hello and welcome to Lost Love Chronicles I was nervous Karen my wife of 11 years had told me to meet her at the tumble Weeden at 3:00 I knew that the bar would be pretty much empty at that hour and whatever it was she had to tell me would have little to do with partying with her I didn't know how right I was the tii was where she and I had met 13 years before I had a bad feeling I had suspected that she was cheating on me with a cooworker I was afraid that this
meeting would be where I got the news there had been signs late nights at the office where she was a secretary to the boss disinterested sex at least with me new clothes provocative clothes in her closet clothes she never wore around me and reduced much reduced interest in communicating with me we hardly spoke even at meals fewer and fewer of which she was ever even home for during the past several months it had been mostly me and the kids eating and her coming in with some lame excuse and perhaps a dessert from the market for
the children Max 9 and Megan 10 her disregard for me was one thing and it hurt but her putting the children on the back burner really pissed me off there were but few cars in the lot when I pulled into the ti I had resolved to play at cool if she was going to do and say what I suspected was the case I suspected it tell all due to a conversation that I had partially overheard two nights before yes okay I agree Tuesday yes yes I'll get him there well it was Tuesday and it was
3:00 and she had gotten me here I sat in the car for a few moments thinking what if she was with the a-hole what should I do the advice my dad had laid on me years before came to me they had served me well more than once in my business do nothing son unless you know what to do say nothing let your antagonist figure it out the less you say the more he will worry and if he doesn't worry then he is vulnerable and you can make plans to take care of things at a date
and time of your choosing remember if you open your mouth they will know what you're thinking immediately even if you don't realize it just shut up and walk away take care of business later after you have all of the facts and your plans are in place I smiled God how I had loved that man I knew he was watching over me at that very second I said a silent prayer of thanks for his advice inside I saw her sitting at the bar with a man I didn't recognize but that was not a big surprise my
company Steinbeck Incorporated which I had founded 10 years ago claimed all of my time during the day and had little opportunity to mix with the folks at her place of work I was an electrical engineer and my company designed wiring and other electrical schema for a full dozen construction companies needing the services I could provide I walked over to the two of them she sensed my presence and turned hello Mark she said not hello honey no peck on the cheek just hello Mark I honey I said and I said it pointedly what's up the man
turned and faced me Mr Steinbeck or would you prefer I call you mark I we bought you here today to let you know that your wife and I have been having sex together for some time she has made it clear that she is tired of sneaking around and having to make excuses so I convinced her to just simply tell you as I have said I was halfway prepared for this and the recorder in my jacket pocket gave me an edge I hoped I was getting it all I waited I said nothing after all dad was
watching and I didn't want him mad at me for being stupid Mark said Karen waiting for me to say something but I remained silent she must have decided I was in shock or something so she started talking mark it has been so hard keeping this from you I don't want you to feel hurt I have no intention of leaving you it's just well sex with Jason here is just too much for me to give up I hope you can understand I just can't keep this from you any longer you deserve to know she said I
wasn't sure just how aware she was of how stupid her argument sounded Karen had not finished college for obvious reasons but I had never considered her actually dumb until that moment as for the military genius she was trading me in for well enough said I walked to the end of the bar where the barkeep was trying not to hear what he couldn't help but hear I ordered what was on tap he brought it I sipped it saying nothing the two of them watched me I could see confusion on both of their faces I finished my
beer and left I could feel their eyes following me as I exited the building I felt good for the first time in months I felt that I had the upper hand I might have been imagining it but it was definitely how I was feeling I went directly home the kids would be waiting for me I kissed the kids Hello and laughed and told them it was going to be a good weekend for them they Y and cheered and we went to get ice cream and I told them of my plan which I had formulated earlier
that day they would be staying with their aunt Susan and Uncle Dak for the weekend they loved my sister and brother-in-law and they them Sue and her husband an ex Army Ranger had been unable to conceive hence Max and Megan had become their favorite people in the whole wide world I knew that Sue and Dak were going camping for the weekend and now the kids were going to be going with him that would give me the chance I needed to handle the things that had to be handled everything okay Mark said Dak the man had
an uncanny knack for picking up on things truthfully no I said I'm divorcing Karen the kids don't know so I figured he said that brought me up short what I've noticed some things he said so has Sue Karen actually made a play for me last Christmas I blew her off and she made a joke about it trying to cover herself but she couldn't sell it not to me Su made me not tell you sorry I didn't know it's okay I'm just grateful you guys are here to take care of the kids for a couple of
days I need time to get my ducks all lined up listen Mark if you need me for anything thanks Dak I'll keep it in mind but I think I can handle this it'll be messy but I have evidence and and this is not a no fault state so nailing them shouldn't be a problem after I leave here I'm heading over to Henry's to get things underway Henry Morgan was my company's more than competent attorney he was by all accounts at least 120 years old but still sharp as a razor blade he knew every judge and
every worthwhile attorney in the state let alone in the city Karen couldn't have not realized what I was capable of doing if I found her cheating I had to figure that she had come forward with all of this I have a sex buddy stuff in order to short shank anything I might do if I were to discover them by accident it was very faulty reasoning but the more I considered it the more it made the only possible sense she was scared I would find out and sandbag her well I was going to do just that
yeah Henry that's about it I had come to his home unannounced and had surprised him I had given him the recording in the name of the barkeep who had been a witness to the bizarre meeting with my wife and her sex buddy only hours earlier okay I will have them both served on Monday are you going home he asked yes I guess so I don't want to tip her too soon I will be kicking her out as soon as you tell me they've been served okay Malcolm will interview the witness and get him to sign
an affidavit tomorrow even though it's Sunday speed wins in this business hit them hard hit them fast and leave them bewildered and sucking dust I always say he said I like the way this man thought and Mark yes sorry about your marriage and especially about Max and Megan anything you need thanks Henry I appreciate it I left feeling very very good I had an ex-ranger and a real nasty ass lawyer running point now all I had to do was sit back and let the hit the fan I had told Henry to deny her anything whatsoever
she was to get nothing he said it wouldn't be a problem with any other lawyer I knew I would probably have to give her half of everything but her actions As proved by the recording according to Henry would give him the leverage to crush her in court if Henry said it it was true that was something I knew to be absolutely certain I was feeling better and better as I drove home for possibly the last weekend I would be spinning with my soon to be ex-wife arriving home I was shocked to see a strange car
in the driveway it had to be Jason's it was getting dark I wondered if I would be lucky enough to get a pick or two of the lovers I parked a couple of houses down and snuck up to the house as unobtrusively as I could the lights were out as I neared the house I saw Rex doir my next door neighbor pulling the trash shout to the curb Rex was a cop I stood directly beside the strange car and looked at him he saw me and waved I nodded he'd seen the car I was glad
it was yet another witness I noted the asshole's plate number I would give it to Henry tomorrow along with Rex's name and address and maybe a couple of picks if I could get him I entered the backyard as though going to get my trash bins to bring them out Rex had gone back in by then so I could still try and sneak in and get my picks they were in the front room I pulled out my cell and shot them through the sliding glass doors at the back thank God for modern cell phones he was
doing her from behind while she knelt on the couch I got about 10 pictures put away my cell and entered noisily through the sliding glass door they heard me the two turned looked at me and continued doing what they were doing I went upstairs the nerve I thought I see it but I waited about 15 minutes later I heard the front door downstairs open and close and then the Roar of the a-holes engine as he drove off I waited for a minute or two more and then went back downstairs heading for the kitchen I heard
the shower running as I passed the downstairs bathroom I poured myself a cup of coffee and waited this was going to be interesting 10 minutes later she came and joined me you okay she asked her voice was kind I didn't say anything I just sipped the coffee and waited for her to say something meaningful it concerned me that she didn't even think to ask after the kids this woman was not the woman I had married more than a decade past Mark we have to talk the kids are at my sisters thought you might like to
know what oh yes I noticed they weren't here when we I got home she looked flustered now look are you okay I just I just I just wanted to be upfront and honest with you I didn't like sneaking around you're a good man and you deserve better it's just sex Mark only sex I will deny you nothing when we are together and Jason knows that and is okay with it HEK a good man it was his idea not to hide things from you anymore I couldn't resist sorry Dad so I can have sex with my
lawfully wedded wife and Jason is okay with that damn that's very nice of him no need to be sarcastic Mark honesty is always the best policy you know she said she actually said that evidently breaking her wedding vows was an exception to the rule I had to smile I couldn't help it Mark damn it say something she commanded what do you want want me to say if I said to call him and tell him it's over would you well then there is nothing to say but yes you were right I deserve better I was laughing
inside but my outward demeanor was calm even reflective you're not a couck or whatever she said you're my husband and a good daddy and I love you and save it Karen I'm going out don't wait up for me I had to get out of there I couldn't stand to be near her she was dead to me Monday it would be all over and she would well be history I retraced my steps of earlier in the day I was back at the Tumbleweed and the same barkeep was on duty I bellied up and took my place
at the end of the bar the place was crowded now especially for a Tuesday night I ordered a tap and asked the guy what gives I said indicating the crowd ladies night and the wolves are out he nodded toward the far Corner the lighting was dim but I saw him Jason was making out with one of the ladies so the cheater was cheating on the other cheat cheater why was I not surprised or maybe he wasn't cheating on the other cheater maybe the other cheater knew he had other interests I overheard that earlier today man
if you need a witness thanks maybe I will I said my wife pulled that on me too a few years ago but I didn't have anybody to stand with me so I got rimmed pretty bad in court about to keep this place though so that was something I guess it would actually be good if half of what I make didn't go to alimony we talked off and on for the next 4 hours straight I made a mental note to talk to Henry about maybe getting this guy some justice if he helped me nail Romeo and
Juliet a suckers had to stick together Jason never noticed me at the bar I had managed to get some good shots of him and his little chicky I would use them to show my wife if indeed she thought she was exclusive with him but that would have to wait till after the Big Show on Monday I got home around 4 in the morning Josh the barkeep and I had had a half dozen cups of Joe after closing he lived upstairs from the bar and so he had nowhere to go and since he was living alone
I guess I was a good candidate for late night conversation I like the guy plus he was a damn good bartender a major Plus in my view I was pissed at Karen but I wanted to sleep in my bed not in the damn guest room there's something about a man's own bed it's something that my wife knew about me and that might be why she'd have sex in front room instead upstairs I slid in beside her she was awake I felt her hand reach for me I jerked It Off me and just rolled over and
slept she evidently did the same the light streaming in through the cracks between the window curtains woke me it was almost 8:00 I could smell bacon frying in the kitchen I got up showered dressed and went downstairs she was in a good mood I guess she thought that everything was all right or at least that our marriage was not terminal hi sleepy head morning I said smells good well it did I was hungry it might be the last day of our married life but I didn't have to be all mopy about it the would hit
the fan tomorrow but today was going to be a good day I just knew it I'll be here all day today for you she said she said it like it was a special favor to me since I was being so reasonable oh yes and if you're good you might get really lucky she said she was actually giggling I didn't know whether to laugh or be sick to my stomach how could this cheating Witch of a wife actually think that I would consciously accept what she was selling I just giggled back at her I have to
take my car into the shop later this morning have to have new brakes put on Oh I thought we might maybe later I had to figure a away to avoid her and it wasn't going to be easy I really didn't want to stick my Wick in her but I supposed I could endure it if I absolutely had to to keep her off balance just before leaving to get the break job which incidentally had not been a lie I had my little voice activated Recorder near the kitchen phone I figured if she called him that would
be the phone she'd use I was right God how I love the Intrigue 3 hours later I was back I retrieved the recorder while she was taking the trash out and I went into my office to hear what might have been caught on it it was hurtful when I heard her say she loved him Mighty hurtful it was especially so since I knew he didn't give a damn about her I couldn't wait to show her the dated pics I got of him and his chicky the night before that would put a crimp in her style
hi it's me yes heun's gone out to do something on the car I don't know Jason he might not want to yes yes I will try he loves me so maybe but okay I understand I just don't want to lose him I don't know maybe we went AAR shoving it in his face like that I know but okay okay bye I love you too I sat there in my office in a state of Wonder I had married a it was embarrassing I wasn't sure now if I even should divorce her how could anyone that stupid
be held responsible for her actions no the hurt was too deep Dean your face audacity of the pair made any kind of reconciliation impossible and then there were the children she clearly didn't give a damn about them unforgivable I was up and out of the house before she even awoke the next morning it was Monday and soon it would be the living in for her and her lover I first went to the office to let my secretary El Beth know I would be out for the rest of the day being the boss had its upside
first stop was Henry's office he had news Malcolm his part-time Pi had gotten some stuff per Romeo he was married had six kids believe it or not and his wife had the money and the family a house frow 10 years a senior she apparently had no clue as to his F Landings I instructed Henry to take him down big time and also gave him my latest recording and my with the pics he smiled at that I also mentioned to him that I might have a special job for him and Malcolm after the dust settled I
knew that Sue and Dak would get the kids off to school it was having to talk to them later in the day that was scaring me but but there was nothing for it it had to be done Henry had set it up for the two lovers to be served at work there was a restraining order against her coming back to the house and against him as well the papers were set to be delivered just before lunchtime I asked Henry to make sure it done is loud and with as much fanfare as possible I wanted the
two lovers to hurt also I had asked that he make any and all evidence against the pair available to Jason's wife what she did with it would be up to her God how I wanted to be there when my wife was serving and then I thought why not I was in the hall when the server arrived I didn't know him and he didn't know me so he just walked right past me to the office where my wife worked the boss's office excuse me are you Mrs Karen Steinbeck why yes I am she said smiling I
was watching from the doorway and she didn't see me at first since she was turned to speak with the server he handed her a manila envelope you're served her face clouded she looked at the envelope she held in her hand and opened it she she ped and began to cry then SOB she fell into her chair her boss at that moment was coming out saw and tried to console her I made myself more visible she saw me and her eyes shot open Mark why I couldn't resist sorry again Dad like you said I deserve better
and I walked out I wasn't present but I heard later that Jason had been served in like fashion he actually fainted as the realization that his life was essentially overs sunk in he eventually lost everything wife kids house job everything I had been wrong about one thing Karen was not the world's biggest she was only the second biggest a few days later I sat in Henry's office and sipped the hot Brew so do you think you can help him since it's so long after the fact yes I think so the lady has a lot of
skeletons in her closet and she is more than willing to revisit the conditions of their divorce in order to keep them Hush Hush get the alimony dumped I mean if you can markk don't you know by now that I can do anything he laughed I stand corrected I said joining him and laughing late that day I sat at the bar in the tumble weed talking with my new friend Gus he said if what you say is true you will never have to pay for another tap in here again I can't tell you how much I
appreciate it especially since she rubbed my nose in it so bad at the time glad I could help I said Karen ended up with nothing from our marriage but Miracle of Miracles she was not fired she'd been with her boss for so long that he let her indiscretion slide this once Jason was history as previously related I met with Karen the day after the Big Show I had something I wanted to give her I knew I risked having to listen to her beg and plead but this one was worth that risk Mark isn't there some
way I mean the children that was a card I knew she was going to play and I shot her down you have shown no interest in the children in months Caren that boyfriend of yours has had your full attention Mark HEK a good man he's like you in so many any ways I think that's why I fell for him in the first place he loves me too that's why we tried so hard to make you understand it was for you that we Beed our hearts and souls now you have seemed fit to destroy us all
of us even the children how could you the tears came again this time she had really pissed me off making it all my fault God I was mad Mark it's not too late there's still in us if you want it I know I can make Jason understand that you have needs too you'll still be my number one you're the father of my children how could you ever be otherwise Jason is outside of us not part of us I will make you a very happy man if you only give me the chance I was almost speechless
I couldn't even get mad this was beyond dumb stupid moronic she actually believed her Tri she needed help but somebody else was going to have to provide it she was history to me Karen I came here today to see you for two reasons one I going to allow you unrestricted visitation with the children children but never your lovers I am going to give you some money to get you into a new starter apartment but then you will have to F for yourself the condition for this large s on my part is that you do not
in any way contest the divorce if you do I will come at you with everything I have and Karen you have no idea what I am capable of am I clear so far she stared at me it was clear she had hoped against hope that I would take her back and that I would be okay with her keeping on with world class number one like I say she was is going to need help number two are these I pushed manila folder toward her please check the dates at the bottom of the photographs I said they
were the photos I'd taken Saturday night of Jason and his chicky she pulled them out and stared but these are from last Saturday night you are not his true love you never were HEK a player have a nice life I said I Rose threw a 20 on the table for the waitress and left she was shedding the tears of the despairing as I exited the building dear listen ERS please share your thoughts in the comments section below and don't forget to like share and subscribe
