We all shared a hug and then I finished making breakfast as we ate and talked. It had been a while since I'd had that good a conversation with both of my kids at the same time, despite the life-altering topic.
"What are you going to do, Dad?" the question came from my son, and I'd expected it ten minutes earlier.
"That's a million-dollar question, Steven," I told him honestly. "And right now I can't give you an answer."
"You're not going to stay with her, Dad, I mean..." he paused.
No, son," I said sadly. "That part is a given."
Angela went to take a shower while Steven admitted he couldn't face his mother. He took off to hang with some friends.
I went to my computer and was surprised when I opened our banking app that Terri's prize money, minus taxes, had already been deposited. I moved half our funds, minus that large deposit, to a new account. I did take three thousand dollars of Terri's money though. I could always give it back later, even though I doubted that she'd push the issue.
I decided to go for a drive. It was probably what Terri was doing. I hoped I didn't run into her.
I felt vindicated in my suspicions and gravely sad at the same time. I suppose it might be different for married couples who have two or three years into it, with no children. With Terri, it just felt like I'd wasted a lifetime. We'd already survived the worst of times, dammit. The worst was thinking it through, there was no reason to give the kids a blowjob. No strategy, no gamesmanship, nothing. Nothing but a consolation and that spoke volumes about how she viewed her husband as far as I was concerned.
Terri was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a bottle of wine when I got back at five.
The house was dark and quiet. She gave me a sideways glance, unable to meet my stare.
"Why," I said more than asked in a deadpan voice. "What was the point?"
"As a reward," she answered, staring at the wine in her glass.
"Perfect," I retorted. "And what was last night? Your stupid husband's reward?"
Terri didn't answer or move.
"I don't know what's going to happen," I stated. "But I can't be around you right now. I'm leaving in a bit. I may be home tomorrow night or sometime later in the week." As I headed up the stairs, I heard a weak, "I'm sorry," from her.
I was sweating as I packed. It was another hot summer day, but the extreme heatwave had moved on to the East Coast. Then it hit me, that bitch had turned off the A/C unit.
"I'll let you know when I'll be home," I snarled as I dragged my bag and backpack to the door. Then much louder, "And if I come home and that fucking air conditioner is still off, I'm going to rip it off the wall and jam your head into it like a hat. You already earned all your air conditioning money. Give the kids a break. Oh yeah, if they ever come home."
I'm not one to throw a pity party. I'd lived hard times with the person I thought I'd grow old with. But I also rarely partook of my options regarding microbrews. I found a new one that looked interesting at a party store near my hotel and took it with me.
It was nice to be past the indecision and the waiting, honestly. I made this list and that, getting all my ducks in a row for the coming storm.
On Monday I waltzed into the office of my new job and was immediately summoned to the foreman's office. I wondered if I'd screwed up one of my reports with all that had been going on. That wasn't the issue as it turned out. The foreman, the site manager, and the owner of the company were all waiting for me.
"Please sit down, Mr. Daniels," the owner said formally. "I assume you've seen the morning newspaper?"
I hadn't but had a better than good guess. "No, I haven't," I started. "Yes, she's my wife, and probably not for long."
"I see," he said dryly. "Still, our company has a reputation to uphold. I built this business with integrity and while it might seem to you that this is a personal matter, I don't."
He sat waiting for me, but I already knew what was coming.
"I'm going to exercise your ninety-day probation," he went on. "I'm sorry, Mr. Daniels."
And just like that, I was unemployed again. At least I had a new bank account for HR to send my final check to.
With nowhere to go, I drove through our neighborhood, when I saw Maggie's house and pulled into her driveway.
Maggie was at the door opening it before I could knock. She had the saddest look I'd ever seen on her face.
"Come in, Tom," she offered. "Can I get you something... to drink?"
I accepted a glass of her tea. She wondered why I wasn't at work, so I broke that news first. If the saddest look could ever turn sadder it happened right then.
We talked about the impact on the children. They'd hardly be children anymore by the time all this was finished, at least on the inside. Maggie must have said 'sorry' a dozen times before I asked her to stop. Having known her for so long it was clear that she felt guilty taking Terri's side in the beginning. It was shock mixed with agony, like a gambler who lost a sure bet.
Then she asked me what I was going to do.
"I can't be at home right now," I said, stating the obvious. "One wrong word would be like a match to gasoline. I'd never hurt her, physically, but..."
"Can you get away?" she asked suddenly. Then I wore a shocked look. "Like AWAY away?"
"I have to be available for the kids," I replied. "They're going to need me. It's summer vacation but I don't want them staying away from home or doing something unhealthy because they have a shitty mom. Actually, that's not it. She's not shitty to them, she just did a shitty thing that affects them. They'll get over it in time."
"I'm asking if we could go somewhere?" she tried again.
"What?" I asked, surprised. "As in you and me? Away like where?"
"Somewhere," she whispered. "Where you can think. I'll be good company. And I'm not going to attack you if you don't want me to." Her face blushed. "Honestly, I'm a bit torn because I love that silly bitch almost as much as your kids. I want you to know, though, if you give me an option, then I'm claiming you when you get divorced. I won't be the cause of breaking up your marriage."
"You won't have anything to do with that," I strongly stated. "If we have to wait to be intimate again, I will understand. I will actually respect you for that. What happened... I mean, that was kind of my fault. I saw you there and I wanted you, badly."
"Tom, don't," she said with compassion. "We're both adults. I felt much guiltier until the video came out."
"Okay, where?" I was starting to like the idea for several reasons.
"I don't know," she seemed unsure. "I've always wanted to go to Miami."
There was an underlying cuteness in that moment that I'd never noticed before. It was almost flirty, but she wore a genuine look of care and concern.
"Well, I was going to say New York City, but it's probably as hot there as Florida," I chuckled trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, I could use a few days to get myself together and maybe forget my troubles for a bit."
"Do you want to invite the kids?" she asked encouragingly.
"No," I responded. "They may need me by phone, but it also might be just what they need to clear the air with Terri; some private time, without me there.
By three in the afternoon, we had plane tickets and a hotel on the beach. It's pretty slow in August down there. Maggie repeatedly offered to pay, but I refused. I was going to use some of Terri's whoring money.
Half an hour later, I went home to pack a bigger bag. We'd reserved the hotel for three days and two nights. I got a suite with adjoining bedrooms. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't think about the implications of sharing a hotel room with an attractive woman and wonderful friend but it was the latter that could never allow me to disrespect her.
Terri came into the bedroom and watched me for a moment before speaking.
"I thought you told me you had a job?" her tone seemed like she was about to go on the offense.
"I did." That was said without looking back at her.
"Then why was your car parked in Maggie's driveway most of the day?" Yep, she's going on offense and she's going there, I thought.
"My job is no more," I turned toward her with a violent look in my eyes. "Thanks to your vile little video. Now I have to start all over again."
"They can't fire you for that!" she started. "That's a lawsuit and w..."
"It's an 'at-will' state and I was in my probationary period," I growled. "You psycho bitch! I'm going on vacation before you ask. I still can't stand the sight of you. You've got four days to explain yourself to our children and try to make peace. I'd suggest you try to understand what they're going through. I'll text them later to check in and let them know where I am. Do not bother me with calls or texts. We'll deal with this... shitshow when I get back, understand?"
Terri wasn't sad anymore. She was back to her old Irish self, unwilling or unable to take orders from me.
"I know what I did wrong," she spouted without saying my name. "I don't need you to tell me what to do."
"Suddenly," I said with more remorse, "that seems like 'wrong-thinking' on your part. How are the parents holding up? Have they all seen your five minutes of fame, or was it less?"
"Fuck, you're suddenly a mean bastard," she hissed. "I'm sure it's no surprise they're not... happy with me at the moment."
"Now that," I said whipping around as I zipped my case, "is a fucking understatement."
Terri stormed off making a big production of it. She certainly had no idea what reconciling and remorse meant. The kids later told me that only Terri's father knew. He thought telling her mom would put her in her grave. I just hoped I had the courage to appoint myself before someone in her bridge club did the deed.
I tossed my bag into the car and drove the long way around the block ending up about six hundred feet from where I started. Maggie had the garage door open for me. I guess she didn't want to have to answer to the nosy neighbors when we returned.
Our flight landed at 9:20 later that night. Maggie seemed very tired and I understood how her emotions were a driver. I was still amped up, however. It had been a heck of a day, and tomorrow promised to exceed today. At least I'd have all my answers by the afternoon and could then begin to figure out where my life was headed. While I had no intention of having sex with Maggie, even if she pushed for it, I was still a guy, a man in flux, and a man nonetheless. She was a long-term friend, and caregiver to my children for years, and I'd need her shoulder more than her privates.
Maggie came out of the shower dressed in a long robe just as I'd expected. We knew each other very well. I always showered in the morning and changed into a T-shirt and shorts while she used the bathroom. We sat and talked a bit about what she wanted to do on 'her' vacation. In the morning, she told me she wanted to work on her tan before the sun got too high and the temperatures became unbearable.
I didn't have to wait long. Maggie and I had a wonderful breakfast in the hotel lobby restaurant. She went into the separate bath to change and when she came out, I was treated to another glimpse of her gorgeous body, revealed by the skimpy bikini she wore. At all of the neighborhood parties, she's always worn a conservative one-piece.
Maggie was incredible for a forty-five-year-old woman. It wasn't a complete surprise, after all, I saw her all the time, and my imagination gave me a vision of what she might look like under those clothes. Her skin was flawless. She looked like she could easily pass for someone younger than me.
"Maggie, you're beautiful." I couldn't avert my eyes.
"Oh Tom, thank you," she giggled. "You always know the right things to say and I know you mean it. Now behave yourself and finish whatever it is that's so important, so we can go exploring later."
Maggie came up to me and kissed my cheek. It was a warm sincere gesture. In that moment, I realized that over time, there were many gestures like that with my neighbor - no she was my friend.
"I'll need about an hour," I said to her back as she bustled out the door.
The PI report was nothing if not thorough. It was as I expected, for just south of nine grand. The night before the final show aired, a Tuesday, Terri walked down the beach from Hell House, passing by the men's quarters. Of course, at that point, there was just Ivy at Hell House and The two blowjob recipients at the other. It would be unlikely she'd be spotted.
Reading through the report, I found several surprises. The first made sense with my previous thought. Ivy was a paid actor. She'd even competed on "The Bachelor" with a different hair color and style. So, she wouldn't care if Terri left the house. She was a plant.
Then the why came into focus. Terri went to Levi's villa. There was a photo of him opening the beach gate for her, and another with his arm around her waist as they walked back to the house. Terri looked super comfortable with a guy she barely knew.
The investigation firm was gentle with me. They were obviously very good at what they did. Included in their report were two photos, grainier than I expected. My wife was on a bed, and also on that slick bastard, riding him.
The report explained. It was a windy night and the drone operator was dealing with a good amount of 'sway'. He was skilled enough to get the evidence through a two-inch gap in the drapes even with the drone dancing about. The report said, "Fifteen minutes of video surveillance footage available upon your request."
I was appreciative they didn't include it. When I thought I'd read enough, the final surprise was sprung. Terri and Levi attended the same university, at the same time. The report admitted they couldn't prove or disprove a relationship at that time but did include the transcript of the audio they'd recorded. Terri's leaving school suddenly became clearer. Even if her roommate was part of the reason, the guys she knew probably saw Terri as a potential slut and lay.
It was during their 'pillow talk' after their second round that night. Jenkins, whom the PI pointed out was not his given name, asked my wife how it felt to be very rich and very well satisfied. Terri mocked him that three-hundred-fifty thousand dollars, before taxes, would hardly be considered rich.
Jenkins joked and withdrew the statement, saying, "Okay, just sated, then."
The conversation led to some interesting points. It laid out how Jenkins had sought her out regarding his concept for the show, how they had discussed it for a couple of months before she left for the island. It was torture, even with my plans in place, to hear how she berated me as a lousy provider. Jenkins played the macho card and commented that I must be lousy in bed too, if I couldn't take care of my family. She surprised me by giving the one and only compliment her treacherous mouth uttered.
When I finished, I knew they were both going to pay. Jenkins, literally, and my soon-to-be former wife, figuratively.
I called the PI at the previously scheduled time. They were ready for me, all involved sitting in a conference room. The team reiterated what they'd found, with no new information from what was in their report. At one point a female voice pointed out that if all I'd wanted was a divorce, then I could have gotten my intel from that video for no cost at all. The only people laughing were on their side of the call.
After ten or so minutes, John, the founder of the firm dismissed the rest of his team.
"Tom," he said somberly. "Go to the lobby. There is a burner phone waiting for you at the concierge's desk. In the contacts, there is only one number stored. Go somewhere private and call me on that number. Wait ten minutes."
"I'm worried here," John didn't even say hello, just answered with that. "Some people are raging lunatics in situations like these. You, on the other hand, are scaringly calm. I get the sense that you've been thinking long and hard about... revenge and the like. I don't want to know any details and by law, you had better not give them to me. In a nutshell, what are you planning?"
I told him the basic gist of my plan. "You're breaking at least four laws," he responded. "And that's without any violence." He could tell I wasn't to be swayed or deterred.
"Alright," he sighed. "I'm going to give you some free advice against my better judgment. Remember, you can't prove anything about their college days. What you do have is influence and the court of public opinion. He's going to threaten you when you call. Be prepared. These types aren't easily intimidated. Hold your ground. Let little snippets of what you have spill out a bit at a time until he figures out you've got him thoroughly by the nutsack."
I appreciated the advice and the man himself and told him so. He told me not to use the burner phone to make the call, but rather to go off the resort property and buy one at one of those tourist gift stores. I laughed at that, but he quickly dispelled my doubt.
He asked me where I thought drug dealers, scammers, and potential terrorists sneaking into the country got their burner phones.
I did as he suggested, texting Maggie as I walked, and telling her I needed another twenty or thirty minutes and enjoy the sun. She sent me a thumbs-up emoji.
I was nervous, to say the least. What I was about to do, I'd never considered in my whole life, not even in a dream or fantastical daydream.
"Levi Jenkins, speaking." The smug prick said it in the form of a question, as in, I'm busy and powerful and above whomever is calling so what do you want from me?
"Tom Daniels, Mr. Jenkins," I said with a faked apprehension. I wanted him in that instance to believe he was in charge and above me.
"Mr. Daniels," he said calmly, yet I detected a controlled concern there. "Good to hear from you again. Calling to thank me and maybe apologize? It's all right. No need, really. I understood where you were coming from. Plenty of regular flyover folks don't trust Hollywood. Hell, most don't understand it. Comes with the territory. I'm happy for your wife and for your family. She played the game well and should be commended by all of you back home. She's also quite a wonderful person that I'm glad I got to know..."
He left that last part dangling. I knew exactly what he left unsaid. Still, he couldn't be that stupid, thinking I hadn't seen the 'after dark' video or him not having any knowledge of it.
I kept quiet, not responding. I heard a throaty chuckle before he spoke again. "You know, Mr. Daniels, no one can prove that's your wife in the video, don't you? That's why they're so grainy to begin with." He was such a smug prick and he didn't have a clue what was coming.
"Great," I stated like a robot call. "So you make money off of ratings and advertising, and then you sell the after-dark videos for side money." I wasn't asking and he wasn't telling.
"I'm calling to discuss another matter. You should be somewhere private unless you want your career to end today."
"Don't you dare threaten me," he growled. "I'll have your balls on my mantle by morning."
"How was that pussy in college, Jenkins?" I asked with some swagger in my tone. "Did it feel the same as that night in your villa?"
"Listen here, Schlemiel," he was trying to maintain control but I could hear him quickly walking somewhere. "You try to use any surveillance of my island - anywhere - I'll have your ass. In fact, I'm calling my attorneys straight away. They'll have an injunction on you so fast your stupid head will spin."
"Now you listen, you small-dicked prick," I said through clenched teeth. "I'm nowhere you can get to me. I don't plan on suing you. Terri is history. I'm somewhere no one will find me. Get that through your head. I'm not calling on a legal matter, I'm calling to negotiate."
