She Didn't Need to Talk First

It's Friday night Brad is sitting here in the lounge room waiting for his wife to come home from work. Tonight and every Friday night is date night, they have been married 25 years, since their daughter left home 2 years ago they have been going to dinner then dancing.

Brad tried to phone her, but her phone is turned off, he left numerous texts, but nothing. It has been 4 hours past her normal home time and he was getting worried, has she had an accident or what?

Then he heard her car pull into our driveway, the front door opening then she walked in as though nothing was out of the ordinary. She also had an alcohol induced smile on her face.

"Where have you been Brenda, I have been worried sick, thinking you had an accident. I tried to phone you but your phone was switched off." Brad asked.

"You didn't need to worry, I went for a couple of drinks with Thomas, but I am here now, we can go out on our date night." Brenda replied.

"Why would you think drinks with Tommy is more important than our date night and our marriage?"

"His name is Thomas, he doesn't like being called Tommy he..."

"I don't give a fuck what he wants and doesn't want, why did you have drinks with your boss? You see him all day and lunch time and why was your phone turned off?"

"When we got there I told Thomas it was only one drink and I had to go home for out date night. I kept looking at my phone for the time, but Thomas asked me to turn it off." Brenda explained. "I guess I lost track of the time when I turned my phone off so I wouldn't get distracted."

"It's over 4 hours how could you not notice that." brad said angrily.

"Stop your complaining, Thomas wanted me to stay and have dinner then go dancing, I said I couldn't tonight, I came home to you." Brenda said defiantly.

"What do you mean couldn't tonight, are you planning on next Friday night, our supposed date night?" Brad couldn't believe what his wife was saying.

"Of course not Friday night dates are very important to me, so we are going Saturday night instead." Brenda explained as if it was nothing.

"No way are you going to dinner, dancing and probably spend the night with Tommy. Think again." Brad argued.

"Thomas, his name is Thomas, he didn't say anything about spending the night, it's just a boss spending quality time with an employee. The girls in the office said it would be good for us to get a closer working relationship." Brenda said.

"I have a good working relationship with my boss, but I don't go dancing with him or go to bed with him. Of course he is trying to get you in bed and you're not resisting."

"We probably won't end up sleeping together, but I have been a faithful wife and it's flattering to have someone like Thomas paying me attention."

"I don't know what to say, I can't believe what I am hearing from you. I will sleep in the spare room till you get your head out of your arse." Brad said as her went to the bedroom collected some clothes and toiletries.

Next morning Brad walked through the kitchen, Brenda was sitting there. "Want a coffee? what are you doing today?" like nothing had happened last night.

"I am going to the mall, I want to get a couple of things." as he walked towards the front door.

"Hold on, I'll get my things and come with you." Brenda said.

"No, I'm going by myself, I don't want to be dragged around stores with you."

"I hope your not still sulking because of last night?" Brenda said as she got up to get her things.

Brad had backed the car out onto the street and was driving away before Brenda came back.

Brenda thought to herself, I feel a little guilty being with Thomas, but if this is how Brad wants to play it, I will go with Thomas next Saturday, not to bed but a night out.

Brad was still very upset with his wife how she could risk their marriage by going out with Tommy boy. Having a coffee he was people watching, young, old, couples and single like him. Them he saw a group of people wearing beanies and scarfs for the local football team.

Hell I haven't been to the football for years, Brenda and I were supporters and went to most matches. Don't know why we stopped, he couldn't remember.

"Hello Brad, what are you doing here on a Saturday morning, shouldn't you be mowing the lawn or something?" a female voice said from behind him.

He turned and saw Angela, a young woman from their work, she had on a t-shirt and a scarf around her neck proudly showing the Tigers team colors.

"Hi Angie, wow you look the part, off to the match I see." Brad said with a grin.

"Nothing gets past you Brad." she said laughing, "I am but my friend just cancelled, so I'm going on my own.

"If you wouldn't be too embarrassed, could an old bloke like me come with you? I am an old Tigers fan for many years and I am at a loose end today."

"Sure boss, but if I said no, you would sack me I bet." Angie said laughing. they had a good working relationship. Brad was also laughing forgetting the home situation.

Brad's phone buzzed, he let it go to voicemail, it was Brenda wanting to know when he was coming back home. He turned off the phone.

Going home after the game and a good day with Angie, Brad thought is all this worth it, can we get back from here? He walked in the front door and Brenda verbally attacked him.

"Where have you been all day? why are you wearing a scarf and beanie? why didn't you answer my calls?"

"I turned my phone off so I didn't get distracted, guess I lost track of the time. Isn't that what you said? Brad said.

"You went to the football without me, I would have been company for you."

"I didn't need you I had Angie from work for company, a little boss and employee quality time, just like you and Tommy, it would be good for us to get a closer working relationship."

Brenda was furious but couldn't say anything, they were her words coming back to her.

"I saved your lunch it's in the fridge, you can have now for dinner." Brenda said trying to remain calm.

"No, I couldn't eat another thing, we had hot chips, hotdogs and a steak sandwich. I can't believe how much I have missed football. The next game is Saturday night, you will be at dinner with Tommy so Angie and I are going for a meal first then to the game. Boy, is she loud when she barracks. I haven't had this much fun in a long time." Brad said excitedly.

"What if I don't go to dinner and come with you instead?" Brenda asked quietly.

"No, I don't think so, you had drinks with him without me and I wasn't invited to your dinner party next Saturday, so I think Angie and I will just go by ourselves." Brad said, he was pleased she was seeing how hurtful her actions were.

"OK, then I will go with THOMAS, if that's what you want." Brenda said Thomas very loudly to get her point across.

Brad didn't answer, just walked to the bathroom, showered and went to bed in the spare room. He locked the door but heard someone trying to open it in the middle of the night.

Next day Brad was up and out of the house before Brenda came out of the bedroom. She checked and Brad's car was gone. She phoned him, but it was turned off.

The thoughts running through her head, what have I done? have I ruined our marriage? just because Thomas turned my head, we haven't even kissed? how is Brad giving up so easily, not trying to fight for me? who can I talk to, I can't talk to mum and dad, they will be on Brad's side?

"Where have you been baby, I waited all day for you to come home? I made your favorite for dinner." Brenda said very quietly.

"Sorry I ate when I was out. Goodnight." he said as he went for a shower.

"Good morning Brenda, how was your date Friday night, hope hubbie wasn't too upset I kept you out late. Haha." Thomas said as they walked into the office of Thomas O'Brien Insurance.

"Yes I am in all sorts of trouble, he was worried I was in an accident then I told him I was with you having drinks. I have never seen him so angry." Brenda replied. "I told him about next Saturday night, he, he, talked for a while them just walked out I have hardly seen him all weekend."

"He will get over it don't worry, tell him it is just bonding. After Saturday night he will see you are serious about us casually dating."

"It's OK for you to say that but it's my marriage on the line." Brenda was starting to feel the pressure of her marriage dissolving.

"Are you still going ahead with your planned dinner date with Tommy? Or have you changed your mind?" Brad asked.

"I think I am, but if you ask me I won't. I will stay with you." Brenda replied.

"It isn't up to me to make you decide It is entirely your decision." Brad answered.

"Well I guess I am. if you're not going to stop me, anyway you have plans with Angie, so I am not going to sit at home." Brenda sobbed, she hoped Brad would ask her not to go.

Thing were very quiet, no interaction between the two, Saturday afternoon Brad dressed in his footy gear and left the house not saying anything. Brenda wasn't going, then she was again then not. She knew this was a turning point in her marriage. She eventually got dressed and went to the Rex Hotel Motel restaurant to meet Thomas.

Sitting at their table Thomas reached across and took Brenda's hands in his and looked straight into her eyes. They were so focused on each other they didn't notice a couple walk up to their table.

"Hello dear, we didn't expect to see you here, Brad said you had a work meeting and here you are holding hands with a man." The woman said.

Brenda dropped Thomas's hand and sat back in her chair.

"Hello mum, dad, er this is my boss Thomas, we're having a meeting to work out a campaign. Thomas this Mary and John."

"Hello Tom, pleased to meet you, why do you have to hold my daughters hands while discussing business?" John asked.

"Do you always take your staff to an expensive place like this for work meeting?" Mary asked.

"Perhaps I had better go, I will let Brenda and you have a quiet dinner." Thomas said as her tried to get up and leave

."No, if you left before discussing the business, I would think you were trying to seduce my married daughter. I wouldn't want to think that." John said as he pushed Thomas down into his seat by the shoulder.

"I see your entree has arrived, we will go to our table, we will come back for a chat soon." Mary said.

It was very uncomfortable for Brenda and Thomas, how can we get out of this they both thought. Before the main meal arrived John and Mary came back and sat at the table.

"I see you have a very expensive bottle of wine here, you both are probably driving so couldn't drink it all and drive, so we will help you out and take it back to our table. We will be in a taxi, thanks for this." Mary said as they went back to their table.

Thomas was furious, they had ruined his chance to get Brenda drunk and take her up stairs. After the meals were finished, Mary and John returned and sat at the table. Brenda was distressed, Thomas was sweating.

It's very expensive here, I guess you put this on you work credit card? And the room upstairs that also? Yes I phoned, said I was your PA and confirmed your booking." Mary said.

"What room, you were planning to get me to sleep with you, that's the expensive wine part of this trap you set for me. You said just bonding, Brad was right you wanted more, how could I be so stupid?" Brenda was crying out loudly now.

"I am going to give notice on Monday, I can't work with a lowlife like you." Brenda reduced to sobbing now.

I wonder how your management would feel if they knew you put a dinner and hotel room on the company card, all while trying to seduce a workmate? Pity if someone spoke to HR to investigate. That is unless you went to them on Monday morning and confessed." John said.

"Are you married Thomas? Do you have a wife and young kids that really look up to you? It would be terrible if someone was to give her photos of your little dinner tonight." Mary said.

"What do you people want? I am sorry I nearly broke up your daughters marriage and threatened mine." Thomas begged.

"If you go and confess you tried to put false charges on the credit card before we do, that will help and you never try to seduce any woman again or the photos go to your wife." John said forcefully. "Now pay the bill with your private credit card not the company one." John said. "Then you can leave and don't ever talk to my daughter again."

The three sat there not talking for a while, Brenda still sobbing, Mary put her arm around her daughter.

"Why was I so stupid, I couldn't see what he was doing. Brad saw it and tried to stop me and now I have lost him. He is with another woman tonight, at the football. I should have been with him not bloody Tommy."

"At least he didn't get you into bed, that would have been the end of everything. They want to clean the tables let's go into the bar and have a drink for the road." Mary said helping Brenda stand on her shaking legs.

As they entered the bar Brenda saw Brad sitting at a table with two beautiful women.

"Look mum Brad is here with those women, I have lost him. Take me home, I have had enough." Brenda pleaded.

"No, just come over and say goodnight before we leave." Mary steered her to the table.

"I thought you were going to the football with Angie, how come you're here?" Brenda asked.

"Well let me think, I planned for your mother and father to bugger up Tommy's dinner plan and getting you into bed. Also to celebrate Angie getting engaged to Tina." Brad explained. "They have been together for two years."

"So you haven't been sleeping with Angie, I thought you were because of me and Tommy." Brenda said. "Congratulation girls you don't know how happy I am to hear this news."

"His name is Thomas not Tommy." Brenda burst out laughing. "Tina always came to the football with Angie and me, didn't I say that, bugger." Brad said grinning. "If you have learnt your lesson, we can go home and try to patch things up like they used to be."

"Don't worry, I have learnt my lesson. I will be a true loving wife." Brenda said as she hugged Brad.

Thomas confessed he was going to use the credit card for personal reasons and attempted to seduce a workmate. of course it never went anywhere. it was his company.