it all started on a pleasant April morning it was a gorgeous Saturday the windows were open in deference to the unusually mild temperature the birds were singing the air was fresh and clean and Norman Rockwell was going to town I headed to the kitchen to get started on breakfast I usually drink coffee but sometimes I fall into a tea depression lasting for weeks at a time I filled my favorite teapot left to me by my grandmother put it on the stove and got the bags ready for the signal whistle as soon as the kettle started
to sing I would put the sachet in the water turn off the gas set the timer on the microwave and say in as pompous and English a voice as possible T Earl gry hot I laughed silently at my wit yes I am witty I had just had time to squeeze the last drops from the bags and close the lid of the teapot when the doorbell heralded a visitor I opened the door to my surprise it was wasn't a JW a Girl Scout or some lawyer it was Trudy my best friend Brad's wife Brad and I
had known each other since middle school attending different colleges but had been in each other's orbit most of the time since we met he had married Trudy 3 years earlier she had known my wife Audrey at least well enough to mourn her passing 6 months later Trudy and I never really hit it off per se we were both very attached to Brad and there was no underlying animosity to overcome we just didn't hit it off it's hard to explain anyway she stood there looking very unhappy I stepped aside she walked in would you like some
tea I asked trying to play the Good host she sniffed the air uncertainly Earl Gray she asked I grinned nice nose I muttered yeah that's what's on the menu just finished Brewing it she smiled thinly yeah that would be good I escorted her into the kitchen she sat down at a small table in the breakfast nook I set cups and saucers on the table poured tea asked her preferences for sugar and milk none and none and sat down she was silent savoring her tea and looked like she was about to cry can I talk to
you about something she asked sharply was this a disturbing call sure I answered more calmly than I felt I mean it's just about you and me I need to know that I can count on you not to talk to Brad about it she said her voice strained okay that was definitely a red flag still I reasoned if she'd come to me it must be serious I looked her in the eye and said you have my word she was silent for a moment longer and then I think I'm pretty sure Brad is having an affair that
took all the emotional Spirit out of me I couldn't believe it Brad had seen how my first wife's infidelity had hurt me I couldn't believe he would turn around and hurt his own wife do you have any real proof I asked or is it just suspicion she took another minute to gather her thoughts the text messages on his cell phone the Hang-Ups on his home phone and it's so awkward he barely touches me at all Brad I whispered Mr horn dog I froze realizing what I'd said I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that but I
mean Trudy he really likes it I whispered things weren't going well I'm sorry I meant she interrupted me I know he told you we have a good sex life he told me that himself he also swore he never said it outright I nodded I know he finds your feminine charms more than appropriate she smiled thinly and tiredly we both sat in silence finally I said okay so what can I do to help what do you want me to do she sighed I don't know she said I'm still so upset I haven't had time to think
things through maybe it was a mistake no I said in a firm voice if Brad is doing something like this it's up to me to change his mind if he's cheating she said quietly there's no getting him back you're right about one thing he told me a little bit about your first marriage about what you went through if he if he could do that to me after what he saw well I'd never trust him again the marriage would be over that hit me hard again I realized that I had two options on the one hand
I could warn Brad and if he came forward he would either stop it or more likely go on Undercover on the other hand I could peep on him and find out if he was getting off so I had to choose between helping him letting him do to Trudy what Norine had done to me and exposing him as the liar Trudy feared which would cost us our friendship suddenly I realized that I had rushed things I hadn't even considered the possibility that he might be innocent perhaps she'd dreamed the whole thing perhaps she'd watched too many
episodes of Mory or any one of several possibilities was perfectly reasonable my confusion must have been clearly visible for Trudy said I guess I got it all mixed up I walked over and took her hand I have a lot to think about I'll keep your trust it's just that I've never done any investigative work give me some time to make a plan I'll help you a tear leaked out of each eye thank you Jeff you're a good friend we stood as one hugged briefly and I walked her to the door when she left I sat
down on the couch one beautiful April morning shattered to Pieces my sister married a guy named Chuck who has a brother named Frank Frank is an investigator at a nationally known firm firm I've met him a few times and he seemed nice enough I asked Chuck to ask Frank to contact me if he would be willing to do so and advise me on a matter of Interest Frank called me the next evening I explained at length that I wasn't trying to be Dick Tracy or Mike Hammer and then briefly told him what Trudy had told
me when I finished I paused and asked well what do you think there was silence so long I thought he had passed out just before I was about to ask if he was on he said okay let's do this I can't run an investigation off the books I'm loyal to my company I don't think that's what you're asking but I have to make it clear I understand I said and thank you for whatever you can do okay he repeated slowly she came to you I think because you can get close to him that means you
can get into his car truck whatever and plant a little GPS bug I can point you in the right direction in your neighborhood then you just follow him if he's on the move you just wait for him to stop and Drive by for God's sake whatever you do don't try to act tailgating then when and if you find him somewhere he especially doesn't belong and the more times the better indicator don't barge in like Dirty Harry I repeat don't barge in you tell your wife to hire a private investigator for a day or so and
have them gather some dirt no cops I asked where's the crime he asked somewhat anim atly I thought sure it's messy but the cops don't care about that you just find out the basics and if there's a fire where there's smoke you pass it on to the smoke jumpers well it all made sense to me we talked for a few more minutes I thanked him profusely he apologized for biting my head off and then explained that most amateurs don't understand the legal Dynamics behind marital infidelity marriage was invented for two reasons he opined to make
children legal and to give private investigators lawyers a steady stream of income I found this cynical but held back then I thanked him and we dispersed at least I had the rudiments of a plan over the next few weeks I put together some of the points Frank had mentioned I progressed slowly but I wanted to be right without getting caught up in the day-to-day I found reasons to ride with Brad in both his car and his SUV and installed GPS bugs in each without arousing suspicion I frequently and secretly updated Trudy on my progress during
one of our conversations I asked how things were going worse she replied with great sadness on her face he hasn't touched me since I came to see you last weekend he got really rude and at one point I thought he was going to hit me at that memory she brushed away a few tears was this really the man I had known for so long it was hard to comprehend I assured her I was getting good data and it would be over soon I had followed Brad several times despite Frank's warnings and found that he periodically
went to a certain house on a certain Street on certain days in addition he would leave work and walk to the house pull into the garage with what appeared to be a remote control close the door and back out almost exactly 35 minutes later and always around lunchtime the bastard had noon there's a great wife sitting at home craving his touch and he's having fun with some other guy's wife I wrote down the address and upon making inquiries found out the name of the owner of the record Dennis Roberts married to Denise Roberts Dennis as
I found out after even more careful questioning worked I had to laugh as a divorce attorney one day as Brad's car disappeared behind the garage door I picked up my cell phone and called Dennis Roberts's office I was greeted with the usual he isn't here I loudly told the receptionist that was about his wife a short pause followed and then this is Dennis Roberts speaking what are you saying about my wife she's having sex with another man right now you need to hurry home and take care of business I used a fake accent and spoke
with the voice of an asthmatic I closed the receiver and sat down to watch the fireworks 15 minutes later the car I assumed rightly Dennis Roberts was driving squealed out from around the corner and stopped in in the driveway Robert slammed the car door entered the house without further Ado and moments later Brad popped out of the front door wrapped in a sheet desperately dialing a number on his cell phone that I assumed again rightly was 911 he was screaming into the phone and as Roberts was walking out the front door Brad yelled into the
receiver he's going to kill me and pointed the phone in Robert's direction that slowed the lawyer down he knew he'd be in deep if he hurt the guy regardless of the reason the cops arrived 3 minutes later and while they were trying to figure things out I stepped out from behind a bush that served as meager and unnecessary camouflage Brad saw me our eyes met and his face contorted into a mask of hatred he knew I'd set him up I walked back to my car that was parked a block away from the house got in
it and sat there crying for a minute after cleaning myself up I drove home when I realized from the GPS that Brad had come home I called Trudy's cell phone and told her I was coming over and why I think I heard a sob as I hung up I arrived a few minutes later it wasn't far only 20 blocks or so and Trudy opened the door I froze on the porch for a moment then Brad pushed Trudy aside and started yelling at me you bastard he bellowed I wasn't sure what he was saying to Trudy
so I acted calm I calmly replied what are you talking about about Brad he was breathing heavily I gave him a chance to gather his thoughts and said anything to do with Denise robberts he blushed several shades of red I turned to Trudy and said I saw him being kicked out of the house today with an iate husband keeping Pace son of a hasn't learned a lesson from what Norine did to me Brad shrieked and swung at me I was ready I hit the bastard with my mace to which he responded with all sorts of
obs ities in parting I said Trudy I'll be a witness in any trial you undertake you were right I left in confusion the divorce went pretty smoothly from what I heard when Brad was caught red-handed and by a court official he had no bargaining chips left he was ruined I was never called to testify about what I saw or did Trudy of course kicked him out he moved to an apartment in another part of town and changed jobs he found something in the same field but he wouldn't be able to continue working for the firm
that had hired him well good I thought I hate to see someone suffer regardless of the reasons I mourned the loss of my friend and let life go on it was Saturday night about 8 months after this whole sorted Affair had begun I hadn't heard from Brad which wasn't surprising and neither had Trudy I was just pondering that fact when the doorbell rang Trudy was standing there I smiled at the sight of her come on in I said I was just thinking about you she answered my smile with a smile of her own albeit a
weak one we made our way into the living room and sat down would you like some tea I asked she shook her head no but if you have anything stronger ah I said coffee she laughed for the first time in my presence in many months no I mean something with a kick I grinned I see what you meant Johnny Black her eyes widened sounds good she said smiling like she really meant it and great for me she added I pulled a bottle of Johnny's from my stash and a couple glasses poured a shot each and
said you're making a toast she thought for a second to what was to be and to what will be here here I replied we raised our glasses and drank we sat on the couch and talked to my surprise that glass turned into a second glass and that glass turned into a third I was beginning to worry that Trudy was too intoxicated to drive home but her eyes remained clear her words slurred and I decided to put the bottle away she didn't mind we chatted about nothing but without the glass and with her guard down she
began to open up little by little I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help Jeff she said and there was a Tremor in her voice I don't like being divorced but I hate what he did to us she let a few tears fall then continued after you left that day and he stopped fighting I asked him about noren was that your first wife I nodded she nodded back and continued I asked again and again until he finally stopped prevaricating and told me what had happened then he told me about himself and that
the lawyer's wife he started crying because I think deep down he knew he'd up big time I was silent for a moment moment yeah I said quietly I'm having a hard time believing it myself but you turned out to be the friend I needed she said I don't know why I didn't meet you before I met Brad she leaned a little closer as she spoke her forehead pressed against mine our faces touching caressing each other and then the kiss happened in a second we went from dead stop to full lips touching our needs desires and
frustrations bursting out urging us forward I placed my hands on her breasts she pulled away demanding more wanting to make sure she was attractive to a man she broke the kiss and stood up let's go she whispered her voice hoarse with desire I led her into the bedroom where we undressed the alcohol was clouding my brain not so much that I didn't realize what I was doing but enough to distort my perception after Mutual release we lay there sad wanting more but unable to fulfill the demand the right side of her face resting on my
left shoulder her left hand resting on my chest through my fading Consciousness I heard her voice Jeff she said softly yes I replied in a barely audible whisper thank you thank you for wanting me she said her voice sad almost Melancholy I patted her arm with my left hand grinned slightly and saidit was my pleasure dear lady she snuggled even tighter against me I reached down to pull back the sheet and we sank into rest as one the next morning she was still there I gazed into her features so sharp so delicate so beautiful she
felt me looking at her her eyes opened she looked up at me and a smile lit up her face as she whispered good morning I kissed her forehead all the best to you too beautiful she made the same motion she'd made the night before almost like a dog wagging its body with uncontrollable Glee we got up and headed for the galley where we took turns doing what one does in the galley brushed our teeth showered and went to the kitchen where we made each other a hearty breakfast as we ate I ventured to ask do
you have any thoughts about last night she set the dishes aside and focused on my face I'm not married you're widowed we're two single adults who decided to make love to each other she looked at me as if waiting for some kind of conclusion I smiled you're right I said she smiled back with all the strength a woman is capable of so Trudy and I entered into a sexual relationship and I began to hope it would develop into love I know it sounds hackneyed but it really did and that was the problem when Trudy divorced
Brad the housing market in our area was tight however about 6 months after we became lovers the market picked up and Trudy started spending more time with her realtor she spent almost every night with me she had started taking the pill again she was still emotionally fragile despite my gift of multiple ecstasies almost every night she knew how I felt and I thought I knew how she felt but appearances may not be completely honest one night she came home to my house our house and asked me to sit with her in the living room I
didn't anticipate anything good and I turned out to be right Jeff she said quietly Marge found a buyer for the house Marge was her realtor that's great I replied without much enthusiasm the deal will be done in less than 3 weeks she continued and then I'll be moving back to Cooper City to live closer to my family I knew it was going to happen it was inevitable but that didn't make it hurt any less not we hugged for a few moments and then she went to pack her things I sat in the living room while
while she did that unable to believe that she hadn't asked me if I wanted to go with her she never brought it up which was a sure sign that she was just breaking things off neatly irrevocably she entered the living room again carrying a small suitcase behind her back I didn't look at her she leaned over kissed me on the top of my head and said goodbye my darling she turned and walked out the door closing it behind her I sat and cried a few tears of self-pity and then having finished I got up washed
the dishes and prepared for the next day the days rushed by one boring piece of calendar after another for another 2 years maybe a little more my career was moving along a few girlfriends kept me company from time to time and I was content if not truly happy then on another Saturday night just after dinner I heard a knock on the door I had long ago given up the practice of grabbing my Louisville Slugger as I approached the door I had long feared Brad's wrath and kept that buck close to the front door imagine my
surprise when upon opening the door I saw Brad I reached for the Slugger I kept it in plain sight but not Out Of Reach hey Brad I said cautiously Jeff he replied can I come in I want to talk to you I don't want any trouble old buddy I replied putting emphasis on the last two words he looked at me as if startled genuinely sad no buddy it's not like that he replied with an unhappy look I really honestly just want to talk I hesitated then stepped aside he walked in realizing he was persona non
grata and sat down in the chair he'd almost always used in the old days I sat down and gave him time to gather his thoughts eventually he said Jeff I've hated you for so long we were friends for so long and now I've hated you for three long years his breath hitched but he continued I've harbored a hatred for you that has become so corrosive that it's eating me alive it's killing me Jeff to hate the one I love tears ran down his face a couple tried to escape from my eyes as well he pulled
himself together and then I met someone else Lissa she's great you'd like her I was telling her about my past it was probably a couple months ago when I broke down I finally admitted to her and to myself what an I was he was crying quite openly now I put my hand on his knee he grasped it and apparently found the strength to continue she was cheated on and here I was a good fellow cheating on my own wife she said she understands that everyone deserves another chance and all that but I can't be a
part of her life until I've done other people wrong until I make things right I held back a scathing reply I told her I'd do it but then I realized she wasn't just talking about Trudy she wants me to rebuild us and she's right for a few moments he sobbed godamn it I want my friend back he tilted his head forward and sobbed like a child I was moved to tears I leaned over kissed his head shook him slightly and said it's okay buddy it's okay as if soothing a child he put his arm around
my shoulders kissed my neck and broke into more intense sobs he cried for 3 minutes or more and I joined him rubbing his back and making what I hoped were soothing sounds eventually he pulled away and calmed down our shirts were wet with mixed tears he wiped his face and said how about that you're doing we both laughed heartily you see I had always liked gourmet coffee and he was drinking taster choice on a good day I told him he was drinking Brown piss he called my coffee fr true another way of saying gay I
guess if you've ever seen Pulp Fiction you'll remember the scene in Jimmy's kitchen if not watch the movie for that scene anyway I went into the kitchen Brad following me I brewed a big pot of gavala signature poured the beer into mugs handed one to him and sat down at the table with him he whispered I might learn to like this after all we both laughed Brad and I still hadn't fully recovered our relationship and probably never would but we were much closer than we had been recently I'd met his new girlfriend and with his
permission tested everything she believed in at her request the two of us had dinner together a couple times I gave her enough reasons to leave him without intending to sabotage him I believe she wants to know the truth whatever it takes and she is still firmly on his side she's already come to terms with his past so perhaps after all is said and done I did the right thing I got a letter from Trudy the other day she's getting married the letter had no invitation no date no place I guess I've been excluded in a
way that's okay I wish her well
