This is a 2nd draft and might still have some errors in it. Let me know if you find them. You should love this story.
Lovers or Enemies
The
slap he just received across his face stung and made all the blood
rush to his face because he knew he deserved that slap and much more.
He had messed up totally, he never meant for things to end up like
this. He loved her deeply, always had, always will, but now things
would never be the same again.
“Don't
you have anything else to say for yourself?” Melinda asked. “Just,
'oh, I slept with another woman'? She sat down on the bed, put her
head into hands and started to cry. Up till now, everything had been
wonderful. They had a beautiful house, two children. She was a stay
at home mom, which she loved. Something about taking care of a house,
being there when the kids got home from school, serving homemade
meals every night. And, now, in one heartbeat all that was gone.
“I
just don't know what to say. It was a few months ago and this has
been driving me crazy, eating me up inside.” Randy turned away from
her, couldn't bear to see her crying like that, knowing he was the
one who cause the pain. “If didn't tell you, I feel like I would
explode inside, do you understand? I didn't have to tell you at all,
but I knew that wasn't fair to you.” Almost made him sound noble,
but he was far from that.
“The
fact that you went out and did it at all is appalling!”, she
screamed, “You have ruined our marriage, our life, everything.”
she paused, “oh, my, what are the kids going to think and our
families....”
Randy
turned around, his heart wretching with pain at the site of Melinda
sitting there crying. “Melinda, look at me. Please.” She looked
up at him, tear stains rolling down her reddened face. “I love you
the same as I did yesterday, more even. My love for you has grown and
grown since we married. This changes nothing.”
“Nothing!
You say nothing has changed?” Melinda said “I feel as though
there is a strange man in front of me whom I don't know. This is not
the man I married. This is not that man that shares a bed with me at
night. This is not the man whom I had children with. This man is a
total stranger to me”
Randy
hung his head, knowing he caused this. He was not mad at her
statement but it burned him inside. He wanted everything to be right
again, but how would he get there. Could he ever put things back in
order again? Could he win her heart back? She was everything to him,
always has been for as long as he can remember.
One
night. One stupid night. Melinda and him had, had a terrible
argument. He couldn't even remember what it was about. He had gone to
the local bar that night and drank way too much. Normally he hardly
drank at all, but the more he drunk the farther from the argument he
was. Before he knew it, a nice looking blond was sitting next to him
and started a conversation. At some point I vaguely remembered her
asking me to go upstairs with her to 'talk'. Well, one thing led to
another, with me being drunk, I lost total control of any rational
thought and had sex with her. Immediately afterward I was shaking.
What had I done? What will happen with his wife and his family? He
dressed and went home. Melinda was already in bed sleeping. He told
himself he didn't have to tell her and she would never know. Until
today.
“What
can I do? I will do anything you say to redeem myself for what I have
done.” Randy said, hoping she would say something he could cling to
that said maybe, just maybe there was a way this could work out.
She
shook her head, still crying, “Just get out of here. I don't want
to talk to or see you.”
“Just
leave?”, Randy asked, “That's it? 15 years of marriage down the
tubes because I screwed up one time. And let me point out again, that
I could have kept this from you, and things would have been fine. I
know that me telling you the truth now doesn't make up for what I
did, but it should count for something.”
“Just
leave.” She said, “ I don't care where you go, or what you do,
just leave now. If there is anything you want or need have Louie give
me a call and I'll work things out with him.” She turned toward the
bathroom. “I'm going to take a shower, please don't be here when I
get back.”
Randy
stood in the middle of their room. He had kind of thought it would be
this way. For right now she didn't want anything to do with him. He
grabbed his suitcase, put what he needed in it and headed out the
door. Hoping it wouldn't be the last time.
By
the time she got out of the shower he was gone. She heard the kids
getting up. The morning went along about how it usually did. She
brushed aside questions about where Daddy was. They didn't have to
know this very second they would find out soon enough. She had no
idea what she was suppose to do now. She picked up the phone to call
her best friend Carl. After 2 rings Carl picked up, “Hello?”
“Hi
Carl, how are you doing?” Melinda said
“What
is wrong with you, Melinda. I can tell from voice something is very
wrong”
She
started sobbing all over again, “Randy slept with another woman. I
kicked him out and I have no idea what to do.”
All
sorts of things were flying through Carl's head, “When did this
happen? When did he tell you? Do you want to meet somewhere where we
can talk?”
Wiping
her nose and tears off her face, “He told me this morning but
apparently this happened once a few months ago. It was one night when
we had the hugest argument. He had gone out for awhile that night, I
was sleep when he came home. After today's argument I told him to get
out and not come back. I didn't know what else to do.”
Carl
sighed, “Wow. Listen, why don't you get dressed and meet me over at
Michaels' in about an hour? We'll have an early lunch. OK?
“OK,”
Melinda said, trying to get her self together enough to even go
outside. “In about an hour. Thank you Carl for being there for me.
I really needed a good friend.”
“Oh,
one hour. Bye”
“Bye”
Melinda
walked into Michael's, looking around for Carl. She finally spotted
him in a corner booth, out of the way. He probably picked that one on
purpose so they could talk privately. She walked over the table and
said, “Hi”
He
jumped a little, “You surprised me. I was just daydreaming. Please
sit down and will order.”
She
slid into the booth next to him. He smelled surprisingly good today.
Not that he ever smelled bad but she just seemed to notice the nice
aroma today. They ordered their food and then got into the meat of
the conversation.
“So,
“ Carl started, “you said some stuff on the phone but exactly
what happened?”
Melinda
looked down, still noticeably upset, “Well, all I know is that
Randy said he needed to tell me something. Something really bad but I
was to wait and think about it a minute before I said anything. I
agreed. I never thought he would ever say those words to me. He told
me had been with another woman. It was some months ago and his plan
had been to never tell me." Melinda still didn't know if that
was good or bad. She never wanted him to lie to her but then she
didn't want her whole life turned upside down either. “I just saw
red, I slapped him hard across the face. He just stood there. I told
him to get out, and I never wanted to see him again.”
That
was a lot for Carol to absorb. He had known both Randy and Melinda
for years. He never thought Randy was capable of cheating on his
wife. He wondered what had happened that night to make Randy so
something so rash. “I'm sure it's not important, but did he give
you a reason?” Carl asked.
“He
had said it was the night of that fight. Something about getting
really drunk and then that awful woman.” Melinda said 'woman' like
it was the foulist word in the English language. You could almost see
the anger coming from Melinda.
Carl
though it his job to calm her down and thinking about other things.
Something creeped into Carl's mind. NO NO That would be so wrong. He
know Randy for years. But, Melinda was gorgeous and if it was true
she wanted nothing more to do with Randy, well, that made her back on
the market. OK, long stretch there, but hey, he thought, you never
know.
“Melinda,
I am so sorry. I can't imagine anything that would make Randy do
something to hurt such a wonderful woman.” Carl said. He carefully
put his hand on top of hers and looked her strait into her eyes.
“I'm
still in shock right now. I really have no idea what I'm suppose to
be doing” Melinda said, “Do I get rid of his stuff, or wait for
him to come get it. What do I tell the kids? What do I tell the
relatives?” Melinda started crying again.
“It's
going to be OK. Just take things one at a time.” Carl moved a
little closer, “Little by little things will get to be normal
again. Maybe not the normal that was but a new normal.”
“I
am so glad you are here for me Carl?”Melinda said, “At least know
I can talk to someone about all this.”
“You
should get back home and I need to get back to work,” Carl worked
for an investment group and had flexible hours. “Let's meet
somewhere for dinner tonight. Get a babysitter and get out of the
house. How about Chinese?
“I
don't know,” Melinda said, “I haven't been out at night without
Randy in years.”
“Just
come out with me, “ Carl said. “We'll have a blast and you can
relax and get your mind off things. Don't say no, don't make me beg.”
“Ok,
I agree. Where are we meeting?” Melinda asked.
“At
that little Chinese place on the corcer of Market and Liberty
streets.”
“See
you then.”Melinda said, as she slid out of the booth and walked
away.
Carl
watched her go and for the first time really looked at her. She was
an amazing woman, both inside and out. How in the world Randy would
screw up a relationship like they had is beyond him. Of course he had
always been closer to Melinda than to Randy. Even then, she never had
a harsh word to say about him.
Melinda
decided to 'do it up right' and go all out tonight. She wore a
beautiful dress she hadn't worn in years. Did her hair up off her
shoulders. Put on her best jewelry. Now she was ready for a night on
the town. A slight feeling of guilt ran through her. Why she should
she feel guilty, she's not the one who screwed everything up. She had
returned to flowers at the door, which were promptly put down the
garbage disposal. A letter attached that was not read., ripped up and
throw in the garbage. There were several messages on the answering
machine, none listened to or kept. In her mind she was threw with
Randy and couldn't possibley understand, let alone forgive him for
what he had done. The babysitter was there and Melinda headed out on
the town.
Carl
was waiting out from of the restaurant when she got there. He looked
her up and down, “Melinda, your absolutely beautiful tonight.”
It
was nice to have another man look at her that way. “Thank you Carl,
you look delightful as well.”
Motioning
toward the door, Carl said, “Should we?”
It
was a Friday night, but it wasn't too busy. They waited a few minutes
for an available table.
“So,
has Randy tried to reach you?” Carl asked.
“If
you mean the dozen red roses, a letter and several phone calls, yes,
he has”, Melinda said with almost a smile.
“And,
I assume this meant nothing.” Carl said
“Well,
the roses went down the garbage disposal, letter torn up and messages
deleted. Yes, it meant nothing”
“Remind
me never to be on your bad side.” Carl said. “Have you told
anyone yet? Or are you waiting to see how thing turn out?”
“You
mean, do I get back with him or not?
“Well,
ya, that was it, I guess” Carl motioned the waiter to bring more
drinks, this was going to be a long night.
“Right
now I can't think of anything he could say or do that would change my
mind. He betrayed me in a way I never thought possible,” Melinda
said. You could see the pain in her face. “I can't even imagine
what must have been going through his mind. I know he loves me. I
don't....well...you know, withhold certain things from him. He seems
happy at home, why on earth would be with someone else?
Carl
paused a minute or two, trying to put himself in Randy's shoes. “I
honestly don't know. You said you two fought that night?
“Yes,
but we always had fights and makeups, all couples do. He had stormed
out of the house that night and came home after I was in bed. I have
no idea what happened in between.”
“Obvouisly
a lot.” Carl said.
They
discussed the fight for awhile and the conversation turned toward
other topics from work to kids and futures. Melinda drank a lot that
night. She hardly ever drank. The time seems to fly by and before
they knew it was close to midnight. Carl had driven to the restaurant
and Melinda had taken a cab.
“It's
late, let me drive you home, Melinda.” Carl offered.
A
little tipsy, “Ok, Carl, I guess it is getting pretty late for me
to be out alone.”
“If
you wait just inside the front door, I'll pull my car around and take
you home.” Carl said.
On
the way to her house, Melinda was thinking of the last two days and
how unreal it all seemed. She never saw herself this far away,
emotionally, from Randy. She was angry, hurt and confused. She kept
blaming herself over and over again. Finally she said to Carl, “What
did I do to make this happen? What did I do or not do to make Randy
that upset to cheat on me like that? I just don't get it, no matter
how long I think about it.”
Carl
reached across and squeezed her hand. “Melinda, you didn't do
anything wrong. It was his decision. I don't know what was going on
inside his head. But, I think he's absolutely crazy for giving up you
and his life. Not saying there might be a chance for reconciliation,
but that's up to you and what you want.”
They
traveled in silence until they got to Melinda's house. It was late,
and she knew the kids had been in bed for awhile. She paused, “Do
you want to come in for a little. I just hate to go in to an empty
house. Do you understand?”
Carl
pulled the car up out front and turned it off. He got out and was to
Melinda's door before she could get out. He held it open for her as
she got out. She looked at him strangely. It had been so long since
someone had held a door for her. Even Randy had stopped doing those
things a long time ago. Once they got inside, Melinda paid the
babysitter and she left. Melinda was left standing there not quite
knowing what she should do.
Carl
said with a smile, “Relax, I don't bite. Just two friends sitting
and talking.”
“Do
you want a bear? I have some in the fridge.” Melinda said
“Sure,
sounds good.”
Melinda
was only gone a minute and brought back two cold bottles of beer,
handing one to Carl. She held hers up and said, “Cheers.”
He
lifted his, slightly clinging with hers and said, “Cheers”
“Melinda,”
Carl started, “I know the last 24 hours has been so hard on you.
And I want you to know I feel so bad about everything. Do you think
there is anyway that you and Randy can work things out?”
Melinda,
stared into space for a minute. “I don't know, Carl. We've always
been upright and honest with each other. Now I feel like I can never
trust him again.” Melinda started to cry again. “I can't imagine
what could have possibley pushed him to that point. I know he was
angry when he left the house, but he's done that before. He has
always come home and we have always made things right. But, on that
particular night, something was different. I may never know what
happened.”
Carl
was looking at his now empty beer bottle. Melinda said, “Let me get
you another.”
“You
sit still. “ Carl said, “Let me get us some more.”
As
the evening continued they talked and drank, and it seemed as though
Melinda was finally calming down and even enjoying talking to Carl.
Melinda realized she was getting rather drunk and tried to think
about how many beers she had consumed that evening. She couldn't even
come to a number. A lot, she was sure.
Carl
and Melinda now we're both quite drunk and laughing about things from
times past. They had a long history of families, going back to their
childhoods. Carl and Melinda had gone to school together, a long time
before she met Randy.
All
the sudden Melinda remember again what had happened the last 24 hours
and began to cry again. “I'm sorry,” she said to Carl, “All the
sudden everything hits me again out of the blue.”
Carl
moved next to her on the couch and put his arm over her and leaned
her onto his shoulder. “It's going to be OK, one way or another.
These things seem to have a way, sooner or later, to working
themselves out” Melinda sobbed on his should for some time. And
then seemed to calm down some, looking up at Carl.
“Thank
you for being such a good friend.” Melinda said, “I really don't
know how I would have made it through the last day without out.”
Being this close to Carl, was bringing up feelings she had only ever
had for Randy. She felt comfortable and safe.
Carl
starred into her eyes, thinking how beautiful Melinda was. She was
always an amazing woman, and Carl could admit to himself he was more
than a little jealous when she married Randy. Being this close to
her, he was feeling some sexual tension. Must be the alcohol. He
leaned in to kiss her. She didn't resist. He kissed her a little more
deeply and she responded, obviously feeling the same tension he was.
All
the sudden, she pulled back and said, “Oh my God, what am I doing?
What are you trying to do?” She looked as if he had tried to rape
her. The anger in her eyes was enough to snap Carl out of his
romantic state he had been in a few minutes ago.
“Me?
You didn't seem to resist if I remember correctly.” Carl said.
“I
am drunk and hurting and you are trying to take advantage of the
situation. Do you take me to be that stupid?” Melinda blurted out,
“Leave, now! I don't want you here anymore, ever. Randy is still my
husband no matter what he's done. I love him and this is not what I
wanted to do.”
“But,
Melinda,” Carl started, “we have been friends since childhood.
I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundary. It's the mixture of the beer
and how beautiful you are. I have always been in awe of your beauty.
Please don't let this all end here and now.”
Melinda
was even more stern, “Leave this minute or I will call the cops and
have you escorted out. One way or another your leaving this instant.”
She turned her back to him and headed upstairs.
She
reached her bedroom and slammed the door behind herself. Glancing at
the clock on the nightstand she couldn't believe the time. It was 4
am. The kids has to be up and ready for school in a few short hours.
She would grab a nap now, if she could sleep at all, and then sleep
while the kids were at school.
As
she thought, she couldn't sleep. She just lay there in an empty bed
and thought. The alcohol was wearing off and she was thinking much
straiter now. She was angry at Carl for trying to take advantage of
her. She would not have thought in a million years he would do
something so horrible.
Oh
my God, she thought to herself. Tonight could have mirrored Randy's
night with that woman. Not that Randy had know the woman, but still
the anger, mixed with too much alcohol, was the same scene that had
occurred here tonight with Carl. And she was tempted. She kissed
Carl, like she had never kissed another man except Randy. All the
sudden the guilt poured into her like a raging stream. She hadn't had
sex with Carl but she kissed him and was tempted to have him stay the
night. Her thoughts wondered to Randy. She had to be honest with
herself, even with what he did, she loved him dearly. She wondered
if, just maybe, they could make things right somehow. It would take
time for her anger to subside. And should she tell him about Carl?
She knew the answer. Yes, she had to. If he heard it from somewhere
else it would break the trust bond all over again. She finally
started to drift off to sleep.
The
alarm clock was exceptionally loud this morning. Realizing that she
had to get up to get the kids off to school, she dragged herself out
of bed. Looking at the time, she realized she had only had a couple
hours of sleep. Sleepily, she got the kids up and out the front door.
Then she sat on the couch, on the couch where she had kissed Carl
last night. She missed Randy. Since all the wooing that Randy tried
yesterday, there had been nothing. No phone calls, nothing. This,
actually worried her. Did he just decide to walk away now without
even to continue to try?
The
phone rang, jolting her out of her thoughts. She picked up the phone
“Hello?”
“Finally,
you answered the phone,” the voice of Randy came from the other end
of the phone. “Please, I beg of you Melinda, talk to me. Let's have
coffee somewhere. I just have to talk to you.” Randy's begging
sounded so sincere. All her fears of him just walking away subsided.
What to do now?
“Melinda,
you still there?”
Melinda
had been so lost in her own thoughts, she didn't realize there had
been such a great pause. “I'm still here. Just trying to think.”
“Well,
at least your talking to me today,” Randy said. “That's a step up
from yesterday.”
“Did
you say something about coffee?” Melinda asked.
“Yes,
I did. Would you please meet me for at least that?” Randy said,
hoping for a positive answer Seconds seemed like hours.
“Yes,
I think we should,” Melinda answered. “I just got the kids off to
school. Let me get myself together and I'll be leaving shortly. Where
do you want to meet?”
“How
about the donut shop down the street from the house?” Randy asked.
“That
sounds good. I'll be there in an hour or so.” Melinda responded.
“OK,
meet you there.”
Randy
had gotten to the shop early and was waiting in a booth when Melinda
showed up. When she saw him, all the love came back. But, then the
next thought was, he doesn't know about Carl yet and guilt
overwhelmed her. She quickly went over and sat at the booth with him.
“You
haven't ordered yet?” Melinda said, seeing nothing on the table.
“Nope,
wanted to wait for you.”
OK,
Melinda thought, points for his chivalry at least.
“What
do you want and I'll go and get it?” Randy asked.
“Oh,
just coffee for me please. I have a slightly sick stomach and
probably couldn't handle anything yet.” Melinda said. Too much beer
the night before. Actually only a few hours ago.
Randy
went and got two coffees and a couple donuts for himself. “So, I
want to tell you how estactic I am that you agreed to meet with me.
I'm not sure what changed your heart, but I'm sure glad it did.”
She
looked him straight into his eyes. She knew she couldn't lie to him
or keep anything from him. Same as he felt about his affair, he just
couldn't keep it from her cause of the love he had for her. Somewhat
of a bitter sweet thing, this confusing thing. “Randy,” she
started, “I have to tell you something before we go any further.”
Randy's
stomach suddenly felt like the bottom of yet was dropping out.
“What?”
“After
our argument yesterday I hung out with Carl last night. He was just
there to listen to me and comfort me. Totally Innocent, at least on
my part.” Melinda paused. OK, just tell him, he has to know. “We
came back to the house last night.” She saw the look on Randy's
face. “No, we didn't sleep together, not anything close to that.
However, there was a kiss, a romantic kiss. I stopped it right there
and demanded he leave. I am so sorry Randy.” She waited for his
reply.
Randy
was silent for a minute or two and then said, “Nothing more
happened other than that?”
“I
swear to you, nothing more happened. I told him to leave and that I
never want to see him again. I told him that even after what you have
done that you are still my husband and I love you dearly.”
Randy
looked at her, and said, “So, you have forgiven me for my
discretion?
“No,
but I got a different perspective from last night. I was very drunk
and hurt. I know now how it could have happened, but I am still angry
and hurt that you didn't stop it before it went too far.” Melinda
paused, not quite sure how to say that following part. “I was in
the same position, but with someone I know and care for. It would
have been easier for me to have slept with Carl then it would have
for you to sleep with some stranger. I might not ever understand
that.”
“And
I may never be able to make it up to you.” Randy said, “But, I
want a second chance. We have a beautiful life together. Obviously we
both love each other very much. What can I do?”
“I'm
not sure,” Melinda responded, “Maybe you should come home and we
can talk. Maybe after some time I will be able to trust you again. I
just want you to know it's going to take a lot of time and a lot of
patience on your part. We are not going back home and just pretend
none of this happened.”
“That's
more than I expected or could have hoped for,” Randy said happily.
“I'll take 'We'll work it out' any day over 'leave and I don't want
to see you again'.”
Randy
and Melinda went home and slowly put their relationship back on
track. Melinda chose never to speak to Carl again. After what he had
done, she just couldn't trust him. He had tried to take advantage of
her and turn her further away from Randy. If he had succeeded there
may never have even been a chance to work things out with Randy. They
never told the kids, family or friends so the didn't have to be
reminded of what happened. They went back to their normal life
eventually.
THE
END
