I think I'm going to make it all the way you hurt me and abused me took advantage of and used me I swear it almost made a wreck of me when I needed your devotion you were never in the notion you were cold as any iceberg in the sea love to you had lost its Splendor my pride went out the window but now my heart is healing and I got a real good feeling I think I'm going to make it all the way it had been over a year since my wife started her affair with
how Paddington I had no idea why I allowed it to go on as long as I did perhaps it was because I was comfortable after I figured out what was happening I didn't really care anymore I patiently waited for the day when she would serve me with divorce papers I hadn't done anything to prepare myself other than to get into the proper frame of mind I was resigned to the fact that she would take half of everything I had accumulated with her she could gladly have the house and Furniture the appraised value was less than
the mortgage now we had just enough money saved to prepay four years of college for our daughter Jenny in three more years I would have vested rights with the company and she would probably claim part of that Marsha was fairly discreet about her Affair the biggest problem was that Paddington worked for the same company that I did he was in a different department and at one pay grade higher at least he was single and fairly good-look what I didn't like was his arrogant attitude it was easy for me to avoid him at work and the
only time I was forced into associating with him was at company social Affairs things came to a head quite quickly Jenny had left for her first semester at Penn State and Marsha and I were alone in the house for the first time in 18 years normally that would have been a good opportunity for a couple to start increasing their sexual activities but not in our house Mara was always too tired or too busy and and I couldn't care less it was a Saturday morning Marsha was in the shower and I was still reading the morning
paper when the phone rang I was not expecting a call so I just let it go to the message machine it was an interesting message to say the least this is Malcolm Jeweler's calling the engraving has been finished on your watch and you can pick it up at any time thank you well that was interesting I don't wear a watch and I never had it bothered the hell out of me to have something hanging on my arm there was no reason for Mara to have something engraved on her own watch and Jenny used her cell
phone to check the time I had never been one to root through my wife's purse or anything else but today I felt a strong urge the receipt from the jewelry store was tucked in the side where she kept her credit cards I read it carefully one te Hower Carrera wristwatch with a black alligator band engraving on the rear for forever Marsha $3,900 paid in full I carefully tucked it back in place and got myself a cold beer I knew damn well that it was not for me Marsha had just returned to the living room as
I was walking outside to start mowing the lawn it took twice as long as normal to finish the yard work but I had a good chance to think things through after lunch Marsha informed me that she was going to spend the night at her sister's house in Frackville she didn't notice the big smile on my face I got to spend the rest of the evening getting my Affairs in order I had a whole year to do this but I had waited until the last minute I was kicking myself for delaying it but was glad that
I had finally made the decision she got home about lunchtime on Sunday we were congenial but hardly spoke to each other it was the longest Sunday of my life I slept on the couch that night Monday morning at work started out fine until Howard started showing off his new watch to all of his workmates I had resigned myself to put up with it all until he glanced my way with a big smirk on his face up until that point he had always been laidback and quiet about the affair but now he was gloating big mistake
I immediately took a week's vacation and then notified Personnel that I was now available for a transfer to the Baltimore office the new job came with a promote and a pay raise I had declined it several times because Mara and Jenny did not want to move I spent the rest of the day at the bank and with my lawyer I put together an offer to give Marca everything but no alimony and no percentage of my pending pension she could have all the money that was left after we prepaid Jenny's tuition with college costs as high
as they were there was not going to be much left my wife was not at home when I moved all of my things into a small efficient apartment near work on Tuesday I rested the divorce papers were delivered to Marsha on Wednesday she called me John do you want to explain this do you want to discuss anything no I replied why should I sign these papers she asked Marsha it is long overdue and you know it signing the papers will just make everything right I am the one getting the short end of the stick you
lose nothing and gain everything you are offering no support I gave you 20 years and you offer nothing she replied if I included alimony it would only be until you remarried seemed to me that it would be a waste of time as it is everything will be over in 90 days if you want to change things I can guarantee that it will take over a year I just want to move on I understand that you are actually moving oh and who told you that of course I I knew the answer does it matter I replied
at this point no there was a pause in the conversation Marsha I am the one who got hurt here I am the one who is being forced to move I did nothing wrong and still I am the one being punished I've known all about Paddington for several years now just sign the damn papers I am sorry John I never meant for this to happen I will get them to the lawyers tomorrow she replied it was a wonderful opportunity for me to lay a guilt trip on her but I refused to give her the satisfaction I
went into work on Friday and cleaned out my desk nobody had expected to see me and several people voiced their objections at not being able to set up a proper goodbye party I wasn't in a party mood it took less than an hour to out process before leaving I called Jenny and explained the situation as well as I could how do you tell your daughter that you are leaving her mother without giving a good reason she asked once and then dropped the matter as if she had some idea of what was going on I didn't
see how it would have been possible for her not to know since it was for so long I got the feeling that she understood the drive to Baltimore was a sad one all I could think about was the life that Marsha and I had built and how easily it was destroyed I had always planned on growing old with her now I had no plans for growing old I didn't really care at no point had Marca apologized for her actions or even admitted them we avoided the subject naturally we both knew what was going on but
neither of us would be the first to actually bring it up a man could drive himself nuts thinking about all of this crap I turned on the radio who the hell is Lady Gaga the new job was a piece of cake I was overqualified to say the least because of my competence and confidence the people under me felt comfortable it was going to be a good move I kept in touch with Jenny and she gave me what information that she had about her mother Howard had moved in with Mara into our house a week after
I left Jenny was not happy and I couldn't blame her Mara had signed and agreed to all the terms on the divorce she didn't even get her own lawyer everything was right on schedule and all I could do now was wait when we reached the point where there was only 3 weeks left until the divorce would be final I signed up for a 10-day Caribbean cruise I hated cruises but this one would be necessary the weekend before I was scheduled to leave I met some old friends from home in Atlantic City I whined them dined
them and entertained them it was good to have old friends it was a long 10 days at Sea I couldn't decide what I hated most the food or the others guests at times I could swear that I was being stalked by at least three single women at least I thought they were single I took advantage of all of the ports of call to break up the tedium when I finally got back home I had some guests waiting they were Baltimore detectives but they were there at the request of the Pennsylvania State Police Howard paddington's body
had been found at a roadside rest area on the Pennsylvania turnpik he had been beaten by what appeared to be a baseball bat and died on the way to a local hospital his wallet and watch had been taken so the first indication was that it had been a robbery gone bad when investigators uncovered the relationship between Paddington and Marsha I became the prime suspect it took less than 30 minutes for the local police to verify that I was indeed on the cruise for the last 10 days the Pennsylvania State Police did not feel that any
further research was necessary there were at least a dozen messages on my phone Jenny had told her mother about my cruise plans but Mara insisted on trying to get in touch with me Mara knew that I hated cruises one of the calls was from Jenny so I called her back Jenny I just got back from my cruise what the heck happened nobody knows for sure Mom is a wreck Howard didn't come home from work one day and that night they found him on the turnpike near Downing Town he had been beaten and died before they
could get him to the hospital when did this happen last Thursday she replied well I was in Cancun last Thursday so it wasn't me mom swears that you had something to do with it but there is no proof at all to verify it she answered I just spent a good bit of time with the local police here and they seemed to be satisfied with my story so why is your mother trying to get in touch with me She is totally lost she doesn't have you and now she has lost Howard she said something about trying
to stop the divorce can she do that not without my approval if I had waited a few more days I wouldn't be having this problem the next week was filled with phone calls from Mara and from an attorney named Winstead I ignored them all 2 days before the divorce would be final a certified letter arrived required ing my signature my secretary was able to delay the delivery so that I had a chance to exit the building I spent the next 3 days in Atlantic City before going home I called my lawyer he congratulated me on
successfully avoiding Marsha's attempts to stop the divorce and then asked me for $10,000 more to cover expenses after a few awkward moments he started to laugh it was a crappy little joke but it did add a little levity to the situ situation instead of the money he said he would settle for a steak dinner it was worth it I still thought it was a crappy joke I never fully understood why the police had dropped the investigation into paddington's murder or why they had not contacted me again Jenny called and also offered some congratulations but of
course with the reserve that a child would have in seeing her parents separate Mara was in a deep depression her sister Sher was staying with her for the time being it appeared that she suddenly realized that she was going to be having financial problems severe financial problems I was smiling as I hung up the phone I had no contact with Marca for the next 2 years I didn't keep track of her or check up on what she was doing I talked to Jenny every month but we both carefully avoided any discussion about Marsha all I
knew was that she had lost the house to the bank and was working in a lady's clothing store at one of the local Halls Marsha did tell Jenny that Howard had two insurance policies naming his mother as beneficiary apparently mother Paddington was not willing to share I had had a few dinner dates but nothing of a romantic or sexual nature later that Year Jenny announced that she was getting married in June I had met the guy several times and was very comfortable with her choice the wedding was going to be in Harrisburg his hometown of
course dad was going to be footing most of the bill I was more than willing to help in any way that I could the prospective groom had far more family than our side so it all made sense I agreed to go and give away the bride if Jenny could assure me that I would not be seated near Mara or have to socialize with her in any manner she reluctantly agreed I did not want to ruin my daughter's wedding but I felt that if I was forced to have contact with Mara the chance of A disruption
was more likely than if I simply avoided her other than getting a tux there was one more thing that I had to do to prepare for the wedding I was feeling devilish or should I say my Mean Streak erupted it was a beautiful wedding aren't they all Jenny kept her word things were carefully arranged so that Mara and I could avoid each other without appearing too obvious although I was alone Mara was escorted by a good-looking fellow who was about 50 years old I never did find out what the relationship between them was he could
have been a working associate a neighbor or her new boyfriend I didn't really care at the reception Marsha and her escort were seated at the far left side of the head table and I was on the far right I patiently waited until it came time for the Father of the Bride to offer a toast as I stood up to speak I crossed my fingers it was a silly little prank but I still wanted it to go off as I planned it I am right-handed but today I was holding the glass in my left hand the
words coming from my mouth were unimportant but my gesture to the room was as I raised my left arm my tuck sleeve slid down exposing a beautiful T how wrist watch with a black alligator band I held my arm up longer than necessary so that the Exquisite time piece could be seen by everyone in the room a sudden gasp from the far end of the table table told me that my mission had been accomplished I spoke a little longer than I normally would have just to rub it in a little when I sat down I
had a big grin on my face Marca had seen the watch and she had recognized it all the planning had paid off a few minutes later I saw my ex-wife and her escort leave the room she was upset but I couldn't tell if she was crying or not I hung around for another hour like a dutiful father and then quietly left and went back to my hotel room I slept uneasily that night I wasn't sure what Mara would do or if she would do anything if she did nothing then I would know that she was
resigned to her fate and ready to move on if she was still bitter about what happened I might be getting some visitors the answer came at 6:00 a.m. Mr John Terrell there were two of them in dark suits I got a sudden vision of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones on Independence Day I was laughing to myself as I answered yes how can I help you the dominant suit identified himself and his partner and then asked to come in they were not local but from the state attorney's office I was wondering who got them out
of bed this early in the morning I motioned for them to sit as I put my pants on I had expected them and I should have been dressed before they got here there were only two chairs in the hotel room so I sat on the unmade bed I purpos took more time than necessary to get comfortable what can I help you with gentlemen I asked you are the John Terell who was at the Peterson Terrell wedding yesterday of course Jenny Terell now Peterson is my daughter I replied we received a call that during the reception
you were wearing an expensive T Hower watch I reached over to the nightstand and picked up the oversized time piece yes I was wearing this watch do you like it that's not important Mr Terrell what we would like to know is where you got the watch why I asked can you just answer the question no you tell me why you want to know where I got it and who informed you that I had it and I will answer your questions Mr Terell we are trying to make this as easy as possible could you just answer
the question okay I got the watch on eBay now you you tell me why you want to know a watch exactly like the one you are holding was taken off of the body of a man killed in Downing Town 3 years ago I am sure that there are a lot of watches similar to this one can you be a little more specific I asked they were a little uncomfortable I got the feeling that they were getting ready to just drag me off to a government building someplace to finish the conversation Mr Terell do you know
a man named Howard padding of course I do I used to work with him and he is the man who had an affair with my wife which incidentally caused my divorce Mr Paddington had a watch exactly like that when he was killed how do you know that I asked there was no reply from my two visitors did he have the watch on him when he was found I asked both of them shook their heads no in unison do you think that this might be his watch I asked they were supposed to be in control of
this informal interrogation but it looked as if they were losing it who the hell told you that this was Howard paddington's watch I asked your wife Mr Terell your wife identified the watch and how did she know that this was his watch I asked there was a slight hesitation she claimed that she bought it for him maybe you should be talking to her I asked there there was no reply that's it that is all you have to go on I asked there is an engraving on the back of the watch that will verify her claim
can she prove that she bought this watch I asked she had a receipt hell I have a receipt also here let me show you they sat quietly as I removed a folded piece of paper from my wallet and handed it to them the top guy looked from the paper to me this is from eBay it says here that you bought the watch for $49 yeah but I had to pay $5 for shipping also you bought a t Hower watch on eBay for $49 not exactly look close at the description I replied they were both looking
at the description and did not notice the big grin on my face it says TIG Hower not t Hower here look at the face of the watch suit number two studied the watch face carefully as I held it out to him he turned to his partner it says TIG Hower gentlemen did my wife buy a t how watch for Mr Paddington or did she buy a TIG how watch for him a look of frustration came over both of their faces things were not going as they had planned can we see the back of the watch
Mr Terrell you want to check the engraving I asked yes do you mind no not at all I handed them the watch so that they could examine it at their Leisure I had made my point I was putting on my shirt when they both got up to leave sorry for the inconvenience Mr Terell have a safe trip home I closed the door after they left and looked down at the watch I was glad that I had spent the extra $20 to have the back of the watch engraved I flipped it over and had a laugh
as I read the old English script eat [ __ ] and die it would have been just as easy for them to check the serial number of the watch but there wouldn't have been nearly as much fun in that I drove back to Baltimore knowing that my wife was still bitter about how I had handled the situation I guess I can't blame her but I was hoping that there would have been a little remorse on her part I was upset because she was still looking to hurt me or to get even she was the one
who cheated not me maybe it was about time for me to get even I threw the tig how watch out of the car window and reached into the glove compartment you could tell the difference just by the feel before fastening the real thing on I read the inscription for the thousandth time forever Mara I hated wearing a watch but maybe I could get used to wearing this one I'm going to make it all the way just like old blue eyes said and that's the end of today's story if you enjoyed it please give this video
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