Just Once… And Never Again!

I'd like to thank Kalimaxos for opening the door to new writers like myself. After reading multiple spins on this story, I thought I'd provide my own. If you are unfamiliar with his story ending challenge, take the time to read "Just Once... If You Don't Mind?" My ending picks up after Rick is informed in writing how far his wife's plans have gone. I hope you enjoy.

"I have something for you," Leslie said. "A letter your wife left me to give you before we did anything."

Reaching into her purse, she took it out and handed it to me.

"Go ahead, read it. I'll go to the ladies' room if you don't mind."

She made a gesture and facial expression as if asking which way.

"Down the hall to your right. You can't miss it."

"Thanks. Be back in a jiff," Leslie said, smiling and emptying her glass.

The envelope was plain. We had a box of them in my office down the hall. On it was just one word: Rick.

Taking a deep breath, I opened it and began reading.

"Dear Rick,

I'm a coward. And by the time you read this, you will know that I am also breaking our vows with Trey. But before you pass judgment on me, think about you and Diedre in Iraq. I have no proof, but I am almost positive that you and she had sex in Iraq.

How do I know? Well, you have yourself and the Army to blame for that. Remember how I helped you study for your classes when you switched to Army Intelligence Branch from flying? Part of that was the interrogation and interview class. If you remember, people who lie look away when questioned and if they are guilty.

And you, my dear husband, did just that not once, but three times when I brought her up. You are a terrible liar, Rick. But then I am no better. When Trey first put his hands on me, I never told you. Maybe I should have. And perhaps I should have had an affair or affairs during all those years that I was home alone and lonely while you were off playing soldier.

Lord knows I got hit on enough. Often by your own "friends" when you were out in the field or deployed. I was even tempted once when you were in fuckin Korea for so long. It was the only time I questioned being married to you. When I met you in Hawaii at the six-month mark, you were smug and dismissed my home issues.

Our kids needed two parents Rick. I tried to be both mom and dad, but I am not you. Only you are you. And I needed my husband's touch, dammit! But I resisted being hit on and stayed true to you. Lord knows it was not easy.

Then you went off to Iraq, and your darling Diedre Kline came home before you did. The bitch came to visit me, and with a smug look, she told me that she "took care" of you over there and then walked off before I could ask what she meant. But when you came back, I knew precisely what she meant. Any doubts I had you cleared for me when you looked away in shame, Rick.

I know two wrongs don't make a right, Rick. I also know that there is a chance you and her did nothing. In which case, I am the first cheater here with Trey. But I don't think I am. I think you did it. Maybe you did before or not. Perhaps it was the first time or not. But I am done being the dutiful wife waiting at home and being chaste for her war hero.

When Leslie told me she had the hots for you, I talked to both her and Vincent about it. He admitted he lets her have men. They have an open marriage. It would appear that I won't have broken up their marriage on my conscience. Just that I cheated on you.

So, here is the gist of this situation we are in. I go on this trip, and during my absence, I am not your wife, and you are not my husband. You have a six-week hall pass, and I am giving myself one as well.

The way I see it, if you and I still love one another, we will get past this when I see you on my return. If we don't, it will hurt, and I will mourn what you and I had and lost. But I can't see us being married and not doing this.

Know this. I was not seduced by Trey or forced into it. I am doing this by my own choice and free will. I don't love him, but I do find him attractive. He will be nothing but a memory when I return if you will still have me. What I do with him after you divorce me... well, that won't matter then, will it?

Know this, Rick Weston. You have been and still are the love of my life. Even after you broke my heart, I still love you. It has been a privilege being your wife and mother of your children. But after all these years, I need a vacation from "us."

Leslie is more than willing to fuck your brains out until I return. Vincent would pay you to let him watch. But that is your choice and decision to make. I would suggest you fuck her until she is cross-eyed and babbling. I know she will not leave Vincent for you. He lets her fuck many men. I doubt she wants to give that up.

I'll leave you with one thought, Rick:

"If you love someone, set them free. And let them come back to you."

I'll be back in six weeks.

Love you always and forever

Marcy

PS. Leslie was supposed to get tested for STDs before she came over for her first time. Make sure she shows you that. Trey and I were both tested before we left. I will get tested for you before my return and not touch him or anyone else until you and I meet. Then I will show you my STD test. Please have one done a week before I return and abstain as well. If you and I are to make a go of it after my return, this will be our first sign of trust.

I have reserved a room for us at the Ambassador Hotel near the airport. If you still want me meet me there two hours after my flight is due back. I plan on going there alone after my arrival. Please don't come to the airport when my flight lands. Please don't make a scene. Either take me back or walk away.

I plan on seeing you at the hotel. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby."

When I finish reading it, I noticed Leslie was at the kitchen island filling her glass again.

"

Are you OK?" she asked.

Rick?

WHERE MY STORY BEGINS

Marcy

As I sat on the plane heading back home, I knew this was what I wanted, but I had started to question what my motivation was behind it? Rick and I had been drifting apart while we focused on our careers. I made a bunch of excuses and convinced myself that I needed a break from our marriage. I had started spending intimate time with Dr. Trey to release the tension inherent after complex surgery. After all, Tray was charming, confident and extremely handsome as well as a good lover. When Trey approached me with the Doctors Without Borders assignment to Columbia, I felt that six weeks away was just what I thought I needed to reassure myself that I deserved this time with Trey and to provide a break from Rick.

What was I thinking? I had a little bit of a reality check over my six-week excursion. After Rick called Trey's room, Trey was annoyed at being interrupted with the realty of Marcy's life back home. After the night she spoke to Rick, things became a little more one-sided with Trey. As each encounter became more about his needs and more extreme. I realized that there was never going to be anything more than sex between Trey and I. It was nothing like being with Rick. Yes, there was sex at least four to five nights a week but it was pure sex, there was no tender lovemaking like I have with Rick. That's not what Trey had planned for me to relieve his stress. It's funny, one of the last nights before we left to return home, I asked Trey if he could ever see us together. He looked at me like he didn't want to respond but I knew his answer was no by the look on his face.

"Marcy, you been together with your husband for 24 years. You waited until we left to inform him that you were going away for six weeks, and you would be fucking another man. You didn't even try to hide it from him. I don't know the motivations behind your choice to rub it in his face and frankly, I didn't care. I knew I was the recipient of your betrayal and that was all that mattered to me. You are a great fuck toy, but to answer your question, no, I'm sorry Marcy, I wouldn't exclusively date or marry a woman like you. A woman that could be that ruthless, have no regard for her husband's feelings, and enjoy, perhaps, the humiliation you are inflicting on him, no I would never want you to be my "loyal" wife."

I left Trey's room that night and wasn't with him again for the remainder of our trip. I switched my seat on the return flight, so we weren't sitting together. Penny could see that I was upset, and I told her what Trey had said to me. Penny confessed that after Rick called looking for her, she started thinking about her husband, kids and what she was doing to them and their relationships. She thought at the time she was being discreet while having a fun adventure but she realized she was putting her whole family life at risk by cheating on her husband. She said, "You hear people say that doctors and nurses cheat on their spouses all the time. But I never did before this trip. The guilt became unbearable so I put a stop to it early in the trip. It's made me a pariah with our colleagues." I didn't know how to respond to her. I always thought of myself as a faithful wife raising her children while my husband was away fighting for our country. I was tempted, and have had plenty of opportunities, but I stayed faithful. That is until Dr. Trey.

I have never been sure if Rick stayed faithful to me until Deidre came by to see me after getting back from Iraq. I know something happened between the two of them but I had no proof. When she told me she "took care" of him over there, I'm not stupid. I know what that means. I even used that as one of my excuses for why Rick should let me have these six weeks.

I turned away and stared at the clear blue sky alone in my thoughts. Today was the day of reckoning. Would Rick be waiting for me when we landed, or do as I ask of him in the letter? Would I be served with divorce at the baggage claim, the hotel or would something be waiting for me at home? After six weeks of betrayal and no contact from Rick, I was worried he wouldn't be waiting for me at the hotel ready to accept me back. Who was I kidding. I was willing to do whatever it took to reclaim the life I had previously took for granted. "I won't blame anyone else, I fell for Trey's bullshit, and now I face the consequences." Well, what transpired at the baggage claim was not what I had expected.

The plane landed, and we walked through the gates as a team. Some of our colleagues were walking coupled up until we saw some unlikely familiar faces. We were greeted by our healthcare administrator, Doctor Frederick Powell and someone I recognized as being from the hospital's HR department. They handed each of us an envelope with our name typed on it. Doctor Powell stated that every member of the surgical team with the exception of Doctor Cordova are to appear in his office at 9:00am on Monday and that we should be prepared to answer all the questions highlighted in the envelope. Before any of us could say anything, they walked out of the airport.

At that point I heard Trey scream at the top of his lungs, "That fucking bastard! I'll kill him." As I turned around, Trey was standing there having opened his envelope and read the contents. It said...

Dear Doctor Cardoza,

It has been brought to our attention that your most recent assignment with Doctors Without Borders has resulted in several violations of this hospitals morality clause. An investigation was started weeks ago in conjunction with the Colombian authorities who oversee the program. Enclosed are the results of our combined investigation. As the Surgical Lead and Medical supervisor, we are holding you directly responsible for all violations by your team while on assignment. Your services are no longer welcome at our hospital and we strongly advise you to accept our findings and move on. Otherwise, you leave us with no choice but to make our investigation public. The state medical board will be reviewing our recommendation that your medical license be revoked and its decision be made available to other state boards if requested. You can expect no references or severance. Good luck with whatever non-medical endeavors you decide to pursue.

Sincerely,

Frederick Powell CEO

Healthcare Administrator

"This is all your fault," he yelled at Marcy. Your husband did this to us." As stunned as I was, I had to agree. 'That bastard,' I thought to myself.

As Trey stormed out of the terminal the rest of us opened our envelopes. The other three doctors and all four of us nurses were put on notice that our continued employment with the hospital were under review pending an inquiry. 'Rick's handy work. That bastard just couldn't leave well enough alone,' I thought to myself. Maybe I had underestimated my husband.

As I contemplated my next step, I noticed a familiar face standing off to the side watching from a distance. I immediately recognized my baby girl, Rhonda. As I approached her, I lost my composure. "Where is that sneaky bastard? If he thought I would just take this, he has another thing coming. Where is he? I know you know. Where is he?"

Rhonda looked at her mother as if seeing her for the first time. Her eyes were tearing up as she said, "How could you? How could you be so cruel and heartless to my father? He loved you. He cherished you and you stab him in the back after being together for 24 years. And now, he's gone.

At that moment, Marcy snapped. "I don't give a shit where he's gone. That spineless bastard hasn't the guts to either reclaim me or walk away. But no, he has to drag our family in, the hospital and trash the good work of our surgical team. I've never been so humiliated. I'll cut his balls off. Who does he think he..."

Marcy's head almost spun around as Rhonda's hand slapped her silent. Marcy blinked with disbelief as her daughter stood before. "You stupid, self-centered, ignorant slut. Don't you get it? Daddy isn't just gone, he's dead. We buried him five weeks ago. But you wouldn't know. You never called home or touched base with any of us."

To say Marcy was stunned would be an understatement. She rubbed her cheek trying to comprehend everything that has happened over the past six weeks. Finally with tears streaming down her face, she softly asked, "When... what happened?"

Rhonda looked at her mother with utter disgust. "You killed him. After he read your letter, he had a massive heart attack. You broke his heart and now he's gone. Did you think of him once while you played house with Doctor Asshole? Did you stop and think about how your selfish plans would affect him? How he would handle six weeks of abandonment?"

Marcy's world collapsed around her as she slumped to the ground before her daughter in a state of shock. "It wasn't supposed to end like this. He was supposed to be here so we could reconnect and live happily ever after," she softly muttered. She then remembered one of the last things she said in her letter. 'Either take me back or walk away.' Leave it to Rick find a third option.

She started to stand and look deep in her daughter's eyes. "What now?" Rhonda stood tall, cleared her throat and said, "Frankly you do whatever the hell you want. Kyle and I are in complete agreement. We became orphaned the minute Daddy passed away. Don't call us. Don't reach out to us. You no longer exist to us. Have a nice life in Hell," and with that she turned and walked away leaving Marcy a blubbering mess.

Epilogue

As it turned out, it obviously wasn't Rick who informed the hospital about the shenanigans going on in Columbia. After she broke it off with the doctor she was with when Rick called, Penny came clean with her husband, Josh about what was going on. Josh's only condition to not immediately leaving her was that she contacted Dr Powell and confess to him everything that was going on with Dr Trey and his team's sexcapades while in South America and accept responsibility for her actions. They are currently in counseling working through issues.

When they met at the hospital on Monday, they were informed that Dr Trey was fired. Marcy as his head nurse and known paramour was also fired. The rest of the team received a 90-day suspension as well as two years' probation with no opportunities for advancement.

As for Marcy, her daughter was true to her word, she never saw her Rhonda and Kyle again. She died years later alone, unloved and unnoticed.