The New Phone Plan

Do you remember growing up before mobile phones, you know, when we used to have that phone hanging on the wall in the kitchen? It was either white, black, yellow or green? And how long was the phone cord in your home? Usually long enough so that you could stretch the phone down the hallway to your room to talk to your friends in private.

Remember when there would be a long distance call, and the parents would freak out if you didn't get off the phone in about 5 seconds? And even "zone" calls cost more, but still, the monthly phone bill wasn't close to $50.

But now, my AT&T bill is almost $400 monthly for a few cell phones, tablets, watches with unlimited texting and data. And it seems that every time a new phone comes out my wife wants the upgrade, so I always have a payment on a new phone.

I'm not sure all this ability to communicate has actually improved communication, but it sure costs a lot.

So late one Friday night I was sitting up with a beer pretending to work on my taxes, pissed about our expenses and the taxes I'd probably end up owing April 15. So I decided to start shopping my plan, seeing where I could cut back and save a few bucks.. On the AT&T account you can look at each phone number's data and cell usage, even sort the list of phone numbers dialed.

A nice feature is that you can rename a phone number, to easily sort through your bill. For example, I can change my wife's number to "Trish" or my mother's number to "Mom." My office number is obviously "office" and my best friend's number is "Gary."

Normally I don't bother looking at the phone usage since I have an unlimited plan, but sometimes it's just interesting to see what's more popular in my usage, who I talk to more.

For me? I text a lot to the electricians on my crews, and the people at the office. My wife gets a decent number of texts as well. Nothing unusual I guess, but it does show who you spend a lot of time with during the day.

I clicked over to Trish's phone number and hit the sort button on her texts and calls. There were a few of her friends, her Mom and Dad, our kids who were on campus. But surprisingly, there were a lot of calls and texts to, of all people, Gary.

Interesting.

You see, Gary and I roomed together in college and that's where we met our future wives. Not that we were exclusive with the girls right away. Being stupid, entitled frat boys at the time thinking our shit didn't stink, we made the most of our college 'oats.' Know what I mean?

Both Gary and I were decent looking. He was a little larger in his chest, sort of barrel chested while I was more of a runner's body. We'd meet girls at frat parties, tailgating at football games, even in classes or study times at the library.

Gary had a bit of a reputation that spread over the four years, to the extent that sometimes he didn't have to go on the prowl, instead it came to him.

One day at the college library, Gary was hunched over his textbooks, trying to cram for an exam. But he couldn't concentrate because of the constant shuffling of feet and hushed whispers all around him. Yeah, you guessed it. Some of the sorority girls saw their stud.

Gary noticed a stunning brunette sitting a few tables away staring at him, curling her hair around her index finger, showing her pearly white teeth to Gary in a beautiful smile. Well that's all it would ever take for Gary to get a boner. He was an easy lay. So he got up and went over and sat down with her.

Do you think they had an intellectual collegiate conversation about their favorite books and professors? Economic theory and philosophy? Yeah, right.

The closest Gary would come to any kind of collegiate conversation was "hey babe, do you believe in love at first sight or do I need to walk past you again?"

Maybe in your college library you had quiet rooms for study? Sometimes you'd have to reserve them, but they were basically a small cubicle with a small built-in table, soundproof walls, and a door. They usually were pretty empty in the evenings, and such as it was, it was a perfect location for Gary and the brunette, whatever her name was.

Inside they giggled and quickly undressed each other. Why waste time in college when the entire purpose was to get laid? This wasn't romance or love. This was pure sex.

Gary couldn't wait to taste her. He knelt down and started to kiss her inner thighs, teasing her with his tongue. She moaned and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. Gary knew she was ready so he started to lick her pussy, savoring the sweet taste. College girls get wet really quick.

He then stood up, just like his cock did, and the unnamed brunette looked at it with desire and wrapped her hand around his shaft. He was hoping for some stroking and sucking, but this chick wanted to get right to the point.

She raised up her right leg onto the table while standing on her left and put 'er in, the couple quickly getting into rhythm with each other. Gary wasn't one for letting the girl come first, but this girl wasn't one for letting the frat boy get off, and then, get off. She clenched down on him and rode him like a rented mule.

Moving in perfect harmony the brunette came first, with Gary following soon after. She pulled him out, quickly got dressed, kissed Gary on the cheek and left. Gary felt used, but then, that's why it was so good!

Well after a while of having a lot of meaningless sex you sort of want a sense of stability, and me and Gary hooked up with Trish and Sabrina and it became a thing in our senior year and stayed that way after graduation. For both Gary and I we're pretty happy with our decisions.

The girls seemed ok with it as well. Truthfully, they knew of our horn dogging in college and didn't appreciate it. I settled down with Trish earlier than Gary did with Sabrina, he played around a little longer to maximize his college 'experience.'

So Sabrina was a little put off by that but still loyal to Gary and I think she's been loyal over the last 19 years of marriage. But Trish never seemed to like Gary's indifference to commitment that last year of college. And that dislike has characterized their relationship ever since.

It isn't that Gary isn't committed to Sabrina, he is. And I think he's been loyal to her, but he flirts a lot. He just has that way with women, his jokes, his teasing, his statements with double meanings, that look he gives them.

Anyways, enough of the memories. The nagging question was, why was Trish communicating so much with the person she doesn't really care for?

I mean, yeah Gary and I get together and golf or hit the sports bar to watch a game now and then. But as couples we don't really get together much. Maybe at a kids event at school, or a neighborhood function, or when the carnival comes to town. But with the kids in college now we really don't hang out as couples anymore.

Pulling out the bottle of Bulleit from my bottom desk drawer and taking a swig, I leaned back in my chair and let my thoughts wander.

Was Trish calling Gary, or was he calling her? I looked again at the billing and it seemed about equal for incoming and outgoing calls. Same with the texts.

That was concerning. If Trish didn't like Gary, then if he was contacting her she wouldn't be responding to every call or text. Hmm. But if Trish was the instigator, if she was the one initiating the calls and texts, Gary would certainly return them.

That means, either way, there is much more of a relationship between them than I thought.

But why? I sat back and sipped my bourbon and pondered the possibilities.

Were they planning a birthday or anniversary party? Looking at the bills, this communication has been going on for several months, so that couldn't be the case.

As impossible as the thought was, I wondered if... no, it couldn't be. Really, could there be some sort of relationship there that I didn't know about, like an affair?

Honestly, I actually could imagine Gary cheating on Sabrina though all the times we're together golfing or drinking he's never mentioned anything like that, nothing that would even indicate an interest in it. I mean, yeah, he would flirt and tease but that's Gary.

And Trish hasn't given any telltale signs of cheating either. But then, I haven't exactly been looking for any signs. I googled "signs of a cheating spouse" and looked down the list. Nah, Trish didn't do any of those things.

Or did she? After all, especially during the week I'm gone from five in the morning to five or six at night running crews, writing reports, solving problems. I really don't know where she is during the day. She has a real estate license but only does that part time on referrals from friends.

Actually, I just remembered that Gary is a loan officer for a mortgage broker and is on the road almost full-time meeting Realtors and buyers writing up loan applications, wining and dining with Realtors to try and get referrals. And he does work odd hours too.

So I really don't know where either of them are during the day. But that's easily fixed.

The next day I stopped at Best Buy and bought two Cube GPS Vehicle Trackers for $100 each. They had a magnetic base and a one year rechargeable battery. I had to buy a data plan for live real time tracking. You know, I never even knew these things were so easy to buy. I never thought I'd need something like this kind of James Bond spy stuff.

Easy enough to put the tracker on Trish's car, and meeting up with Gary for a beer was easy enough for me to arrive late to the bar and place it on his vehicle.

While this may seem to have been a priority for me, really, I forgot about this until the following Friday night when back in my office sipping some Bulleit I pulled up the tracking maps for the week. It took a few minutes to get used to the tracking, but, wait, several times both of their locations matched at the very same times.

Huh? Hmm. Sorta hard to believe so I double checked. I pulled up my AT&T account and looked at the date and times of calls and texts and they matched up until the GPS arrival time at that location, then there was no communications appearing on the bill for the next several hours.

Did that mean they met up together, and had no reason to text or phone each other?

Where were these locations? One was at Gary's house at 11am. Another was at Motel 6?! And the last one was a residential address I didn't recognize, so I googled it and it came up as a listing in Trish's office.

What the fuck was going on? My heart started to beat a little harder, my concern raising my blood pressure, my face flushed. This doesn't make sense. What should I do?

For the next week I looked at my wife differently, listened to her differently, watched her differently, looking for anything out of the ordinary. I admit I was pretty passive over the past years as happens in marriages. After all, trust is something you eventually take for granted. And why not?

So that weekend I invited Gary and Sabrina over for a cookout, picked up some nice steaks and more booze. Trish was a little surprised at my unilateral action, but prepped the home for entertaining that weekend.

The afternoon get-together was pleasant, nothing unusual or out of the ordinary. Of course I looked to see how Trish greeted Gary and it was basically the light hug, but she did that for Sabrina as well. I kept the libations coming, especially for Gary and Trish.

As usual it would be Gary who was the joker of the group, and he did seem a little too handsy with Trish. That stood out to me, and I wondered if this was what he always did and I was just used to it, or had I not really noticed him with Trish. He'd laugh, she'd shriek or gasp and then slap him, we'd all laugh.

When Trish and I happened to be in the kitchen together pulling together more food to bring out to the patio, I told her "Trish, I don't like Gary touching you like that." I wanted to see her reaction.

"Well now Dave, is my husband jealous of another man's attention to me?" she smiled teasingly?

That was a good answer, it didn't really reveal anything. So I thought I'd play it seriously: "Yes, I am jealous. Stop it with him, don't encourage him."

"Oh c'mon Dave, lighten up" she guffawed at the remark.

So I didn't get much from her. So I decided to up the game and take a risk. I followed her back out to the patio and after serving everyone I stood up and said, "Listen Gary, you're my buddy but I got to tell you I don't like the way you touch my wife. I don't think it's funny."

There was a quick glance between Gary and Trish that for a moment I thought had some meaning, that there was more to the playful touching than they thought I knew. Can I prove that? Was my spidey-sense too high and was I misinterpreting that look? Maybe.

Trish spoke up and said "Dave, don't embarrass yourself in front of our guests. Don't be rude."

"Lighten up buddy," said Gary.

I deal with a lot of skilled labor on the job sites, lots of electricians and other trades. It's a pretty tough group that goes on the offensive when they're caught slacking off on the job. Slacking off is tradition among the trades, which is why bids are so high from having to build in a lot of slop.

If some of the trades actually gave a full eight hours the jobs would get done a lot sooner. But there's such a shortage in the trades we can't afford to lose anyone. So they feel comfortable challenging authority when caught sleeping in their truck or playing on Tik Tok when they're supposed to be wiring up homes.

What Gary and Trish just did to me was go on the offensive, meaning, they were hiding what they were doing. The more reasonable response would have been, "Gee I'm sorry Dave, I guess we got carried away. It won't happen again."

That's how you deal with a hurt or offended friend.

After the evening was over I noticed during cleanup that Trish was more quiet than usual, none of the usual banter we had. She went up to get ready for bed, not really telling me the usual "hon, I'm heading up to bed. Love you."

I think her mind was elsewhere.

The next day was a day off, Sunday. I logged into my AT&T account because the phone records update pretty quickly. There was a series of texts between Trish and Gary. After breakfast Trish said she had to restock some groceries after the party and was heading out.

I said "Lazy Sunday mornings at a grocery store is a nice thing to do together. I'll go with you."

"No, I'll take care of it Dave. I'm sure you can find things to take care of here. Maybe you can clean up the patio and yard after yesterday's party."

Expected. That was a test. So I grabbed my tablet and logged into the vehicle tracker, waited two minutes after she pulled away and began following her in my truck. I split my iPad's screen and pulled up Gary's tracker as well.

It was fascinating to see the two lines begin to converge at a diner.

I pulled in around the back and parked. I saw they had parked next to each other. Prepping my cell phone's video function I went in the back door and through the kitchen, the cooks looking at me questioningly. I peeked through the window in the kitchen door and saw them near the front of the diner sitting hunched over a table, leaning in toward each other and talking with serious facial expressions.

A server came into the kitchen, noticed me with a questioning look. I pulled out a wad of cash and plopped it in her hand and pulled her to the side. I asked her if there was a way she could go near that table and leave my phone on the window ledge with the video recorder on.

Looking at the cash, she smiled, took my phone and went up front acting like she was wiping down tables for the next guests. She was pretty smooth and easily left the phone right behind them, and they were so absorbed in conversation they didn't even notice.

After about a half hour they each left, and I retrieved my phone. Back in my truck I pulled up the trackers and it looked like they had separated. I sat there and played back the video recording.

Of course I couldn't see anything but the ceiling because of how the phone was placed, but the sound was crystal clear. And it wasn't good.

"Something's up Trish. He's never spoken like that to me about you.."

"Did you imply something when you guys were golfing? Did you make some comment about me or how I looked? Because even in the kitchen he told me he didn't like you touching me."

"Well, Trish, I'm as confused as you are. Maybe we're just super sensitive given how careful we've been the past twelve years with our meet-ups. I mean, how could he have ever known about us?"

"True, true," Trish said thoughtfully. "Perhaps we're just so cautious about messing up our marriages that we misinterpreted a simple request."

"I think you're right. But you've got to be careful at home, Trish. Don't let this mess with your head. He's not stupid, he could put things together pretty quickly. And I don't want to lose our time together. We're so fucking good together, loving you is what keeps me sane."

With a light chuckle, in a teasing voice, Trish replied, "Yeah, dumping your loads in me seems to get a lot of things off your mind! But I love it. I love you and don't forget, I do love my husband too. This is the best of both worlds. I'll be careful."

Hey readers, can I ask you a question? I'm just curious, how do you feel when you know you're being lied to? Do you get pissed, or are your feelings hurt, or do you feel like running, or are you super-alert and focused?

Because when I finished that recording, I couldn't settle on any of those. I think I was numb.

As my mind started to come to the realization that what I listened to was real, the first thing that flew through my mind was the deception. I thought Trish didn't not like Gary! That was misdirection so I'd not be suspicious of their relationship!

Shit! Fuck! I pounded my steering wheel in anger.

That's where the self-blame started, that this must have been my fault for so many reasons. My fault because I should have recognized the misdirection. My fault because I might have been working too much, or wasn't attentive enough.

But working on job sites, trying to move them forward on schedule, I hear all kinds of accusations of why I'm supposedly the bad guy holding up jobs, or screwing up scheduling, or not having the right material available, on-and-on the excuses.

But the reality is, it's the responsibility of those in the trades and their supervision to let me know these things. If they don't tell me, then it's on them!

How is that any different from my fucking cheating whore slut wife? Huh? If I was the problem she should have told me, communicated. Fuck! It was her responsibility to tell me, not cheat on me!

I resolved right then not to get into this self-blame and self-loathing crap.

But then the incredible sense of loss hit me. The loss of the dreams we had and shared, the hopes for our future, the loss of relationships with our parents and grandparents and friends. The loss of being the couple we thought we were, or at least, who I thought we were. The loss of the visions we shared together.

And, I was certain, the loss of my partner. Yeah, you heard that? No fucking way I'm going to agree to her affair and be a willing cuckhold. In fact, I wonder if they thought they were cucking me all this time? I wonder if they disparaged me during their fucking? Was that part of their excitement?

The truth is, you can't be a cuck if you don't know about it. And that, my friends, makes her a cheater.

Now what's hitting me as I sit here? No, I'm not blaming myself and I do have that sense of loss but none of that is my fault. But there's a lot for me to do and damn, there's a lot of anxiety with that.

How many what-if's and what-abouts are going through my mind? Money, divorce process, how do we split stuff, who tells the kids, what do we tell the kids, should we do counseling (fuck that!), do we even try to get back together (I can't believe I'm even asking that!), what do I do with Gary, my former best friend?

When I checked the time, I realized I've been sitting here for over an hour with these thoughts ravaging my mind. I'd love to go drink them into oblivion, but this is not the time to lose control.

One thing I'll admit, is that my self esteem is greatly reduced, at least for the moment. I thought I was a pretty good manly man but doubt is creeping in. Logically I know I haven't changed, that I'm a good man but emotionally that certainty is compromised.

What they've done to me and the family had nothing to do with my manliness or my failings. "They cheated on me because they wanted it both ways, they were selfish and wanted what they wanted. That's the bottom line," I said out loud to no one but myself.

For some reason, saying that out loud was oddly reassuring, and grounding.

What I needed was advice, someone to talk to, someone to dump this on, someone who was smart. Our construction company gets sued all the time by developers, municipalities, employees, vendors. We have an attorney on retainer and on call, so I called him.

"Vernon here, what's up now?"

"Vern, it's Dave calling, not about any jobs but a personal matter, an important one. Really sorry to call you on a Sunday morning but I'm hoping I can talk with you."

He must have recognized something in the tone of my voice, because he texted me his address and said to come right over.

You know, it did help to pour out my feelings to someone who listened. Attorney's are pretty good listeners. And they know how to ask piercing questions. But of the questions he asked me, the toughest one was:

"Do you think you can have a better life staying with her, knowing what you know versus leaving her?"

Why was that so tough? Because emotionally I felt used and abused and wanted to leave her. But that would mean an entirely new life, one that at the moment is completely unknown to me. I'm sure as you read this you'd say "Divorce the bitch!" But when you're in the middle of it the decision isn't so clear. At least to me.

Vernon said he had an excellent family law attorney in his firm, Scarlett Jennings, who had a particularly nasty reputation. He set an appointment for Monday morning, first thing, and gave me a list of things to try and get together.

This meant I had to go home to my cheating wife and pretend. It's like that Bob Seger song, "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Truly, I was "Against the Wind."

I drove to the golf range and borrowed some clubs to drive some balls so I could think. It was more like "how hard can I crush the casing off that ball!" to get my anger out. The exercise helped, and at one point I realized that Trish would have to play pretend with me as well. I wonder how that would work for her?

Would she be more kind, loving, maybe more sexual? God, what if she wanted more sex? Do I do it now, knowing who's dick has been in her all these years? Fuck that's so gross!

I also realized that Gary's wife might not be aware of all this either. Do I talk with her? Could she keep this secret while we figure out what to do?

Another thought: Could I get more evidence of their cheating? Something I could really use against them to embarrass them, I mean, to hurt them. Really hurt them? Not that I needed anything more than the confession I had on the recording, but what might be possible?

One of my electrical contractors once told me about security cameras, so I called him up. Would you believe he invited me over for lunch? They were grilling on his back patio. It was nice to be around friendly people, plus it kept me away from my house and wife for now.

The conversation wound around to video equipment for a home, but by the nature of my questions he raised an eyebrow and said, "let's grab a beer and go sit in my garden and talk."

So, my dear readers, I guess I don't hide my feelings too well on my face, or by my questions! It's a good thing I'm not at home right now, she'd probably read my face and know everything.

But it led to me being straight with him. He sympathized, telling me his divorce story from some years ago and let me know there is a future beyond that - even given how long Trish and I have been married. The key was to begin making new relationships and realize I'm not the one at fault. There's no excuse for cheating.

He suggested I fake a few days of going to work, and he'd help me out by grabbing the proper equipment and helping me install it throughout my house. It'd cost a few bucks and a subscription to upload everything to the cloud storage, but at this point who cares about cost anymore? Right?

Eventually I had to go home, and Trish cornered me, asking where I'd been all day. My excuse was that I had to run some numbers at the office for a new job that just came up. She looked at me because I hadn't worked on a Sunday in a long, long time. She's a smart woman.

The rest of the evening I puttered around outside cleaning up the yard, decided to change the oil in my truck, vacuum and wash it in the driveway just to eat up the time before having to go to bed. I dreaded what might happen in bed.

And when that time came, sure enough, Trish leaned over and started the usual non-verbal cues for sex. Fuck. Shit. I'm a guy and what guy wants to say 'no' to sex? But I did. And I wasn't very convincing because she sat up and leaned over to me and asked "Are you ok Dave?"

About the best answer I could come up with is that I simply was tired, and I rolled on my side and pulled the covers up and tried to go to sleep. Trish stayed sitting up looking at me for a few moments, probably thinking through the situation, then went to sleep herself.

In the morning I was up and out of the house as soon as possible, not even stopping for coffee. "It's gonna be a long day, Trish. See you tonight!" I yelled as I scooted out the door. I had a nice breakfast at Cracker Barrel, called in to the office and told them I had to take the next few days off but call me if there was an emergency at any of the job sites. My boss didn't like it and told me, but I wasn't in the mood. I actually told him to 'fuck off and leave me alone!'

That felt good.

I knew that Monday mornings her Broker had a regular home tour of the new office listings, and she'd be gone most of the day. So the electrician and I got a lot of work done with cameras inside and outside the home and connected them to the internet and cloud. I'd have both voice and video.

Check, one item down, and just in time to get to Scarlett Jennings' office.

She was suspicious of a man interested in engaging her legal services, even though I was referred to by her colleague. She quickly changed her mind once she heard the recording, then smiled at me.

"Does Trish know that you know? That you have this confession?"

"No, not yet, though it's hard to be around her. I have a hard time hiding my emotions I guess. In the last few days it seems people can read my face."

That brought a brief laugh to the naturally skeptical attorney. "Well, then you have a head start on her. What is it you want to do Dave?"

The question was sincere, but I wasn't sure if I had the answer yet. So I explained the cameras, our finances, our family structure, our jobs. She layed out the usual divorce process in Michigan, that adultery isn't grounds for a divorce but might be relevant if marital funds were used to support the affair, or it might affect alimony if the cheater is the primary wage earner. Child custody wasn't an issue given the kids' ages.

So since none of that really applied, it would be a 50/50 division of property and probably some alimony. But when telling me that, Scarlett leaned forward and asked me,

"Dave, when you heard this recording how did you feel? Tell me!"

"I was pissed. I banged on my steering wheel. I went through a series of thoughts like, is it me? Did I cause this? But I quickly determined it wasn't me, she had no right to not try and work something out. But Scarlett, this has gone on for twelve years! I felt stabbed in the back!"

"Then Dave, you've got to figure out one of three things: One - do you want to stay with her as if nothing has happened? Two - do you simply want out with 50/50 and alimony? Three - do you want out and to burn the bitch, maybe less alimony?"

Scarlett's face was focused on me, fearsome, like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. Now I'm around construction guys all day long and some can be intimidating, but this lady? Damn, she is downright scary.

But it was the concisest set of options I had, and I respected that of her.

"Option 3."

Her face broke into a wide smile, she reached her hand for me to shake, and said "Welcome to the dark side, Dave. Let's get our plan together."

My friends, it's been said that a decision takes only a moment to make. It's all the time leading up to the decision that is the problem, with the considerations, options, consequences. Well, once I made my decision, a huge burden was lifted from my shoulders.

And I had a true shark on my side, and we were ahead of the game, one-up on the enemy.

I'd get all the financial and property records together and bring them into Scarlett's office.

I'd print out all the phone records for as far back as the AT&T records would go, sorting the calls and texts between Trish and Gary.

I'd monitor the home recordings daily

I'd very carefully try and develop a closer relationship with Sabrina to see if I could broach this subject confidentially. This might take some time.

Since we know they met up at one time at Gary's house, could it be possible to wire up the bedroom and other rooms? It would be risky, as it would be illegal.

I'd have to prepare a list of all relatives and social and employer relationships of Trish and Gary.

As we talked through each of these items in detail, I realized this was much more than just a divorce process, but that Scarlett relished the idea of a full burn.

"Scarlett, this is all good, but it's way beyond a divorce. Why are you so interested in scorching these two?"

"Because my mother cheated on my Dad and left him to raise me. Then I found out he would meet other women, sometimes in our home, and they were married. That offended me, and it's why I've never married. I guess I have an axe to grind. I go to therapy for this, but to be honest with you Dave, I think burning cheaters is the best therapy for me."

"I'm truly sorry you went through that Scarlett. That's a lot for a young person to live through, but I hope in time you can get past it."

"Working with good men like yourself gives me hope, Dave. There's not many men like you."

I blushed when she said that. I haven't had a sincere comment from a female in a long time.

Most of the checklist was easy, but Sabrina was a tougher task. She and Gary never had kids, so she was involved in a lot of community and social functions. That's where I thought I'd be able to meet her and see what can happen.

Of course, putting the ole' tracker on her car was easy enough to arrange so I could see where she was. Evidently the library was having an author reading and Q&A session, so that day I left my job site and showed up for the reading.

She saw me across the room and approached me when it was over as I was getting a cup of coffee. "Dave, I'm surprised to see you here!"

"Oh, Sabrina, hi! Yeah, I was interested in this author and took some time off to come. Hey, Sabrina, please, don't tell Trish! Please?"

She looked a little confused, "Um, sure, ok, no problem. I don't see her much anyways. But Dave, just because you asked, I've gotta ask, is there something going on with you guys?"

I decided that since people have lately become good at reading my face, that I'd give her that face.

"Oh Dave! It isn't... you know, no, it can't be!"

I looked down, sort of hanging my head and shuffling my feet. "Sabrina you can't say anything to anyone! I mean it!"

She poured herself a cup of coffee and took my arm and led me to a small alcove in the library.

"Dave, how long?"

"Twelve years."

"WHAT?!" she said very loudly, her mouth open in a look of shock!

"Shhh Sab! Yeah, I know it for a fact only I just found out recently. I was shocked too."

"I can't believe it. I thought you too were so good together. In college I was jealous of both of you since my 'boyfriend' still acted like a frat-boy before we were married. It was embarrassing and humiliating, especially knowing how well you two seemed to get along."

"What would you do in my situation Sabrina?" I was thinking the conversation had moved forward much faster than expected.

"After twelve years? Sorry to say this, but I'd dump her ass. There's no excuse. She might say "it was a mistake," but we know mistakes don't go on for twelve years. This was all intentional. She might say "it was just sex," as if it isn't that serious. And after twelve years she can't say "I was drunk" or even blame you if she hasn't communicated with you about whatever reason she had for going out on you."

Seems like she had thought this through, right? Those were some pretty good responses.

"Well, I'm getting everything together, our finances, property lists, all the recording and video evidence I'm hoping to have. My attorney is really good. But not everything is in place yet, so I really need, actually Sabrina, I must have your strictest confidence."

She put her hand on my arm. "Dave, I always thought you were the best of the four of us. You're a great husband and father, you look after your family, you're serious minded but can be fun, you're firm but kind.

"I promise you, you can trust me."

"So, you won't tell Gary?"

"No, no I won't."

"And you won't tell Trish?"

"No, Dave, I won't. And I hardly talk with her. And I obviously won't tell Gary because he talks with her all the time."

And with what she just said, I looked at Sabrina with no words.

There was a long pause as she looked at me, and looked at me, then she "looked" at me. Her eyes began to open wide, her eyebrows began to raise creating the lines in her forehead, her mouth forming an "O".

I think I saw a tear begin to form in her eye but she slumped forward and held her head in her hands. All I could do was sit there and put my hand on her shoulder, trying to be reassuring.

There was no sobbing, no noise. Eventually she took a deep breath and sat up and leaned into me for a very loving and long hug.

She knew.

Well, this made a lot of things easier.

We left the library to go to a nice bar for a drink and some food to try and lift our spirits and talk through this awful situation. She said the reason she and Gary didn't have kids was because of his constant flirting with women. And when he became a loan officer she was always suspicious of his late night "applications," Realtor presentations, and he seemed to always refer to Trish as part of his business.

But Trish was part-time. She didn't sell enough homes to be able to refer him to that much business that would warrant all that communication, so she came to be suspicious but couldn't prove anything. And she came to resent Trish for the attention she thought she received from her husband, Gary.

I've got to admire Sabrina, she puts on a much better game face than I do. In fact, it encouraged me to have a sort of 'partner' in this game and put me in a better frame of mind. Hopefully I'd have a better game face as well when I'm around Trish.

Sabrina was certain she would divorce Gary. It would be simple, there were no kids and the property division would be easy. But she wanted her pound of flesh, not just from Gary, but from Trish as well.

So, I brought up the camera conversation. Would she permit cameras in her home? She was a little wary to do that, until I suggested she listen to the recording. Once she listened to it, she was all in. She was royally pissed. She took Scarlett's phone number, and the game was on.

Camera installation was a snap. Scarlett was only too happy to take Sabrina's case and put together a burn plan for Gary. Over the next two days Sabrina and I talked frequently and would meet either for an early breakfast, lunch, or a drink or two after work.

One evening when we met, I just didn't want to go home to Trish, so my conversation with Sabrina became more involved. Having known her now for years, and more closely over the past couple of weeks, I could tell there was something she wanted to ask me.

"Out with it Sabrina. You want to ask me something, don't you."

She sat back in the booth and let out a big sigh, then a small smile, and looked down for a moment. Then she sat up and leaned forward. "When Trish and I met you and Gary, how did you guys decide who would go with who?"

"Yeouch," I said mockingly. "That's a question that sort of delves into 'bro-code' territory. We were dumb entitled frat boys in college. You know about our years there, right? I mean, Sabrina, I guess I'd like to know why you're asking that question of all questions?"

"I'll tell you, don't worry. And I know you guys played around a lot before you met us two hot girls. Is it because Trish is blonde and I'm brunette?"

"Um, no, no it wasn't that."

"Come on big guy, you big frat boy. Spill it! How did you guys choose between us?"

"This is gonna sound bad, Sabrina, but... we flipped a coin."

Though I worried she'd be upset or offended, she just started giggling and then laughing. "Dave, you mean my entire future with a guy that plays around and doesn't want kids was determined by a coin flip?"

Surely she saw my face flush with embarrassment but she quickly let me off the hook. "Oh my, how life turns out, right? God, what if the coin landed differently? Have you ever thought of that?"

It was a legitimate question. Two faithful spouses who have been cheated on by the other two unfaithful spouses. What might have been different if the two faithful spouses were together?

Rather than answer the question, I think we both knew what we were thinking. My life had turned to shit over the past few weeks, so I figured 'what the hell' and just said it:

"Sabrina, if the coin landed differently and it was you and me that got together and got married, I'm sure we both would never be going through what we are dealing with now, and our relationship and kids and families would all be pretty solid and happy."

There was a lengthy pause in our conversation as we sat and contemplated our own thoughts.

"Well, Dave, when this is all over, what do you think you're going to do with your life?"

"Funny you ask that. Our attorney asked the same thing. It seems this entire divorce process is mentally and emotionally consuming but the life afterwards is some foggy view I can't see through."

She leaned forward on the table. "Can you see me, Dave?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I'm sitting here clear as day. No fog between us. Right?"

I understood where she was going. Reaching out I took her hand in mine, softly, and looked in her eyes, "Right. But we both will have a lot of emotional baggage to deal with, you know. But however the future works out, if it works out with us, I promise that you can trust me either as a friend, lover, or husband."

Those were pretty strong words of commitment, and they made Sabrina start to cry for the first time in this entire mess. So I went to the other side of the table and sat next to her and let her cry on my shoulder.

She kissed me on the cheek and said, "we're still young, Dave. We have a lot of years ahead of us and with the experience from the years behind us I feel good that the future can be better than the past. I don't want to be lonely, and I've been lonely in my marriage for years now.

"But you haven't been lonely. You thought you had it all with Trish, and you had wonderful children together. If we're together, I'm - I'm, well I'm not sure if you'd feel that you'd still be missing something."

"Sabrina, it's possible Trish is going to want me to go to counseling. When this blows up she'll realize that her financial stability will be gone. Remember on the recording how she said she loves both me and Gary? She wants it both ways, and she'll at least fight to keep me.

"But I'm going to refuse counseling and fight it. However, with everything we're going through, I'd love to do counseling with you Sabrina. I'd love to do something mutual with you, together, as we work through all our feelings and the trauma we've suffered. And if you are willing to, I'd even start it right now."

Sabrina leaned into me and hugged me in the way a loving wife would. "Yes, I think that's a wonderful idea."

While we were waiting on good video evidence and getting the divorce paperwork all put together, planning all the banking and financial information, home values, and blah blah blah stuff that happens in a divorce, we arranged joint counseling sessions two evenings weekly.

It was just another way to avoid our cheating spouses. Even after the first week of sessions, we felt quite good about our self-esteem and started to get a handle on the pain we suffered. And doing this together helped us see how we communicate with each other, and brought us closer together.

By the third week of counseling we agreed that we could clearly see a future for us, and we were actually happy. You know who noticed my happiness?

"Dave, are things going better at work? You seem so much happier now, much more cheery around the house. I'm hoping that happiness can work in the bedroom too. It's been several weeks since you paid me any attention."

Trish noticed my happiness, and noticed my lack of affection as well. Look my dear reader, I just couldn't share her cock-space with Gary. I didn't do it in college, I won't do it in my marriage. At least knowingly.

So how could I continue to avoid sex with Trish? Ugh, divorce is such a pain in the ass. So the smile fell from my face and I responded to Trish.

"Well, Trish, I am happy. But no, not in the bedroom. It just doesn't work for me there anymore."

Confusion was all over Trish's face, like, 'WTF did that mean?' She swallowed hard and said, "Dave, I don't understand. We haven't made love in weeks. Don't you love me? I need you Dave, I love you!"

I just shrugged my shoulders with my hands up, like, 'oh well, that's the way it is.' and walked away.

She followed, "Dave! Dave! Wait a minute. What's going on with you? Dave, are you having an affair?" She asked this with her hands on her hips.

"What? Trish, you know my position on fidelity and adultery. You know I'd never have an affair, I hate cheaters with a passion. How could you even ask me that?" I gave her an angry glare. "If you think I'm cheating, take some of your sales commission money and waste it on someone to follow me. I dare you. I'm insulted by that accusation."

That pretty much ended that fight. But I wondered if what I said had any impact on her and her own behavior. She was such a good actor I just couldn't tell.

Fortunately all my delay tactics were going to come to an end, because the next day we had the report and it was juicy stuff. Plenty of video and pictures from the marital bedrooms of both homes, of the entry and exit of the motel, and the coup-de-grace pictures from one of the real estate listings. That last one? We're holding that in reserve.

Sabrina and I went over to the conference room in Scarlett's offices and logged into our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X accounts and typed our messages and uploaded the pictures. The pictures had the naughty bits shaded out, but the description basically said that "My spouse is cheating on me with Trish/Gary and I'm going to be single in a few months."

Then we logged in to our anonymous email accounts where we had an entire "To" list ready to go with all Trish and Gary's relatives, co-workers, employers, and friends. But the "send" account was not from Sabrina or my account, we had created a fake email account where the sender was a "cheaters @ " address.

We decided to blow up our cheating spouses' lives the day before they were served divorce papers, just to mess with their heads and their emotions and basically ruin their lives where they'd know what to expect when they heard a knock on the door.

Sabrina and I had our bags packed and reservations at a hotel in Chicago. The only thing I had left to do is call my kids at college and fill them in.

That was harder than I thought. Because things had been going well for me because of Sabrina and the counseling, I might have been too chipper in my conversation with the kids.

They were clearly upset at what their mother had been doing for the past twelve years and how it was going to break up the family. So the conversation went on for a while and eventually they calmed down, agreeing to let their mother get served divorce papers in the morning before talking with her.

By the time we got in the car for the five hour drive to Chicago our phones were blowing up with texts and calls. We started to laugh. As I drove, Sabrina would read some of the texts out loud using an official news announcer's voice. It was hilarious.

Most people were shocked or outraged. There were messages from men suggesting they're available for Sabrina! And likewise, women letting me know they'd help me through this as well.

I got a call from Trish's father who was pissed off at the situation and was screaming on the phone, not at me, but about the situation with his daughter. It was embarrassing to him. Imagine what he will be saying to Trish! Hopefully I'll get it on camera if he stops by the house.

We were halfway to Chicago and still had not heard from Trish or Gary. Strange? They were included on the emails, they probably had heard from friends or family by now, so why no word from them?

Checking into our hotel and getting to our room, my phone rang. We'd not been answering calls, but the caller ID showed it was Scarlett. I put it on speaker.

"Dave and Sabrina, I've got an update for you!" Her voice seems pretty happy. Sabrina and I looked at each other with a curious expression.

"Were you guys expecting to hear from your spouses after you blew them up on social media today? Because I bet you haven't heard from them, have you?"

"Shit, Scarlett, you attorneys only ask questions to which you already know the answers, so don't keep us in suspense!" admonished Sabrina.

"Ok, ok. Well, while you were updating those social media accounts and the email, your spouses decided to up the ante with their sexual escapades and try out a little exhibitionist fetish in the city zoo. They were fucking in the butterfly house behind some ferns when a grade school field trip came in!

"All the kids started screaming and the old kindergarten teacher almost fainted! So, check out the 6pm news here, it'll probably make tomorrow's papers, and they're both sitting in jail. They probably don't even know what you did today."

Now, this is pretty funny stuff. We were trying to hold in our laughter until Scarlett finished, and when she did we burst out laughing uncontrollably for a few minutes while Scarlett was laughing on the other end of the phone.

As we began to calm down Sabrina said, "We wasted all that money on cameras and investigators when all we had to do was wait a few weeks longer and they did it to themselves!"

We all started laughing again at the absurdity of the situation.

Given the day's events and the long drive, it was dinner time, so we went out for a nice dinner. At one point I pulled up our local news station's website and there on the front page was a video of the arrest of two naked people with blankets around them, walking barefoot through the zoo to the police cars.

Not even alcohol or drugs could have put Sabrina and I in a better mood as we got back to the hotel room. It made for the beginning of a wonderful night together, sharing our bodies in true love, feeling confident and secure in a new relationship, one that we felt would have a long and happy life.

Having turned off our phones for the next few days, we turned them on again as we drove home and caught up on texts and voicemails. Our joyous mood was dulled somewhat with what we knew we'd have to face at home.

Scarlett let us know that Gary and Trish bonded out and were home and that both had been served. But again, neither had bothered to contact us.

As I walked in my home it seemed colder, probably my mood. But Trish was there in the dining room with her wine and the divorce paperwork in front of her. I could see her phone was turned off. I wonder why, right?

"You've been very fair with me, Dave, so I signed these papers for you. No fight. If you don't mind, I'd like to be the one to list the home for sale as the Realtor. I could use the business now and the commission would help."

"Sure thing, Trish." That's all I said.

"So you've known for a while, I guess. That's why the last few weeks have been weird?"

"Yep. But I've got to hand it to you. Twelve years. Twelve years you've really hidden it well and treated me and the kids well. I appreciate that at least. I don't get it, I don't get why it was Gary of all people. Frankly, I don't want to know."

"Do you know that Sabrina is divorcing Gary too?"

"Yes I do. We planned this all together."

"I see. Well, I guess we both deserve it. But Dave, do you hate me so much that you just blew me up with those postings and emails? My Dad came over and I thought he was going to hit me! And the kids, I don't know what they'll think if they see any of this."

"They already know. I told them."

That hurt her. She winced and tears began flowing. She wiped them away and said, "I'm sorry."

Just then my phone rang, and I could hear Sabrina screaming "help me! Help me!" and I could hear Gary swearing and breaking things. It was so loud that Trish could hear it through the phone!

I ran out to my truck to rush over to their home, Trish was right behind me and got in as well. I raced over and pulled up in a matter of minutes and ran to the front door. It was locked but I could hear all the racket and violence inside.

Backing up, I kicked the door to break the lock then threw my shoulder into the door and ran in. Sabrina was on the floor, clothes ripped, bloody lips and nose, and Gary was standing over her with a belt, whipping her.

My rage and anger sent me over the edge as I charged at Gary. His violation of my marriage and friendship and now the violence committed on another human being, a woman, and also the woman I'm falling in love pumped my adrenaline.

Plowing into him and knocking him over to get him away from Sabrina didn't do much since he was so worked up as well, so this was going to be a fight. Remember, he's a pretty solid guy but I'm fit and trim. So it was a slugfest. I initially had the upper hand as I fell on him and landed multiple hits to his face, briefly stunning him.

But he was able to throw me off of him and he came at me with a roundhouse. It caught my shoulder as I was spinning around with my elbow out and caught him on the side of his head, briefly dazing him, giving me a brief moment to hit him with an uppercut to his jaw that I could feel busted some of his teeth while he staggered back.

Grabbing a vase I smashed it on his head and cut him in several places. As he brought his hands up to his injured head I let go with a flurry of jabs into his stomach and ribs. Gary was gasping for air and losing his motivation and the fight when he fell to his knees.

But I wasn't done. I took his head in my hands and brought my knee up to his face hard, and knocked him out as he slowly fell limply backward on to the floor.

I suddenly felt tired with the adrenaline rush quickly fading, found my phone and called 911.

Trish was attending to Sabrina who was severely beaten, and when I knelt down to her she just let me take her in my arms and comfort her. Trish looked on, crestfallen at the scene, probably with regret as well.

We had all been friends for years. That is all over now. Everyone's life had changed, permanently.

The upshot was that this was all on video, and Gary received five years prison. So even though Sabrina was awarded alimony he wouldn't be able to pay it, so Scarlett petitioned the judge to let her sell the home and keep the entire proceeds.

Trish sold our marital home and we split the proceeds and all the other accounts. She kept her real estate license and found a part time job as well along with a one bedroom apartment.

The kids kept in touch with her, granted they lost some respect for her, but they were far enough removed from us and involved in their own lives that the impact wasn't too bad for them.

All the video we had accumulated, the pictures from their affair in that home listing we were going to use to get them arrested, or their licenses revoked, we just let it all sit. Enough damage had been done.

What about Sabrina and I? We bought a home together and about a year later got married. Two forty-five year olds, now pregnant with twins. Can you believe how life can happen?

Thinking back to that AT&T bill and the concept of communication reminds me that communication between people solves so many issues as long as it's honest and sincere communication.

It doesn't mean everyone has to agree, they can even agree to disagree. But don't become disagreeable.

To this day we don't know why Trish and Gary hooked up with each other for all those years. Whatever the reason, they knew it was wrong which is why they hid it.

But whatever the reason, they should have communicated with their spouses whatever the issue was that had tempted them to cheat. For it is only by communication we develop and maintain our relationships, or in their case, alter our relationships.