I think Julie should have left his self-rightous, door busting, antagonistic and violent ass in the street and taken him to the cleaners. HE treats her like shit for 3 months and figures an apology is all he needs to give her...Fuck him!

Thanks for a totally realistic story. There was

no embellishing the facts. When you have a snake in the grass like Bill you have to be very careful. There are many Bills around and they are responsible for more marriages breaking up.
It didn't work this time but it has plenty of times. Within each person, regardless of who that person is, there dwells an insecure ipeople. We live life playing like we think all is ok. It's necessary to be like this. Creatures like Bill are the sowers of discontent, just because he has never grown up and is still the little wimp that he was as a kid. Remember the guy that was always trying to grease your ego by telling you how great you are and then started to get you to tell him about what girls you had sex with. Then this creep would go to the girl and tell her that since she had sex with so and so then she could have sex with him. Most of us grew out of this but the Bills in life didn't...they just changed and became like the one in the story. The story was really about the Bills around us. So what ever you do don't bother with Bill. The best way to deal with him is a good hard kick in the balls and then some. Good job Woodman..more from you in the future. You have joined the premier writers like Winterfrog and GW66 ...Nyminus

This story was written....

on the fly.And it shows. Even the sentences seem choppy.Summary-"Two idiots have juvenile communications issues,get mad at each other and screw up their lives for no good reason."-Try again please but go slow-Pistolpackinpete

Good beginning

Liked the story. But, man, you really need to get an editor. All the choppy sentences, the simple misspellings that even a spell-checker should have caught; all these make reading the story hard. Every time I saw an error, I had to stop, think about it & make sure that this was just an error, not some change in direction, or whatever. Think about it, there's a lot of people out here who would help

Julie screwed up, but...

I think we can forgive her to some extent. She didn't just believe Bill outright, but instead decided to check for herself. What she saw would have made most spouses very upset so she overreacted. We know she should have confronted Bob and possibly cleared things up, but ask yourself how you would have acted. I'll bet that most of the macho men out there would have had her stuff on the lawn and the locks changed already. Once she found out the truth, she was probably devastated. Cut the poor girl some slack. Betrayal, even though perceived and not actual, can throw our rational thoughts out the window. She never had a chance to cool down, so we don't know what she might have done the next day. We're told to believe half of what we see, but how many of us are capable of that.
Good story. you are really improving. I've enjoyed your other stories as well, but this one seemed to click with me. Thanks. Paul

Good story - very realistic

Good story about a couple of stubborn people. Will they learn from their misadventure or will they have another train wreck down the road?

A first for Literotica!

Here's a husband forgiving and asking for forgiveness. He was a real jerk, and what surprised me is that the Lit readers didn't compliment his bad behavior, and they didn't try to destroy the author for his being forgiving.

Rich

Bob was hard headed ass-hole

Menagerie of idiots.Bob is hard headed ass-hole. Julie is stupid conclusion jumper and Mark is pain in the ass who drags Bob into the soup. Doesn't he have any single friends he can drag into seducer meeting with him. Bill is phantom source of evil. Dumb story with no sympathetic characters.
the Ct. Yankee

just a very good read

Having been there that story came from way down, from the heart.

Well if you write a story about a wimp you cant

question later what the wimp would do. He should have told her what was going on in the first place. His mistake. She should have talked to him about the asshole and the stories she was being told. Her mistake. She should have talked to her husband about what was going on. Her mistake. She should have trusted her husband and given him the benefit of the doubt. Her mistake. She should not have tried to lock her husband out and create a large scene over sneaky pictures she took without full details. Her mistake. I am sorry if my wife has taken evidence, listened to idiots, tried and convicted me without ever hearing from me what as going on she would be glad to still be walking much less worried about where she was going to live and the divorce action. This woman has not real love, no faith in nor any trust for her husband. She just doesnt want her lifestyle to suddenly drop off dead center. Divorce the idiot and find a woman whose mental ability is beyond 14 years of age. Life is to short to live it with someone like this. And to answer his final deciding question, yes he would be better off divorcing her and marrying a woman is mature enough to understand marriage.

Everyone is RIght!

Bob was basically right on his premise for leaving - no trust equals no long term marriage. Bob was also right to get over his hardheadness because this was an isolated incident. He flew off the handle and overreacted to this single night argument when he had been drinking/tired and Julie was operating like a bitch. Julie was so wrong (1) listening to Bill who clearly had amorous intentions toward her (2) lying about how she trusted Bob; (3) plotting to catch him in the act and get the evidence on him; and (4) not allowing Bob to explain the situation. Unrealistically, Julie had the truth revealed to her. What if Sandy went back to a hotel that night and left the next morning. Neither Julie or Josie would have ever believed Mark and Bob. Then even if Julie and Bob reconciled there would be a cloud of suspicion waiting for the next misunderstanding to drive them apart. They were both wrong so they should both apologize. Good story - Thanks!

Look, I loved the story

and that is enough for my happiness but we all need to be honest. The writing was poor, at best, but is getting better. Keep it up. You are improving fast.

He's simply an ass

I gave you a 0 because you completely missed with the husband. He's an ass, and if I was the wife's family, I'd make damn sure she didn't get back with him.

No erotica here, move on.

Thanks for wasting my time. There's no love and no erotica. The guy's a total ass, not likable in the slightest

I agree with Sleepless, but for different reasons.

I gave it a 100, but for different reasons than listed from other commentors

I see why the husband's character would be upset. Either you understand it or you don't. But I'll try to explain it for the folks who feel the husband was the only jerk in your story and the wife was primarily the victim of his anger

1.) The wife had an "admirer" who she took the initial cues from. No one doesn't know someone is into them. If you think about it, if someone is constantly touching you and hanging around you in front of your spouse, then they sure are doing it where you work. If a woman sudden starting playing it up with me in front of my wife, personally that would make me uncomfortable. Because I knew my "wife" would be upset, I would do everything I could to discourage this, either in front of her, as well as while I was at work, so that others wouldn't think that I had something going on behind my wife's back. That's one part of the relationship, caring how it affects your mate. But the wife didn't stop this at the picnic and the husband had to put his foot down with the other man. Now he finds out this same guy was telling his wife he was cheating, and while she initially said he was full of hot air, she let the doubt take root enough she remembered days her boss said he was cheating matched times he was late. So strike one was she had already started believing he was guilty without ever talking to him. She let it sit and fester till something else pushed it over the edge.

2.) When someone else calls her the two of them cook up a way to catch him. Instead of trying to talk to him on the telephone when the other woman called her, she immediately decided to "catch him in the act", because now the thought he was cheating on her matched what her boss told her with what the other woman was now saying. Again, she didn't trust him. Her character took that as further proof to convicted him by not talking to him.

3.) Then when she found him she didn't confront him then, she immediately decided to get "proof", possibly to use in her divorce, and then lock him out. It wasn't even "thin" proof, but even less than that, but that was enough to start her depriving him of his home and start making plans to divorce him

4.) And to make it worse, it wasn't her husband who's word she took for his innocence. It was the word of another woman, the one who she cooked up the plan to catch her husband. And when her husband tried to offer an alibi, and provide the word of someone who was there, the wife decided that that wasn't good enough. But when a third person who was marginally involved called her, that was good enough to forgive the husband.

5.) The best friend was over the top. She threw him out, she decided that he was a cheater and couldn't careless what he had to say. THEN after, and only after, she found out she was wrong, she wanted him to pretend it never happened. Everyone started in on the husband to pretend to it never happened and forgive and forget. But the above issues are "major" issues. Then the best friend went as far as to ambush the husband and trick him. That's not a friend. He may not have agreed with the way the husband felt, but to "force" him to do what he wanted was wrong. Friends don't get in the middle of a husband and wife, even if he thinks one of them is wrong. More friends have been killed by wronged spouses by best intentions.

I used to watch wives who, regardless of what people told them, refused to believe their husband/boyfriend/etc would cheat/murder/steal/ect, unless they were confronted with undeniable proof. I would think "Man how delusional could you get" but later as I went on, I realized that they actually "believed" in their "significant other". That was something to be admired. But this story didn't have that from her character

While I don't believe the wife did anything that should have warranted a divorce. I believe she should have been forgiven, because she worked hard to prove she was sorry, but they needed the time apart. That showed her how what she did hurt him greatly.

I could live with the ending, and I didn't believe that that one side was more evil than the other, but the wife started this, and she needed to start to make it right and convince her husband that she did wrong. I believe after a fashion he needed to accept it, but he wasn't evil or wrong for being hurt from her actions, and he wasn't a "jerk" for being hurt.

-Risq

Good Read

Bob's an idiot and overreacted he's lucky Julie took him back.

Good lesson

This is basically a good lesson for people, even though we see it in shows like Three's Company and many modern comedies and drama's.

Considering how many people cheat and the fact that his wife likely knew how he'd slept around, and chased a lot of women in the past, that probably didn't help.

Good Story but Taken too far

I agree that your writing could use some polishing. I also believe that the end of your story was a little weak. I think that your character waited too long to ask the important question. I didn't mind his initial reaction to her outburst, it just went on for too long. Also, the supposed property division meeting was such a sham, anyone with any brains would have seen through that.
On another topic, several other comments have stressed the trust issue as if she were totally in the wrong. However, the premise in many of these "LW" stories, even one of yours, is "Trust but Verify". Did his wife over-react? Yes. But in stories where the guy did it, that's OK?? Stupid double standard if you ask me. Thanks for your efforts, it's tough to do a story! Ttom

Snake wispering in your ear

Bob got it right about the trust but he carried it too far. Julie on the other hand was an idiot to listen to someone else besides her husband. As soon as she had concerns she should have spoken directly to him. The real problem was Bill. It is very seductive to have a "disinterested" third party whispering in your ear. Julie was all primed to suspect Bob because of Bill's subtle manipulation. It would be nice if Bill had a real nasty accident.

Better then average

Bob over reacted a bit but it is almost understandable after trying to be a nice guy and help a stranger and getting bitten in the butt for his effort. But it took him much to long to evaluate his situation and correct his actions. Mark should have had the good sense to stay out of the situation like his best friend asked him to. That kind of behavior would certainly end a male friendship. The ending just sort of fell apart. It felt to me like you had to meet a deadline and ran out of time. But overall I thought you did a good job. There is plenty of room for improvement but I will keep looking for and reading your stories. anon jerry

Sorry again forced reconciliation without basis.

In the story it said it was his ego that was the problem he just had his pride hurt. Ok, what does his pride have to do with his wife not listening to him? What does his pride have to do with his wife allowing her boss to play us to her and feed her lies? What does his pride have to do with her already condemning him and following him around secretly taking pictures? What does his pride have to do with her locking him out of his home and bedroom? Sorry folks the only real problem in this story is an immature woman that is irrational. She does not respect her husband enough to talk to him about what she is being told or her questioning of his behavior. He was right divorce was the correct option. In reality one has to question her behavior and wonder if she was hiding something and trying to focus emphasis on him.

Running off like a scared kid is stupid

Many Loving Wife readers evidently enjoy blaming the woman for all life's problems. This story is not about pride or ego but the inability to control anger and use the truth to counter accusations. Setting up a story like this one is only an excuse for a character, the abused, holy, righteous and virtuous man, to bluster around without acting like a same human being.
I've been in the position to kick down a front door and maybe I should have done it. Do you know how fast the cops can get to a home and have the man in handcuffs on the woman's word? The writer is just strutting his pathetic ego for justification of hurt feelings. He had full ability to explain everything without moping around like a spoiled child.

Enjoyed It

I wouldn't act this way, but liked the story anyway, thanks.

The actual problem, the wife not trusting her

is never really addressed or corrected, nor is the fact she went for divorce without even talking to him. He is better off without her. His life would be much better off if married to a rational rather than irrational woman. His friend in putting himself into the situation isnt really a friend, he is a manipulator just as Bill. Bill needs to be sued as does the company she works for. As her superior his actions are not just morally wrong they are in fact criminal. I have always gone with the saying believe only half........ but at no point does that saying imply one should be stupid or braindead. It has nothing to do with pride it is a survival instinct, women like this need to be avoided. After all, if she did believe Bill, wasnt she already getting into an improper relationship with him?

NorCal has it very wrong. It isnt an anger issue

but of the woman. Yes a woman can call police and create problems but as long as she isnt touched or bruised her and his word carry equal weight. Sorry NorCal I see your slant on this story as wimpy if not feminine at best.

the irony in this story is amazing!

What was he doing at the start of the story? He was giving advice on marital relations, and he was trying to get the other married couple reconciled. AT THE SAME TIME, he effectively set the direction for the story because of the advice he was giving - he implied at the start of the story that a loving spouse would give their loved ones a chance. There is a second irony there - although his wife didn't give him an immediate chance, he didn't give his wife a chance for a long time! heheh..

He said: "All couples have an adjustment period to live thru. ... If he loves you he will forgive you and want to work things out. If he doesn't love you, then you are better off splitting sooner rather than later. It's a harsh reality but the truth."

Unfortunately part of it is what he failed to see - her compassion. THAT is why he left. Sure this might seem childish, and many men do mature emotionally at a much later age but it can be justified, and it does not matter otherwise as ANYTHING can be RIGHT - in his (initial) view if you kill something then you have to live with the consequences. Her lack of trust killed the mutual trust they had together.

It's also more unfortunate for him that she got the phone-calls and went and saw him being kissed. At the same time, she did not do much wrong - she was a co-victim of her husband's fate. Not letting him open up to her is not really wrong - it's just something "that should have been done". There is not much "wrong", nor much "right" as there are "the facts" and "what should have been done"!!!

He probably wondered why she wanted him - she didn't TRUST him. So is it because he provides warmth at night, and food in the day that she wanted him back? In my view that is not love. There is nothing wrong with marriage for these reasons - poor people do it all the time! (That is not to say that it does not lead to love!) But some people want something different.. However I am not saying that she did not love him - but it was questionable big time then!

For such people, it is a good thing that divorces take time, and the story could have led to a judge ordering reconciliation sessions. At the same time.. I can totally understand why the husband didn't appreciate everyone telling him what a jerk he was, and nobody was on the wife's case. It's extremely annoying. I agree with HarryInVA: the husband did not do the wrong thing in walking away from the wife. To some people it might not make sense, but he was hurting from her lack of trust.

This is one of my favourite stories, because it is a story of a man who did not expect rejection from his wife. I love many of woodman's stories - they are great, and very emotionally appealling! The other one that I like equally to this is "Truth 1 - Lies 0". It is a similar story. They make me think .. what if the divorce had gone ahead? I'm sure life would go on but the past would be blackened forever, because the two did actually love each other. You have to remember that when each has the other's heart, you have to be very careful.. Sometimes love comes into question, but you have to realise that often other things get in the way. Jealousy, work, responsibilities, etc... Anyway, thank you woodman for your story!

Nice work

a bit choppy.

It's often hard to say how we'll react. As the bread-winner whose salary pays the mortgage, I'd flip out if my wife tried to lock me out of our house when I had done nothing wrong. Kicking in the door that I installed is my prerogative -- it's only property, and a cathartic demonstration of anger that could well prevent turning anger on a person. An innocent person wronged will almost always react more strongly than one justly accused.

And Julie gave him no chance to explain. Recall that, unlike in some other stories, she actually did not personally witness intercourse or other deliberate sexual acts. Nor were the circumstances so damning as to be that certain. Yet she was ready to throw it all away.

So now, can you trust her judgement going forward ? On one hand, she blew it big time. On the other, this had to be an unforgettable lesson. I doubt she'd be so cosmically stupid AGAIN to not give her husband a chance to explain before convicting him.

And the husband was an idiot. For being so damned indecisive. It took him HOW LONG to make up his mind ? I could see divorcing Julie -- not being trusted by your spouse is rather deadly for a marriage. I could see reconciling -- believing that she'd learned her lesson. But to drag it out for months ?

Not that I'd say it was unrealistic -- there's a LOT of indecisive people out there -- but it made his character far less sympathetic for me. Perhaps that was your intent ?

Please keep writing, you're eminently readable despite some editing errors.

GOOD STORY SHE NEVER CHEATED HE NEVER CHEATED .LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND TRUST THEY JUST NEEDED THERE HEADS BANGING TOGETHER

Another LW husband who's a cockhound at heart with little self-restraint.

These characters are so predictable in LW stories it's disappointing to read another tale like this. The male obviously doesn't talk much with his wife. He isn't open with her; like telling her what he was going to be doing after work, not going "for a couple of drinks." Neither character was very likable, and the wife did her share of not talking to the husband. Too trite. Could have used more development, and it wasn't too long.

Again

She should have called Bill's superior and told him the whole sordid story the moment he made even the slightest stink. A reputation like that, and potentially opening up the company to crap would pretty much shut him WAY the fuck down.

He was the guiltiest of the parties and he seemed to have gotten away scott free

Bob could have avoided the whole situation

Notice that Bob only told his wife, Julie, that he was going out with Mark for drinks. He could have told her that he was going along to prevent misunderstanding and problems but didn't. Hence, the appearance to Julie that he was sneaking around.

Another nice ending, though, when Bob asked one of the two all important questions. The one about better off with or without. The other, which doesn't apply in this case is about trust.

Hi Bob /smirk

Temper and pride will doom us all -

You got the answer right even if it took a bit too long.

I enjoyed reading it and hope BOB learned a few good lessons including a bit of humble - trust IS vital - but the concept is relative.

I trust my doctor to treat my cold not hold the slack line when on rappel, or be behind me going through a hot entry way.

Keep the context in mind she had fired a warning shot across your bow, you saw the flash, you were in a compromising situation, she "other evidence". you were ignorant of all the "facts" as was she - you made a decision with less than all the info so did she. A less aggressive decision to call it quits and work to fix the confusion would have been okay too lol.

Tavadelphin, Gualterio,norcal62

Tavadelphin, Gualterio,norcal62 you guys need to start the CUCKOLD LOVER union. I think you guys are one step away from becoming women. How is Bob, the one at fault. Give me a fucking break, she tried to lock him out before he could even say anything. Bill had been hitting on her for a while. Where was her telling him at, she never said a word. He had drinks and did tell her with who and he's the asshole. Nope the only assholes are you three.

Well cuckdogg,

Since you're the President of the Wanna Be Cucked club why not just invite your friends? They might not like Matt Moreau stories as much as you but they deserve an invite anyway.

Il est bon mot (French)

You attributed the statement, "Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see." to Marvin Gaye. That 'bon mot' has been rattling around in my family since the 1800's, handed down by 90+ year-old relatives from their own grandfathers. I suspect its origin is either German or Amish, but have no further info on it. It is, however, a very wise adage. A good story but, in my opinion, not one of your more poignant. Just the same, thanks for the happy ending. Some of us needed it.