KATHY AND GREGG by Rhein1
Did you know that the average high school romance lasts about three weeks? Well, Kathy Thomas and Gregg Hollander beat that record by about forty years. They met when she was but a freshman and he a sophomore. From that point they were inseparable. Yes, theirs was that true mythic love that seems to stand the test of time and remain pure.
Now before you go and get misty over this nice sweet couple I have to tell you that Kath and I were married for about thirty of those years and I thought that we actually were happy. Our marriage was satisfying one and when Kathy gave birth to our daughter, Joan, it brought us even closer together. All in all I was a contented man during those years.
Allow me to make some introductions to bring you up to speed on this torrid tale. Me, I'm Thomas Marsh and Kathy is my loving wife as I have already mentioned, for about the last thirty years. As I have also previously mentioned, Kath and Gregg were an item throughout high school and yes she did lose her virginity to Gregg. Now as all high school romances go they eventually come to an end. Only in this case it was more like a temporary hiatus.
As Gregg was a year ahead of Kathy in school he set out to earn his fortune after graduating so that he could marry Kathy. That is the way my wife tells it, and she has told it often over the course of our marriage. Anyway, after leaving school Gregg went to work on the Alaskan pipeline with his uncle and that is where the problems began. It seems that Gregg stopped writing soon after landing there and that left Kath in the lurch for her senior year. She finally ended up going out with some kid named Sam or Simpson or some S name but it wasn't serious as her heart still belonged to her one and only, Gregg.
Kath waited like the dutiful girlfriend but Gregg was absent and not very communicative. Apparently, Gregg really liked working on the pipeline and began a rather nomadic life figuring that his dear Kathy was still waiting for him to make his fortune and sweep her up in his arms upon his return. Well, that didn't exactly happen.
The reality of life is that things move on and nothing ever stays the same. That applied to Kathy also as she went to college, got her degree and met me at a party when she was twenty four. I was a bit older than her at twenty nine but we made a good match. I fell in love with her the moment I met her and I thought she had done the same with me.
Our marriage was fairly normal and the only blemish on our courtship was when a letter arrived two days before our wedding ceremony from Gregg. Just like the prodigal son he was finally coming home and wanted her to meet him. Thank God that Kath's mother talked her out of going to him telling her that her new life beckoned and not to waste herself on that, "Waste-about!" as she referred to him. After some tense emotional moments in which I was worried she actually was going to call off the wedding Kathy finally went through with the ceremony becoming my wife, Mrs. Kathy Marsh.
When Gregg finally showed up it was too late as Kath and I were already on our honeymoon. Gregg, in a fit of despondency apparently enlisted in the Marines.
After the honeymoon we settled into our new lives, Kath as a nurse and me an underwriter for a major insurance company. OK, so insurance isn't glamorous, but it is steady and paid the bills. My marriage was solid but there was only one tiny hiccup that kept recurring. Gregg started corresponding with Kathy and she cheerfully wrote him back. When I asked her if it was necessary she got indignant and said, "Oh Tom! Don't be jealous, he's an old friend who is lonely and in the marines and I am just writing to keep his spirits up."
Well, I can't plead ignorance as I knew he wrote her regularly and I also knew that she wrote him back regularly. Neither her family nor I could convince her to stop writing until she got the letter telling her he had married a girl where he was stationed. That stopped the correspondence and my peace of mind returned. The next three years I think she received three Christmas cards from Gregg and that was it.
During this hiatus from Gregg our daughter was born, Joan. With our child Kathy and I came together like a team of matched mules and worked hard building a home and equity so that Joan would have a good life. Yes, Life was good back in those days with both of us working together to raise and care for our child, but as is always the case, something will always spoil it.
One day a letter arrived for Kathy from Gregg. She never spoke about it but I noticed after that our consumption of stamps started to rise. I deduced that she was writing to Gregg again but I let it go. After all he was off somewhere making the world safe for democracy and I was here making my families world safe from want. If they wanted to write each other it really was their business regardless of how I felt about it.
Eventually Kath began to share some of her information from Gregg with me. He had gotten divorced from his first wife but now had another. He had seen combat and was apparently highly decorated. I listened halfheartedly but Kathy spoke with pride over "her soldier". I corrected her saying that he would be upset being called a soldier as he was a marine. Kathy gave me a cute giggle and said, "Oops! I guess I'd better watch that!" Watching her talk about him really depressed me but I hoped that someday she would finally get over him and focus on her family.
Well, she never did. Gregg stayed in the Marines for thirty years, married and divorced three times and now had enough medals to make General Patton envious. It was with dismay that I realized that while Gregg had become more glamorous in my wife's eyes over the years I had only gotten old and predictable. My one hope was that Gregg, when he was discharged, would settle down somewhere far away from us.
Unfortunately, he didn't and that is where we are now. Joan, our daughter grew up and is now married to a great guy, Frank Campbell. The other great news is that they are expecting their first child. I am now sixty and looking forward to the magic number 65 so I can go off and spend my last few years in peace and retirement. Kathy still looks beautiful and still can make my heart pump fast. Little did I know that my life's tranquility would soon become a thing of the past.
It was a Thursday when I came home to find Kath dressed to the nines telling me that we have a reservation for dinner at seven. At first I thought I had dropped the ball and missed an anniversary or a birthday but after a few quick calculations I knew I hadn't. Well, I played along and went to our bedroom to clean up and try to look somewhat in the same league as Kath.
Dinner was superb and the restaurant was packed which led me to believe that Kath had something else on her mind other than just good food. Towards the end of our meal I looked at her and stated, "OK, you can drop the bomb now I'm in a good mood and will not make a scene."
One of my quirks is that I will never get mad in public. Being in insurance you never lose your cool where it can be seen and it kind of overflowed into my private life. Kath knew this and over the years whenever she had something to say that she felt would upset me she simply took me out to public place to break the news.
Tonight I felt it was bad just by the look on her face. Thirty years together and you get to know how to read your mate. Tonight I was getting bad vibes all over the board and I just knew it was going to ruin my night. She finally spoke the bad news with trepidation, "Tom I think you should know that Gregg is back."
I suddenly felt queasy but I was sure it was not the quality of the food I had just consumed. I stared at her for a few moments waiting for the other shoe to drop but Kath just looked pensively at me. Finally, I broke the awkward silence, "When you say, "back" do you mean as on leave?"
She shook her head from side to side and very quietly spoke, "No Tom, he's not on leave. He's been discharged and he bought a house two streets over from us." With those words my panic level began to rise and I quickly interjected, "And he's going to live there with his what, his third wife?"
Again, she quietly spoke, "No he's gotten divorced again but this time he had to lose some of his pension to her." I tried to quell my anger but I couldn't and I said, "Shit!" just a little too loud. Some of the patrons nearby us looked at me in surprise.
My expletive was not over the fact that Gregg had lost some of pension to his ex but that he had moved close to us and I needed to know his motivation for that. I became more proactive, "Kathy, have you seen Gregg?"
Her expression answered my question succinctly. She hadn't even answered when I fired my next question at her, "When and how Kathy?"
She looked a little queasy too as she answered, "He stopped by our house yesterday to let me know that we were now neighbors."
My heart was beating like mad and I pushed on with my interrogation even while fearing what I may find out, "Did you sleep with him Kath?"
Again her face spoke volumes before she rattled out, "I did Tom but it is not what you think!"
I looked deep into her eyes and almost growled, "What I am thinking Kath is that my faithful spouse has slept with someone other than her husband. Now explain to me how that is not what I am thinking!"
"I did it because he needed me Tom! When he came over he looked so lost. He is suffering from the PATS or something and with the divorce he needed me terribly, so I tried to help him. I love you Tom, but I realize that I still love Gregg too."
Well, there it was, my wife had slept with Gregg and he was using PTSD and a divorce as his entrance ticket back into Kath's heart and her vagina. I looked her straight in the eyes and spoke as decisively as I had ever spoken to her in our marriage, "Alright Kath, damage done. We can move past it and get our lives back but you can NEVER sleep with him again! Do you understand me?"
She looked at me with tears in her eyes as she spoke softly but with determination, "I can't promise that Tom. I love him and he needs me even more than you do."
I was shocked to hear those words coming from her mouth but was cognizant of the fact that a public restaurant was not the place to air our dirty laundry. I called the waiter over and asked for the check.
Ten minutes later we were in the car and heading home when I pushed it again, "Kath, how can you sleep with him knowing that I am your husband? Didn't you mean any of those vows we took together nearly thirty years ago; you remember the part about forsaking all others?"
She openly started crying now and between her sobs she blurted out, "I am sorry Tom but he needs me and we have found each other again! I can't bear the thought of losing him...or you!"
I was stymied, what could I do or say that would make her give him up. With anger tingeing my voice I spoke loudly, "Well then what do you propose? We alternate weekends? He gets you for New Year's but I get you for Christmas? Come off of it Kath! You can't have two men!"
She stopped sniffling and looked at me with a strange look on her face, "What about a leave of absence Tom?"
Now it was my time to be confused, "What the hell are you talking about Kath?"
She warmed to the subject, "Look Tom, remember about 18 years ago when you took a leave of absence for a year to go back to school and get your master's degree? Well, you went, did what needed to be done and then came back to your old position and everything was fine!"
I shook my head in irritation, "Kath, how can you equate my getting a degree that would benefit the company and my family with your liaison with this shithead which only benefits the two of you?"
At this point I pulled into my driveway and switched off the engine. Kath reached out and lovingly touched my face as she made her plea, "Tom I missed my last year of high school with Gregg and if I had had that year we might not be facing the situation we are in tonight. Give me that year Tom and I will get Gregg out of my system and I promise you I will be the best wife I can for you. I need that time Tom, please!"
I was sad, hurt, shocked and depressed and made the worst mistake of my life by allowing this breach of faith, "OK Kath, if that is what you want, you just go ahead and do what you please. But, and this a big but, don't ask me to sanction this and just to be clear for the entire year I don't want to see you or hear from you in any capacity. Is that understood?" I was hoping that the draconian parameters I put on her leave of absence might just check her enthusiasm but it was to no avail.
It appeared that she had not heard a word I said after OK but she reached over and kissed my cheek saying only, "Thank you Tom, you'll see! You won't regret this!"
I shook my head and said, "Too late, I regret it already."
That night she wanted to make love to me but I just couldn't. Thinking about her with Gregg made me sick and I didn't want to be physical with her. As we prepared for bed I grabbed my pillow and told her I was sleeping in the guest room. I could see that this hit her hard and I was glad because maybe now she would reconsider where this leave of absence would lead to.
The next morning I awoke and prayed that last night was just an aberration and that Kath would think differently in the light of day. I was wrong. As I came into the kitchen she was making breakfast and looking like she had just won the lottery. She smiled at me and pointed to the calendar we had on the wall. I couldn't help but notice that today was circled with a bold black line, the date, June the 6th.
I sat at the table and thought of the irony of that date; in 1944 thousands of soldiers and sailors had sought to free Europe from a tyrant. Today, I lost my wife to another oppressor. Kathy was almost giddy as she brought me my breakfast. As she set it down in front of me she spoke, "I know you are worried my love but one year from today I will return to you and be yours alone. I really need this time to work it through and get him out of my system and I promise you that you won't be sorry." She fairly beamed at me as she spoke again, "I called Gregg this morning while you were still sleeping and told him all about you allowing me a leave of absence and he is picking me up in an hour."
My heart was sinking with every word she spoke but I had to give it one more shot. "Kath, you don't have to do this and I wish you would give it more time before you do this foolish thing. You can't really be sure that in one year you will have gotten over this clown. You need to just put him out of your head and work on getting our marriage back on track. I am asking you to not take a chance on destroying us."
She smiled at me as if I was daft saying sweetly, "Tom, I know how much you love me by giving me this time. Trust me, I know what I'm doing and in the end I will be back and our marriage will even be stronger. Now, I have to finish packing sweetheart so finish your breakfast." And like that she walked out of the kitchen and for all intents and purposes our marriage too.
I finished eating although my food had no taste and rose to get dressed. As I walked into our bedroom I noticed that Kath had three big suitcases full of her clothes and toiletries. She smiled at me and sweetly said, "I guess I have all I need. Will you be a dear and take these bags to the porch for Gregg?"
I looked at her blankly before replying, "No." Her face seemed to fall as she was shocked at my response. I followed my negative response up, "Look, if you're hell bent to destroy thirty years of marriage then you and shithead can take your bags out together. I will not help you in any way for you to go to this jerks bed. Got it?" Kath looked as if she was going to cry before she testily replied, "He is not a shithead! Gregg is a wonderful man and a hero who served our country! That's more than you ever did!"
I looked away muttering, "Yeah, he got medals, three meals a day and travel the globe while I got to spend five days a week in a job to provide for you and our daughter. I guess you're right, it was nothing."
Kathy dragged all her luggage down stairs to the drive and shot me evil looks with each bag she took. Within a few minutes a car pulled into our drive and a man who I can only assume was Gregg got out and began to load up her things. From our porch Kathy called out to him that she would be right there and then came back inside to see me.
We awkwardly stood facing each other and I broke the silence first, "If you are really going to do this foolish thing remember the ground rules, I don't want to see you or talk to you during this entire year." I think that it was starting to really sink into her fevered brain what this might mean as she meekly replied, "I understand Tom but it will work out you'll see. Remember that you agreed to give me a year." She waited for me to say something but I was mute. Finally, with a more confused look on her face she quietly said," I really do love you" She leaned in to kiss me on the lips but I turned my face at the last second so that she just brushed my cheek. I spoke rapidly, "I can't kiss you knowing that you are going to him." She started to tear up and then ran from the house and straight into his arms. As I stood in the front door I watched her kiss him deeply and rage welled up from deep inside my soul. Two minutes later my driveway was as empty as my heart and I truly realized that my wife was now the woman of another man.
I called in sick to work that morning and immediately went to the hardware store for new locks. I worked all morning replacing the locks in the house and changing the security codes on the alarm system. The good news was that it kept me busy and my mind off of Kathy but when I was done the sadness returned like a wave breaking on a beach.
Next, I did what any man would do; I unplugged our house phone and proceeded to get gloriously drunk. The bender I was on was really more of a quest for finding relief from the pain I was in over losing Kath, but it was a bust. My bout with bacchanalia lasted through Sunday morning. At that point I ran out of booze and it was good as I felt that I was going to die, physically, spiritually and mentally.
I went to bed and fell into a deep sleep only to woken by a pounding somewhere in the house. I woke slowly and stumbled along trying to find the noise which turned out to be my daughter Joan pounding on the front door.
When I let her in she looked shocked at my condition and the odor of booze that clung to the entire house. Her first words were, "What the Hell is going on Dad?"
I tried to focus, the hammers in my skull were making it hard but I managed to croak out, "What do you mean?"
She looked at me as if I had grown a second head and at that point I was wondering if I had too. She grabbed me and headed to the kitchen, "You need some coffee and food Dad and then you're going to explain to me what brought this all on."
An hour later with some food on my stomach and coffee in my hand I related everything I knew about her mother and Gregg. To say she was shocked was an understatement, "Dad, let me get this straight. She wants a leave of absence from your marriage for a year to reconnect with her old high school flame and let the romance run its course?" I nodded and replied, "Yup, that's about it."
Her next words were the same ones I had been asking myself since Friday, "What are you going to do Dad?"
I looked at her and the words just seemed to emerge from my lips without conscious thought, "Tomorrow I am calling in sick again and going to see a lawyer".
She looked sad and began to make excuses for her mother, "I can't believe Mom would do anything like that. Could it be a mental breakdown?" I looked at her with a blank face as I woodenly replied, "I have no idea Joanie"
She looked at me with a sadness I had never seen on her face before, "I don't know what to say Dad. I want to tell you to think about it but to be honest with you it sounds like your best option."
Joan stayed with me for a few hours more and made a dinner for me to eat later. When she left she kissed me and said again how sorry she was. As she was leaving I asked, "Why did you show up here today anyway?"
She looked into my eyes, "Mom called and asked me to come by and check on you but she never told me why or where she was." I nodded like I understood, which I didn't, "Ok, well thanks and drive carefully sweetheart."
Monday I did call in sick and also saw a lawyer. The upshot was that even though a divorce was a slam dunk in my favor for spousal abandonment and it might preclude her getting half of my retirement the other assets of the marriage were still fair game. For the first time I realized that Kathy's year hiatus might be just the ticket to eliminate some of those assets.
The next three weeks rolled by quickly. I was really surprised how soon I adjusted to being alone. The upside is that I realized that I felt like a weight had been lifted from me as I no longer felt responsible for another human being. The downside was waking up alone and going to bed alone.
I didn't see or hear of Kathy until mid-July. I had stopped in for a few drinks on a Saturday at Flynn's, an upscale tavern in our town. I was sitting at the bar when the two of them walked in hand and hand like two lovesick teenagers. They were so involved with each other that they never even noticed me sitting at the bar.
As I watched them I took particular note of Gregg. He was well muscled and moderately attractive and I could see why Kathy was attracted. But he seemed to almost dominate her as she seemed to cater to his every whim. He talked and she listened. He moved and she accommodated him in every way.
When she got up to go to the ladies room she finally saw me sitting at the bar and flashed me a tentative smile. Upon her exit from the ladies room she hesitantly came over to me. "Hi Tom, how have you been?"
I wanted to tell her to scram but I kept my manners and smiled before replying, "Oh about as well as can be expected when your wife of thirty years just leaves you for some piece of scum. What else can I do for you?"
She seemed confused by my sarcastic response but stood firm, "Tom I need to get back in the house. I left some personal things there and when I tried the other day my key wouldn't work."
I kept smiling and used a friendly tone as I responded, "Oh wow Kath, sorry about that! However you should haven't been surprised that your key doesn't work at my house as you no longer live there. As for getting back in, I don't think so, but thanks for asking."
She just stood looking at me with a bewildered expression before I spoke again, "I guess you'd better get back to your boyfriend before he gets all shook up." I could see the tears now welling up as she whirled and left while I returned to more important matters, namely finishing my drink.
Two minutes later I felt a rough hand on my shoulder as I was spun around in my chair to be greeted by a very ticked off looking Gregg. "Hey asshole you made my girl cry and I don't like that!" I could sense he was getting ready to punch me and my heart started pounding as I knew that this guy probably could kill me before any help could arrive.
With more conviction than I felt I went on the offensive, "Hold on Spartacus! If anyone has a right to be ticked it's me! That is my wife you are talking about not your girl and since you stole her you don't have jackshit to say about what goes on between the two of us. Now get this straight asshole, you can punch me out and impress her but how impressed are the cops going to be with you?"
I could see the wheels spinning in his head and knew that Gregg was not one of the great thinkers of the world but it heartened me enough to continue on with my verbal onslaught. "Now shit for brains you have two choices, One, punch me out and spend a year in jail, or two, back out of my face and go sit your dumb ass down!"
My heart was pounding in my chest and inside a part of my brain was screaming "why did you antagonize him! He will kill you!" but I kept up my façade of bravado as Gregg stood there mulling over his options. Thankfully the manager came over at that point and asked what the problem was. Gregg looked at him belligerently before replying, "Nothing" as he turned and slowly retreated back to Kathy. Five minutes later they paid their bill and left.
As I went home that night I wondered what personal thing Kathy had wanted from the house and determined to find out. I spent about three hours going through cabinets and drawers without luck until I pulled out the drawers from her bureau. Under the drawers were letters addressed to Kathy from Gregg.
As I read through them it became very clear that this year of being with Gregg had been in the works for a very long time. One of the letters dated five years earlier stated;
"It was a relief to know that you still want me as much as I want you. When I come home I want us to be together so you will have to find some way of getting rid of that wimp of husband of yours."
Reading through them all was like reading a trashy porn novel. In most of them he describes either what he intends to do to Kathy or what they did do in high school. By the time I finished I was finding it a lot easier to be without Kath.
I did not see or hear from Kath until September 1st, which was my birthday. Coming home from work that day I found a covered pot and a birthday card on the porch. I took them inside where I found that she had cooked pot roast which was my favorite dinner. The card was to wish me a happy birthday but she had written in it;
"Tom, I know that we are not to communicate but I couldn't just ignore the birthday of a man I love so much. I dream about us at night my love and know that when this year is over I will be yours completely and he will be gone. Please don't ever stop loving me or give up on us. Kath"
My daughter Joan had kept pretty close tabs on me since Kath had left and she called me for my birthday. After some small talk she finally got around to her real reason for calling, "Dad, you know that my due date is in three weeks, right?"
How could I forget the birth of my first grandchild, "Yes I know sweetie. You and Frank must be getting so excited."
A momentary lapse in the conversation alerted me to the potential problem when she spoke again, "Dad, Frank and I went out to dinner with Mom and Gregg. Mom wants to be there when my baby is born and wants Gregg to be with her. I know that you and Mom agreed that you would not communicate during the year but can you make an exception for me? Just this once, please!"
I was a little taken aback by finding out that Joan and her husband had dined with those two but I would not spoil the birth of her first child. "OK Joan, she can come and bring shithead along if she must."
Joan corrected me immediately, "Dad stop calling him names. He is not that bad of a guy actually and he is making Mom really happy. I haven't seen her so euphoric in years."
Now I was taken aback and then I felt a flush of anger overtake me as I spat out, "Wow, first you're all dining together and now you are defending him. I don't know what he has but I sure wish I could bottle it! Soon he will have taken my entire family from me. Just out of curiosity when are you going to start calling him Dad?"
She spoke up quickly and I could hear the regret in her voice, "Dad I am so sorry! I didn't mean it to come out sounding like that! I can imagine how you are feeling and I really am sorry!"
I cut off her apology and coldly said, "It's alright, forget it. Listen, I have some stuff on the oven that I have to take care of. Be good okay?" She said she loved me and rang off.
I guess it was then that I realized that my life would never be the same again and that it was time to start fighting back.
First, start liquidating my assets to get my net worth down. Second, get out of my funk and start to get back into the world again.
The next few days were busy ones for me. First I got some advice from my lawyer on what I can do with my assets legally. Check. Next, I got a little self-protection insurance in the form of a Taser. I figured that next time Gregg was coming at me I would not be able to talk my way out of it. Third I booked a trip to Vegas in October. And fourth I went on line to find a woman of my age who wants a good man for a stable long term relationship.
With regards to my assets I could spend them or give them away. As my wife is not living with me it apparently is up to me how to disburse our assets. The reason I found this interesting is that it gave me quite a bit of leeway in what my future plans would hold.
When Joan delivered her baby I was at work and my secretary took the call. The call came from her husband Frank and he was overjoyed to report that I now had a grandson. I congratulated him and told him I would be right there.
When I arrived at the hospital I found out which room Joan was in and went directly there. As I approached the door I accidently overheard her and Kathy talking. "Mom, what you are doing to Dad is unbelievably senseless! Do you really want to lose him for Gregg?"
Kath's voice was soothing, "Don't get excited Joan I am not going to lose your Dad, he loves me too much to ever let me go. Besides, what I have with Gregg right now is magical. It's hard for me to describe it, but every day is just like it was in high school only better now that we can sleep together. He treats me like I'm his princess and every night he curls my toes! I have never had such wonderful sex in my life! I will truly miss it when I go back to your father."
Joan sounded disgusted, "Mom, I don't want to hear about you and Gregg's sex life. I admit he is a terrific guy and you two do seem to fit so well together, but I want my baby to have grandparents that are together, not divorced or bickering. Please Mom, you have to go back to Dad and you'd better do it before it's too late. He might be boring and predictable and definitely not in the same league as Gregg but Daddy will always be there for you. Gregg is a dreamboat without any doubt, but sooner or later all boats sail. Dad on the other hand is a rock; he won't ever leave you if you make this right. Beg him on your knees if you have, but get him to take you back!" She paused for a moment before making an impassioned plea, "Mom, don't wait too long or I'm afraid you'll lose him."
Kath's voice once again showed how deluded she really was, "You don't have to worry about your Dad and me, when the time comes that I'm over Gregg he will gladly take me back."
Joan's voice was a little skeptic, "I understand that you think you know Dad, but I have seen and talked to him and he is definitely changing and it doesn't seem for the better. He seems bitter and more detached since you left him. Are you really willing to risk thirty years of a good marriage all over being with your high school crush?"
I had heard enough so I chose that moment to enter the room and with a forced smile called out, "Hey Mommy, congratulations on your new son. You two kids must be delighted!" I went over and hugged Joan but pointedly ignored Kathy. I know it was immature to ignore her but it was getting easier to do in my life.
Kathy gave me a dirty look but Joan was elated as she asked, "Did you see him yet Dad?" I shook my head, "No baby, I came directly up to see how you are doing."
Finally, tired of being snubbed, Kathy interjected in a less than cordial tone, "Hello Tom how have you been?" I looked at her for a moment replying in a polite but non-committal tone, "Good." And then I returned my focus to Joan asking her about the delivery and the name for the child.
At the last question Joan's face lit up and she burst out happily with, "Frank and I both agree that we want to name our baby Thomas, after you Dad." It was at that point that Kathy sullenly left the room telling us she was going to see the baby.
When she left I took Joan's hands and held them as the tone of my voice became serious, "Joan you already know that your Mom and I are probably not going to make it." I could see the truth of my words hit her hard, "No Dad, don't think like that! She'll come around soon and be home again!" I felt my eyes misting as I continued, "Baby, I realize now that I was never enough for your mother which explains why she continued to write shithead. I guess something will have to happen soon."
Her face registered shock and disbelief, "What???"
I smiled a sad smile, "In the next few months I am going to start divorce proceedings after I tidy things up just a bit."
She was in tears as she replied, "Oh Dad, I told Mom that she should be begging you to come back but it really is too late isn't it."
I nodded my assent. "Yes, I couldn't take her back now. The memories of her deceit would be too much for me but please don't tell her anything yet alright?"
She nodded and then pulled me down for a kiss. We talked a few more minutes about a myriad number of things but pointedly avoided all reference to my wife or her boy toy. Finally, I told her I would be back tomorrow and left her to see the baby.
I found my way to the nursery and discovered my grandson among the numerous babies there. I was in awe over how small and precious he was and I realized that he was beautiful. Frank immediately came over to my side putting himself between me and Kathy and Gregg. With a smile on his face Frank handed me a cigar, "Here Dad have a smoke to celebrate!" I put the cigar in my pocket and clapped him on the back, "I'll save it for later son. Thank you."
Looking at my wife and her lover holding hands like two kids made me sick to my stomach, "Look Frank, I'll come back tomorrow when it isn't so crowded, if you know what I mean." Frank smiled a knowing smile, "I understand completely Dad and don't blame you a bit."
As I was beginning to leave Kath sheepishly called out to me, "Gee Tom, it seems like just the other day that we were bringing our baby home and now it seems so strange that our baby now has one of her own. I don't know where the time went but it went too soon."
I looked at her still holding hands with Gregg and replied as noncommittally as I could, "Well Kath it looks like you two now have all the time in the world." She looked perplexed as I left them standing there.
October came and it turned out to be the best month for me since Kathy left. I took a trip to Vegas with the intention of playing the tables and losing as an excuse to draw down our joint assets. But what made the trip so good was a hooker I met while I was there. Her name was Miranda and she was a mature woman in her fifties. I was surprised that she was still in the occupation but she said a lot of men want an older woman and in my case she was right. Miranda was expensive but she made me feel more alive than I had in years. For the first time since she left me I really didn't miss Kath at all.
Miranda was good both in bed and out of it and seemed to take an interest in me as she milked me for all the information about my soon to be ex-wife and her new lover. Before the night was over she knew as much about me as I did myself. Miranda was stunned by my story and as she was leaving that night she gently caressed my face, "Tom I have only known you a few hours but I want to tell you something, you are a good man and that is not all that common. Trust me on this as I should know, I've seen and been with thousands of men and I can count on one hand the number I truly liked and respected. You are one of them. Your wife doesn't have a clue what she is going to lose. One thing though, don't let her actions and stupidity change you. You are honest and good and those are your strengths. Don't corrupt them. And if you are ever back in town call me as I would really like to see you again."
Miranda and Vegas left me more confused than I had been when I arrived. I thought about Miranda's words and realized that she had a valid point. I was going to screw over Kathy for betraying me but she had been a good wife and mother for thirty years before the betrayal. No, I would be fair and walk away from this marriage a broke but honest man.
When I returned from Vegas I told my lawyer to start preparing the paperwork for the end of the year. I also decided that I needed to know a little more about Gregg Hollander. With the recommendation of my lawyer I hired a firm to get his history from high school to now. The firm was expensive but I didn't care as half of it would be coming from Kathy's end. The firm was also reputed to be very thorough and assured me that they would have all the information I requested before Christmas.
I also asked my boss about relocating within the company. At first he was shocked as I had always said I would never move, but that is when I still had a family. He told me he would make enquires in the home office and let me know.
Thanksgiving was the next hurdle I had to get over. Joan called me about a week before the holiday to ask if I would have dinner with them. When I asked if her mother and the slug were going to be present she hesitantly told me yes. When I heard that I firmly told her no and hung up.
Surprisingly it was my son-in-law who next approached me. Frank called my office and asked to meet me. We agreed on the time and I met him in a bar downtown that was convenient to both of our work places, ostensibly for a quiet drink.
That night when we met I could see that he was agitated. After our preliminary greeting I wound up ordering two double scotches. I could sense that something was bothering my son-in-law so I sat back and listened to Frank fill me in on what was happening with my wife and daughter. "Dad, you wouldn't believe the two of them! It's Gregg this and Gregg that! You'd swear that he was that guy on the beer commercial, you know the most interesting man in the world." He stopped talking to take a sip of his drink.
I was surprised as I thought he was coming here tonight to talk me into coming over for thanksgiving. I had to know so I asked, "Do I take it Frank that you don't like the esteemed Mr. Hollander?"
Frank looked at me with anger written all over his face, "Dad, that man is an arrogant, self-centered, self -serving blow hard. He is so in love with himself that for the life of me I don't see where he has anything left over for Kathy!" Realizing what he just said his face became crestfallen and he quickly backpedaled, "I'm sorry Dad I meant no disrespect!"
I gave him a smile, "Don't worry son, none taken. When did you start calling her Kathy instead of Mom?"
He looked downcast, "When she left you. I have never had any respect for her since then."
I was interested now, "Why does it bother you that she left me if I may ask?"
His face once again was aglow with anger. "I'm sure that you've noticed in all the time I have been with Joan that I never talked about my parents with you guys and I appreciated you never asking about them. The truth is my mother cheated on my father. Well, my parents split after that and my father never got over it. He drank himself into an early grave and my Mom was killed with her lover in a car wreck. I don't like cheaters and now that Kathy is one I really cannot stand her anymore. I put up a front for Joan's sake but I'm worried."
I had never known about Frank's parents before and felt his pain but I was also perplexed as to the source of his worry. "Frank, you say you're worried. What is bothering you son?"
He took a long pull on his drink and called for another round, then he faced me, "I'm probably going to piss you off when I tell you this but you asked. The old saying, like mother like daughter scares me. If Kathy has turned into a cheating slut and keeps harping to my wife how glorious it is, how long do you think it will be before Joan gets it into her head to try out some new talent also? We've got one cheating slut how long before we have two?"
My eyebrows rose on that one, "I think I see your point." I joined him in taking a long pull on my drink as I pondered my next move.
"Look Frank, don't get disheartened. I have some irons in the fire and I think things might begin to change by the New Year. I also want to tell you strictly between us that I have some plans that should make Christmas a good one for you and Joan but not so much for others if you get my drift."
Frank smiled for the first time since sitting at the bar and spent the next fifteen minutes questioning me but to no avail. As we were wrapping up our meeting I smiled again, "Didn't you forget something Frank?"
He looked perplexed, "Not that I can think of Dad?"
I took him by the shoulder, "Aren't you supposed to try and convince me to be the bigger man and come for Thanksgiving?" Franks grin spread across his face like a flooding river, "Sorry, OK, are you coming for Thanksgiving Dad?" I shook my head in a negative response, "No, but I appreciate the invite."
Joan called me twice more before Thanksgiving to plead with me to come until I finally put it in perspective, "Look Joan when your mother left me for that thing last June I told her there would be no communication between us for the year she wanted off from our marriage. I have already broken that rule once at the birth of little Thomas but I won't break bread with them. Is that understood?"
The holiday came and I had a frozen dinner. I was alone and sad but in a better place than if I had had to watch Kathy and Gregg make doe eyes at each other. December rolled in and with it the specter of another family holiday. I dreaded it but knew that this would be the last one I would have to endure.
December proved to be a fruitful month. First, the company offered me a position in Spokane Washington starting in January if I was interested. I told them I was. Second, the private investigators report came back on Mr. Hollander and it was a doozy! Apparently, old Gregg had three wives who all divorced him for cheating. Add to that two children from women other than his wives which he was still paying child support on and the fact that his last wife got half of his pension in their divorce. The cherry on this messed up sundae was that Gregg was busted from E-8 to E-6 during his last year in the corps. In short, his financial and moral position seemed rather weak.
The last bit of good news is that Kathy would be served with divorce papers the first working day after Christmas. Yes, I felt the old holiday spirit flowing through me now.
I called Joan and asked her about plans for Christmas and once again she pleaded with me to make the babies first holiday a real family affair. I asked if Gregg was to be in attendance and Joan got miffed at me, "Dad you might as well get used to it. He is a part of our family now whether you like it or not." I curtly stopped her dead in her tracks, "Your right, I don't like it but for the baby's sake, I will be there."
Joan seemed truly happy as she cried out. "Thank you Daddy! This will make everyone so happy!" I was fairly confident that it wouldn't, but who was I to spoil the fun.
Two days later after getting home from work the phone was ringing and without thinking I picked it up, "Hello!" The line was awkwardly quiet and I was about to hang up when a voice finally responded, "Tom it's me Kath."
I could have been knocked over by a feather, "What's wrong Kath? Are you hurt?"
Her voice seemed timid as she spoke, "No, I'm fine Tom but I wanted to thank you for agreeing to come to Christmas. I know I have hurt you Tom and I am beginning to realize just how much, but I needed to tell you I am thankful because we have never been apart for any holiday in the last thirty years. I was miserable at Thanksgiving without you and have been thinking so much about us lately..."
I cut into her trip down memory lane. "Well Kathy I am glad to hear you actually think about us once in a while but I must point out that when you started this whole leave of absence crap I stipulated that there would be no communication between us. I have relented that rule for one day, Christmas. Therefore I think we should end this call now. Good bye." As I hung up the phone I felt terrible as I had never spoken to her as harshly in our thirty years together. But as terrible as I felt over my words it was not as terrible as I felt the day she walked out on me.
The month went slowly and I got my Christmas shopping done with plenty of time to spare. I wanted to make sure that I had gifts for everyone on Christmas day. I also packed up all the things I was taking to my new job and rented a U-Haul to drive across the country. I also talked to a nice woman in my new office who said that she had picked out a couple of very nice furnished apartments close to the office. The good news was that she was going to personally show them to me when I arrived in Spokane. Yes, things were going well for me in December.
Christmas day I arrived at Joan and Frank's to find that Kathy and her thing had already gotten there. Joan grabbed me and gave me a big hug as I came in with a bag of presents. She made a comment about what a surprise and then headed back to continue making dinner. I only smiled thinking, "If she only knew what a surprise." Frank shook my hand and took my coat as I quickly asked, "Can I see my grandson?" Frank nodded and told me he was in the nursery for a nap but I could look in.
I snuck in quietly and looked at the sleeping form before me. I felt a river of emotions running through me knowing that I would soon be leaving him but I knew I couldn't stay. I felt a movement behind me as Kathy came up silently to stand at my side. I caught the irony of it that this is where she should have been since June, by my side.
Kathy looked over at me and in a whisper said, "We have a beautiful grandson Tom."
I was filled with sadness as I responded, "Yes Kathy but who will he be growing up to call grandpa, me or moron or both?"
Kathy seemed surprised at the question, "Why you silly! You're the only grandfather this child will ever have Tom."
I quietly mumbled, "Let's hope your right Kathy." And then I left the room.
The next few hours were interesting as Frank and I socialized while Joan, Kathy and Gregg seemed to be in a world of their own. I was disappointed in how quickly my daughter had succumbed to Gregg's charms. Frank just looked disgusted but I told him to hang on as things were going to change tonight. He managed a twinkle in his eye as he conspiratorially said, "I hope so Dad, I can't stand this asshole around her much longer. At this rate he'll be making a play for Joan soon."
Dinner was served and while the food was delicious the company was lacking. Again, I did not feel the need to engage in conversation with either my wife or her paramour and Frank seemed to be rather reticent to speak also. The only one who talked was Gregg as he regaled the women with tales of his courage and fortitude in the face of the enemy. Watching Gregg with his fan club of two made me ill.
After dinner Joan brought the baby into their living room and we all sat around together. I looked at my family knowing that this would probably be the last time that this familial scene would ever be played out in my lifetime.
Joan seemed happy as she excitedly told Frank to get the gifts. When he brought them in she handed them out to her Mom, Gregg and I. Kathy got a sweater, Gregg a gift card and I got a tie. Useful if boring gifts, much like myself if my wife and daughter were to be believed. When Frank, Jane and the baby opened their gifts from Kathy and Gregg there were smiles and laughter from Joan but Frank acted polite but distant. When the kids had finished opening their gifts the room became somewhat silent as they looked to me and my bag of goodies. I finally broke that silence saying, "I want to cap this wonderful day off by giving you all the gifts that you deserve this holiday." I stood up to retrieve the bag I brought and handed Frank and Joan a large envelope in wrapped in beautiful holiday paper.
Joan ripped the paper off the envelope while Frank stood by looking on. As Joan extracted the papers contained in the envelope and scanned them she fairly screamed with joy when she realized what it was. Kathy had edged forth on her seat and seemed anxious to find out what the papers contained. Joan took no time to fill her in by screaming, "Oh Mom! Daddy gave us your house free and clear! We can now move out of this rental! Isn't that great?"
Kathy's face seemed to collapse as she looked at me with concern, "Why did you do that Tom? Where are we going to live?"
I gave her a reassuring look which I hoped would quell her fears, "Don't worry Kathy I have it all worked out. Here, this is for you as I handed her a card and a wrapped box."
Her face held out tentative hope as she tore the bright colored paper and found a bracelet inside the box. As she pulled it out with astonishment written on her face I spoke, "Look at the inside Kath, I had it inscribed." I noticed that Gregg seemed to be less than happy with my giving her a gift.
She slowly turned it over and saw the words, "Thank you for the best thirty years of my life, Tom" I glanced at idiot boy but he was still scowling over my gift.
Kathy looked confused, "Tom, thank you sweetheart. It's quite beautiful but you didn't put love on the inscription."
I smiled, "I'm sorry about that Kath but I didn't want to lie. I have lost my love for you steadily over the last few months. This bracelet is my way of saying goodbye and will be a reminder of what you gave up for your sea going bellhop. I also need to tell you that you are going to be served with divorce papers on Monday." I could clearly hear the intake of Joan's breathe ad Kathy's face sank with disbelief and despair.
I nodded to the card, "inside the card I have tried to express my thanks for giving me so many great years and a wonderful daughter. There is also a check for half of our liquid assets. The house was mine to give as you left the marriage willingly but that is all explained in the card too."
I looked at Gregg and was reminded of a volcano about to explode, "This gift is more for the two of you." I handed another large envelope to a clearly shaken Kathy, "Inside is a complete history of what your lover boy here has been doing since you two separated in high school. Apparently he never did learn what the marine motto, Semper Fidelis meant. I think you'll find it fascinating reading..." I never finished my sentence as with a roar Gregg came rushing at me menacingly growling, "I'll kill you! You son of a bitch!"
Gregg never actually got to hurt me as he violently hit the floor when my Taser struck him. Joan jumped up as did Kathy and I touched Gregg again just to make sure he wasn't coming around too quickly and getting close to him I said, "It hurts doesn't it? Well I'm here to tell you that your pain is nothing compared to losing the woman you loved for thirty years to a piece of shit like you!"
Kathy was crying like it was the end of the world when I turned back to her, "I know you think I'm boring and I don't curl your toes like Sgt. York here." I touched him with the Taser again just because I liked seeing him convulse and gave a wicked smile stating to no one in particular, "That is never going to get old!" I looked back at Kathy and with more bravado than I felt in my breaking heart, I bitterly spoke, "Anyway, I know about your feelings for this pile of shit so I'm giving you the best gift of all Kathy, you're freedom. You can now spend the rest of your life being treated like a princess during the day and having your toes curled at night. Won't that be grand?"
Kathy seemed apoplectic as she managed to get out, "No, it wasn't supposed to be like this! I was going to come back to you in June Tom! I love you!" Kathy was shaking as violently as a leaf in a windstorm when Joan ran to comfort her mother and I once again tased the hulk before Frank nervously interjected, "You'd better not do that anymore, you might kill him Dad!"
I stood up looking down at my nemesis convulsing and then at the two women I loved more than life itself. "I'll be leaving now, thank you for a wonderful day and have a great life as I won't be seeing either of you again for quite a while."
Both women seemed incapable of speech and stared at me as if they didn't know who I was anymore. Frank had retrieved my coat and handed it to me with a contented smile on his face. Before leaving I once again turned to my daughter who was looking at me for the first time in her life with fear in her eyes, "Joan let this serve as a warning to you, become a slut and you will pay the consequences." I walked to the bassinet where little Tom was looking up at me and rubbed his cheek with my finger, "So long little guy, maybe I'll see you around sometime but I somehow sense probably not." Still smiling I moved to the door and turning to the subdued room simply said, "Happy New Year folks!"
By the time I had reached my car the shock must have worn off of the women or maybe idiot boy was coming back on line but I clearly heard one plaintive voice scream, "NO!" As I got in and started the engine I thought that Vegas was on my way to Spokane sort of and I wouldn't mind seeing Miranda again. As I was backing out Frank came outside smiling and waving at me and I returned the wave before heading west to a new life.
