Unforgiven

by Vandemonium1

Like other readers on this site, I have heard many arguments why one shouldn’t harbour a grudge after being wronged. These arguments seem to centre around some people’s perceptions that revenge harms all parties and achieves nothing positive. Please accept this as my counter-argument. Warning, there is no reconciliation in this story. If you like that sort of stuff, stop reading now. Also, there is very little sex.

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Hiya. Dave’s the name and I’d like to tell you a little story of why I’m sitting in my kitchen at 2.30PM on a weekday when I would normally be at work. You see, I’d just like to justify the four phone calls I’ve made and one text I’ve sent since I’ve been sitting here, let me see now, two hours already. One hour and forty-five minutes of stewing and fifteen minutes of action to ruin god knows how many lives. You see…excuse me, someone is at the door.

“Oh hi sweetie. Where’s Fiona?”

“I rang Stewart and he came home early. He’ll pick her up from kinder and look after her till I get home.”

“Linda, I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. He’s a great guy. I know it’s traditional for a bloke to dislike his son-in-law, but you picked so damned well that I just can’t help liking him.”

I chuckled at my daughter’s grim smile. We shared a sense of humour.

“Have you told Pete yet Dad?”

“No, your brother is at sea at the moment. I’ll email him later.”

“Okay Dad. I’m here for you, you know that.”

“Yeah, thanks sweetie.”

We lapsed into silence for a long moment.

“Why would she do this to you Dad?”

“I don’t know darling.”

“Why, didn’t she say anything?”

“Um, I haven’t actually spoken to her yet.”

“You mean she’s still…?

“Yup.”

I watched as my daughter’s troubled eyes flicked to the stairs leading up to the master bedroom.

“I just wanted to wait, so she could tell us all why she did it at the same time.”

“All?”

“Yeah, I’ve invited a few more guests. They should be here shortly.”

“What are you going to do?”

“No more and no less than I have to, so I can survive this.”

“So, you already have a plan?”

“Yup.”

“Doesn’t it depend on her reason?”

“Why? The facts speak for themselves. The reason is irrelevant.”

“But, she may have been blackmailed.”

“Believe me, if you saw what I saw and heard what I heard, you’d know she wasn’t being blackmailed.”

Linda looked into my eyes for a moment.

“I thought you were taking this well, but I can see now, you’re not are you?”

“No.”

I turned away. No daughter should see her father cry.

“What would you like me to do?”

“You do what your conscience tells you to do. I won’t think better or worse about you, whichever way you decide.”

“Thanks Dad. Do you have any idea why she would do this?”

“I have absolutely no idea sweetie. I thought we had a good marriage until this morning.”

“What happened this morning?”

“Well your mother has always been lousy at lying and keeping secrets. It’s just not in her nature. After 27 years of living together I know her routines like my own. She showers every morning.  Every Tuesday and Friday she washes her hair. She’ll be getting ready for five minutes more or less than an hour. Every other day she is in there for five minutes more or less than 30 minutes. This morning she was in there for almost an hour and a half. When I went in there to tell her she would be late for work, I saw what underwear she had on and what she was planning to wear. It wasn’t her usual office clothes. I asked her what her plans were for the day and she said nothing unusual, just work. She was lying. Every other day she thought she would be late for work, she got kind of agitated. This morning she was as cool as a cucumber. I knew then that she had no intention of going to work.”

“So what did you do?”

“I called off work and parked just up the street. I was going to follow her when she left but she didn’t go anywhere. I stayed there until that guy she works with at the real estate office turned up at about 11.30. I crept in and confirmed it was what I expected, then thought what I was going to do. After that, I made a few phone calls and here we are.”

“Were there any clues Dad, I mean before today? I thought you guys were good.”

“No sweetie, nothing. As far as I knew, I loved her and she loved me. We were going to work for a few more years then retire and live happily ever after.”

“Dad. I have to ask you this. Did you ever…”

“Don’t even say it Linda. No, I have never betrayed your mother. I have never disrespected a woman that way in my life. Even when our sex life pretty much died a couple of years ago, I just sucked it up.”

“What? You haven’t had sex in two years?”

“Nope. Your mother was never an overtly sexual being. She reckoned she just didn’t enjoy it that much. Sure, she seemed to enjoy it when we started but it was the starting that was the problem. When she hit menopause two years ago, whatever I used to get just dried up completely.”

“So, when you found her today, you know, it must have hit you hard?’

I let my steely gaze answer for me. Just then there was another soft knock on the door. I opened it to see my father-in-law standing there.

“Come in Paul.”

“Thanks Dave. Where is she?”

“Upstairs in our bedroom.”

“Okay. I have to see for myself.”

“I understand. Go ahead sir. Just don’t disturb her please.”

The old man went up the stairs and came down a minute later, but much more than a minute older. He slumped in a chair. I poured him a whisky which he gulped.

“I can’t believe she would do that to you. She knows how devastated you were when that fiancé of yours cheated on you. She helped pick up your pieces after all. Not only that, she knows how devastated I was when I caught her mother and she ran off with that..that shithead, abandoning me and the kids. Sorry, I have to get out of here.”

I guess a woman shouldn’t see her Grandad cry either. I walked him to the door. Linda made like she was going to follow us but I waved her back. I wanted the old guy to maintain what pride he had left. He stood on the porch and gripped my shoulders for support.

“Do what you have to do son, but nothing physical okay. I couldn’t stand by and see that.”

.

“Don’t worry Dad. I won’t harm a hair on your daughter’s head. But as for the other shit… I apologise for what I am about to do to your daughter. A guy has to do what he has to do.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then nodded. He shuffled to his car and drove slowly away. A broken man. I rang his son, my wife’s brother and without going into detail suggested he go and see his Dad, to offer support. I was just hanging up when I heard the upstairs toilet flush. Ah, nap time must be over. I rejoined Linda and we sat in silence for a few minutes. Shortly we heard a bed creaking and sounds of passion.

“See Linda. Does that sound like blackmail to you?”

“No Dad. How can you stand to sit here? Why don’t you go up and beat the fucker’s ass?”

“Well, it’s not easy sweetie, but I have this ability to turn off my emotional side. Kind of disassociate myself from all the feelings you know?”

“Oh, is that where I get it from? So why torture yourself. Why not go upstairs and stop it? Kick the slut out?”

“Um, there’s one more visitor to come.”

Right on cue there was another knock on the door. I opened it to a reasonable looking lady a few years younger than me. Surprisingly she had a boy and a girl with her. They looked about mid to late teens.

“Mr Brown is it?”

“Yes, please call me Dave.”

“I’m Jenny Smith and these are my kids Robert and Sarah. I picked them up from school. If what you say is true, I wanted them here. If for no other reason than to understand that it was their father that destroyed our family.”

I shook hands with Robert. It was surprisingly firm. I introduced them all to Linda.

“You said you had proof Dave.”

In answer to that I walked over to the pants that were lying on the arm of the couch and pulled out a wallet. I handed it to Jenny. She opened it and looked at the driver’s license. A tear escaped her eye. I guess she’d harboured some hope that what I’d said on the phone was wrong. Her face hardened suddenly.

“Well Dave, where are they?”

In answer I just held my finger to my lips in the international symbol for silence. We sat there listening to the grunts and groans.

“Son of a bitch. You haven’t confronted them yet?”

“No, I wanted us to do it as a team, as it were. I just took some video for us, which I am happy to share with you. I also set up a voice recorder and slipped it under the bed. We can go now if you like. I suggest the children hold back until we can get the, ah, performers, decent.”

“Yes, you’re right. Just hold on a moment, I have a locksmith standing by to change the locks on my house. I was just waiting to make sure you were right before giving them the go. I’m not surprised really. This isn’t the first time. He’s a smooth talking little fu…shit.”

Linda and I waited patiently while she rang the locksmith then her lawyer and gave them both the go. We distracted her children from the noises by chatting about inanities. Jenny then pushed her shoulders back.

“Okay. Let’s do this.”

Jenny, Linda and I then walked up the stairs while the kids waited at the bottom for our signal. After Jenny snuck a look through the doorway, I motioned for the other two to stay out of sight, then entered the room. I stood at the foot of the bed and watched the show with disgust. What I’d witnessed before had been straight missionary. Now he was taking her doggie. I watched impassively as he ploughed into her. She showed her appreciation by moaning continuously. She’d refused to do doggy with me since shortly after the wedding. Said it was demeaning. Suddenly she cried out in orgasm and collapsed on the bed. He let her rest for a moment, the considerate prick, then resumed thrusting into her prone form.

“Stop please John, I’m sore. Let me finish you with my mouth.” Now she hadn’t done that to me since the rock had hit her right hand ring finger. She turned onto her back. As she rolled over, her eyes met mine. Her face fell and she screamed. Her lover followed her gaze and saw me also. He started to rise, looking ridiculous with his cock swinging free. Once he was on his feet, he stopped and looked up at my face. I could see he was starting to get a really bad feeling about his physical safety in the next little while.

“That’s right shithead. I’m bigger and uglier than you and please believe me, a fucking sight angrier. Why don’t you just get back into that bed and cover up yourself and my ex-wife.”

He was an obedient fucker if nothing else. Within seconds they were lying side by side under the covers. I noted that Tracey’s expression had gone through shock to defiance. I let her speak first.

“Um, Dave, I want a divorce. I’ve fallen in love with Jo…, the guy here. I’m sorry you had to find out like this. We were going to tell you tomorrow.”

“It’s okay wife dear, you’ve got it. By the way, I was going to find out his name was John Smith eventually wasn’t I?”

I could see this shocked them.

“Not the smartest move to leave your wallet in your pants pocket downstairs shithead. Tracey, just idle curiosity, but why did you end our marriage this way. You had to know me catching you cheating would devastate me.”

Finally, I saw some shame on her face.

“I’m sorry David. We couldn’t help falling in love.”

“I accept that dear. You could help putting the cart before the horse though. You could help fucking this prick before announcing you wanted a divorce though, couldn’t you?”

“I’m sorry David. I just wanted to know that John and I were compatible, you know. We didn’t want you to see us. If it helps, this was the first time.”

“What? Test drive the new model sort of thing? Try him IN for size.”

“Don’t be crude David. I don’t want to end our marriage fighting. Can’t we just part as friends?”

This almost got through my mental defences. I’m guessing that in the pressure of this situation, she as quoting from tomorrow’s pre-rehearsed speech.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding. You lie there in MY bed, with another guy’s cum leaking down your leg and want to part as friends. I don’t think so.”

We stared at each other until Tracey dropped her eyes. I decided it was time to start evening the pain scores.

“Your Dad asked me to tell you how disappointed he is in you. He kind of hoped you wouldn’t turn out as big a slut as your mother.”

“You didn’t?”

Tracey’s face had gone sheet white.

“I did. I’m surprised you didn’t see him. He was standing right here not half an hour ago.”

“Why?”

“Because bitch, I wanted you to start feeling some of the pain I’ve been feeling since fuckwit here showed up. I don’t know what the kids will make of it all.”

“Oh god Dave, please don’t tell the kids. Please.”

“Sorry dear, too late.”

Linda took that exact moment to step into view in the doorway. Tracey glanced over at the movement, squealed, then hid her face under the sheets.

“Don’t bother mum, it doesn’t work for ostriches and it won’t work for you.”

Tracey just stayed under the sheets moaning. Her bed partner just kept looking really uncomfortable.

“When Dad rang me, I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I just couldn’t believe you would do this to him. I can see why he rang me now. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I might have urged him to forgive you, but seeing you like this I know that is never going to happen.”

Silence, apart from deep, racking sobs, was the only reply.

“Well mother, if you have nothing left to say, I’ll say it all. We won’t be needing you to babysit your Granddaughter this weekend. In fact, if cutting you off from seeing her will keep her safe from your poisonous influence, then you can kiss goodbye to ever seeing her again.”

There was a pitiful, “Noooo,” from under the sheets.

Linda was sobbing herself now.

“You should have seen the look on poor old Granddad’s face before; you devastated him.”

She turned to run but I grabbed and hugged her. She pulled away and ran downstairs. Shortly afterwards we all heard the front door slam. It was still a couple of minutes before Tracey re-emerged with red eyes.

“Why did you have to do that David?”

“Because you haven’t felt half the pain I have yet Tracey. You haven’t yet felt like you’ve had your heart ripped out and stomped on. But you will, I assure you of that. Now I’m sick of this charade. Just fuck off out of my house, both of you.”

Again, the look of defiance returned to Tracey’s face.

“If anyone is leaving this house it’s going to be you. I used the power of attorney you gave me, in case anything happened to you, to transfer the deeds into my name only.”

I think the vehemence of her own voice even surprised Tracey. She could certainly see by my face, that by revealing another of her betrayals, she’d made me even angrier. She also realised that morally she was just digging her grave deeper and deeper. I recovered quickly. The strange thing is with shocking news; it stops hurting much when it reaches a certain point. I’d reached that point two hours ago.

“How are you going to afford the mortgage Tracey?”

“You think we didn’t work this out David? With my pay and commissions, plus John’s, we’ll cover it easily.”

“What pay is that Tracey? Your boss Mr Johnson said to tell you both, you’re fired. He would have told you himself, but apparently both your phones are off. Good Christian soul that he is, took a dim view of two married pricks like you cheating in company time.”

“You didn’t tell him Dave. Tell me you didn’t.”

“Yup. Sent him some lovely photographs too.”

Tracey’s bedmate finally found his voice.

“How do you know I’m married?”

“Driver’s license remember? Phone book, telephone, easy. Wife Jenny, about 5’ 6”, pretty, red hair. Children, Robert and Sarah, look like good kids. Tell me shithead, were you going to shaft them like this bitch was planning on shafting me?”

“Please Mr Brown, don’t tell my wife.”

“Why not, haven’t you finished draining all your bank accounts yet, in preparation for sailing off into the sunset with my wife?”

“She was going to get the house. Just give me a chance to tell her gently please. She doesn’t deserve this, I…I still love her in my own way. She doesn’t deserve to find out like this.”

“What, doesn’t deserve to find out like I did you mean? Yes, you’re right. Unfortunately, it’s too late.”

I didn’t need to turn around to know exactly when Jenny and her children stepped in the door. His face told the story. The expression was priceless.

“Yes, it’s way too late my darling husband. I will be eternally grateful for Mr Brown here bringing this to my attention. Just so you know, the video he is giving me should be enough to trigger the post-nup we had drawn up last time I forgave you.”

Tracey’s head swung to look at her bed partner. In my disassociated state, I idly wondered why. Was it the fact that he was a serial cheater? Or was it the news that their financial plans were now scuppered?

“The locks should have been changed on my house by now. If you want to stop by in the morning to collect your things, they will be in the dumpster I intend hiring this afternoon.”

Throughout this tirade, the unfortunate John had just looked at his own feet with an expression of horror. I found out later that it had been him that had initially seduced Tracey but the, er, test drive had been her idea. His plan had actually been to tell his wife and family the next day. He looked forlornly at his wife, then glanced briefly at his kids, but couldn’t face them for long. Jenny was losing control but rallied briefly.

“Well kids, if you ever wondered what a slut looks like, then take a good look.”

Tracey cringed under their combined stare. Jenny grabbed the kids and stormed out. I walked to the bed and snarled to the cowering couple.

“Just get out of my house. You have no idea of the rage I am feeling right now. I’ll return in two or so hours, I want you both gone when I get back. Don’t even think about trying to rip me off Tracey. If you do, then your chances of living happily ever after, no, make that living period, will plummet from very, very small to non-existent, understand?”

One look at my face convinced them of the seriousness of what I intended. I ran after Jenny and caught them before they drove off. We agreed to meet at a coffee shop, which we did. We consoled each other and tried to lead the kids through the process to come. Robert proved to be mature beyond his years and helped comfort his sobbing sister. I really wish her father was here to see his daughter’s pain. I gave Jenny my card and offered to help her with anything I could. We parted friends I think. 

The next week was very hard. Yes, I can turn my emotions off in a crisis. However, that doesn’t stop the pain, only defers it. Sure I was busy with work and lawyers. They were very interested in my evidence, particularly the voice recorder I retrieved from under the bed. It had picked up fairly decent conversations where the two lovers had detailed the extent of their planning to snatch the majority of the marital assets of the two households. Tracey was justifying it as her right and because of my earning capacity. Sure, the assumption in divorces was an equal split, but my guy informed me that judges had the capacity to go away from this and evidence of pre-planned skulduggery, often swayed them that way. Linda insisted on hearing the recordings as well. We were both stunned by her mother’s planned vindictiveness. Linda actually rang her mother for an explanation, but got nothing to convince her that it wasn’t just pure evil. I put on a brave face for Linda and a brave voice for my son when he rang, but I was struggling.

The weekend after the show, I got a very welcome call from Jenny. She was very happy to mow her own lawns but had no idea how the mower worked. After some lessons on Sunday and doing some other small maintenance jobs, I was invited to stay for dinner. We were still chatting when the kids went to bed. Then things turned serious.

“How are you travelling Jenny?”

“About as well as could be expected Dave, thanks for asking. I think I’ve been mentally preparing myself for this for years. Deep down I knew it would happen again. My lawyers have discovered what he had planned for our finances and blocked it all. I couldn’t believe the little prick was going to leave us practically penniless. The arsehole. My lawyers are telling me that I’ll get the house, child support and alimony, plus 90% of the assets, thanks to your evidence and the post-nup.”

“Happy to be of service Jen. Mine said something similar but with only 50-70% of the assets.”

“He came around two days ago, begging. I think his lawyers told him the same things mine did and the idea of being financially raped terrifies him. I told him to piss off. The only thing that worries me is the effect on the kids. Sarah is at an age where she can develop fine without a father, but I’m worried about Rob.”

“I know Jen. At his age, a boy needs a good, strong male role model. I’ve been thinking about that. Can I volunteer for the job? I’d be honoured to come into his life and help where I can.”

Jenny was silent for a long moment. I could see the conflict in her face.

“Um, I know your ego must be a little fragile at the moment Dave, so I don’t quite know how…”

“Don’t worry about it Jen. Support for Rob is all I’m offering at the moment.”

I could see the relief flood her face. We discussed details for a while.

“How about you Dave? Are you okay?”

“I don’t know Jen. I’m still confused as all hell. I don’t know what I did to make her hate me so much. Finding her with your John, just emasculated me. It makes me doubt my own manhood. Was I so inadequate that…I just don’t know. Destroying her relationship with her kids, her father, probably our mutual friends, combined with getting her fired, just doesn’t seem enough somehow. I still feel like only half a man.”

“Believe me, I know exactly how you feel Dave.”

Jenny stared at me for another long moment. Obviously debating what to say, with herself. Finally, she continued.

“You know what you have to do to reclaim your manhood, don’t you Dave?”

Jenny was leaning towards me with steely eyes.

“Yes, yes I do Jen.”

“Good.”

“How far are you comfortable with me going Jen?”

The steel was now in her voice as well. Hell really does have no fury like a woman scorned.

“As far as you think you need to go to get rid of your demons Dave, is fine with me. You’re too nice a guy to allow any lingering hurt to mess with the rest of your life. Let it all out Dave.”

“Okay. I’ll need an alibi.”

“You’ll have one, believe me.”

When she told me what she had in mind for an alibi, we both laughed for a long time. Boy I needed that. We resumed talking. This conversation was only half over.

“What about you Jen. Do you feel you need some revenge on Tracey?”

“Good lord no. I know what a smooth talking little prick he can be. Your poor wife didn’t stand a chance. I almost feel sorry for her.” 

We parted as friends and she promised to talk to Rob about whether or not he was interested in helping to restore an old car I had. He was and that set the pattern for the next six weeks. After school, he would come to my place and we would potter around. I used every opportunity to talk to him about my ideas of values and we became firm buddies.

After I took him home it was a different matter. I used all my free time to spy on the happy couple. With our bank accounts frozen by the lawyers, John and Tracey couldn’t get a place of their own. Tracey was staying with one of her few remaining friends. Shithead was doing the same. They spent most evenings together before going their separate ways late at night.

Finally, I had established enough of a pattern that I rang Jenny one Thursday night and announced that the next night was it. She arranged for the kids to go to her parents for the night. I drove to her place and parked in her driveway. Then after a kiss on the lips and a, “Give him one from me,” I wheeled an old motorbike of John’s out the back gate and started it a block away from her house.

Once at his friend’s place, I looked around, then quietly shot out the street light with my air pistol. After that it was just a matter of waiting in the bushes at the side of his friend’s driveway. He surprised me by breaking routine. He arrived by cab forty minutes later, rather than by car. The reason became clear when I saw his unsteady steps coming down the driveway. He’d been drinking. Now king hitting has never been in my nature. My sense of honour demanded a fair fight. Well, fairish anyway. About as fair as screwing a guy’s wife when he didn’t even know you existed. I stepped in front of him.

“Hi John.”

He froze. Then in the dim light I saw recognition dawn in his eyes. He certainly didn’t react the way I thought he would. Well, they don’t call it Dutch courage for nothing I suppose.

“Well if it isn’t the guy that couldn’t keep his woman in check.”

Very bad move on his part. Instantly my careful plan of a limited assault went out the window. The wronged beast pounced. A right to the jaw knocked him to his hands and knees. Then my memory got a bit hazy. From later reports, I think I kicked him in the ribs a few times, stomped his kidneys and lower legs before lining a few well aimed kicks between his legs. A ‘few’ covers between three and ten doesn’t it? Luckily my red haze lifted, allowing me to complete the last part of my plan. I lifted his unconscious form and dumped him in the middle of the road. Maybe the police would think he was another hapless hit and run victim, maybe not.

I walked back to the motorbike and rode to a shopping centre. In the shadows, I changed clothes and dumped them, as well as my gloves in a dumpster. Finally, I rode a block away from Jen’s house and pushed the bike back.

Jenny was expectantly awaiting my return and grilled me on how things had gone. She didn’t seem that upset that I had overstepped my plan in my rage. Upset people don’t normally grin like Cheshire cats. When she had every sordid detail, I excused myself to hit her shower and get rid of any potential evidence. I checked my knuckles for bruises. All good.

My eyes were closed as I was rinsing my hair, when I felt a cool breeze, then warm skin. A pair of arms encircled me from behind.

“I thought you didn’t want this.”

“Screw what I want. You need this. You’ve taken the man, now you need to take his woman.”

I spun around and we kissed. Boy, I needed that.

“Besides, when the police come to check your alibi, I want to be as convincing as possible. Now finish up, you great lummox and get in the bedroom.”

Who was I to deny the request of a lady. Still damp, I threw her on the bed and claimed her. I am usually proud of my consideration as a lover. There was none of that tonight. I took her as long and as hard as I could. If I’m any judge, she loved it as well.

I awoke in the pre-dawn light as I felt her slip back into bed. She snuggled up to me.

“I’m sorry Jen. I was tired last night. I hope you weren’t too disappointed.”

“If that was you in second gear, god help me if I ever get your third.”

“It looks something like this.”

I proceeded to eat her to one orgasm, then made gentle love to her for several more. After that, we both dozed again. I awoke to breakfast and coffee being delivered.

“Hey Dave, some arsehole broke the back window of your car last night. I’ve already phoned the police.”

This was accompanied by a wink.

Sure enough, the police came round and my number plate was entered in their system. Before long it was linked to a reported potential assault last night. It was convenient that my alibi and I were together in a house reeking of sex. The nosy neighbour backed up our story of my car being parked there at the time of the assault, as it had been once a week for the last few. She wasn’t to know that I wasn’t in the spare room as normal. I was never a serious suspect.

I did see Tracey one more time, about a week after her lover’s bad night. She rang to say she was coming over to get the rest of her stuff. When I explained that it had all been donated to charity, she said she wanted to talk anyway. When I heard her car pull up, I looked out the window to see Tracey standing next to her car on the phone. I answered the door in my dressing gown when she finally knocked. She frowned at my choice of apparel but I made sure my face betrayed nothing as I invited her in. I asked her to hand over her phone and handbag, then put them in the spare room and closed the door. She was smart enough to guess that I suspected she may try to record this conversation. With what she was wearing, she couldn’t be concealing one in her clothes. We settled into chairs either side of the kitchen table.  

“Dave, you should know that I’ve arranged with a friend that if I don’t call within 60 minutes, she’ll send the police here.”

I nodded at her wise precaution, but remained silent. I had only one thing to say to her and it could wait.

“Dave, could I just say how sorry I am with how our marriage end…”

“Save your breath Tracey. I’m not the slightest bit interested in sitting here listening to you trying to appease your conscience by justifying why you tried to destroy me.”

The expression on her face was priceless. It was like, ‘who was this guy?’

“Okay Dave. It was you that beat up John wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

That caught her completely off guard. She obviously expected me to deny it.

“What?”

“What’s so hard to understand Tracey? You asked me if I’d beaten shithead up, I said yes. It was me.”

“But why? He’d never done anything to you.”

“Come on Tracey. Extra marital sex can’t have rotted your brain that quick. When I saw you spreading your legs for him, it completely emasculated me. Destroyed my confidence as a man. Made me doubt my ability to satisfy a woman. Robbed me of my pride.”

She was shocked. I’m guessing she’d never considered this aspect of what she’d done.

“That’s what cheating does you know. After a while, I realised I had two choices. I could end up a sad, lonely old man, like your Dad. A sexless, vacant hulk. Or I could fight my way out of the corner that you and your lover pushed me into. Does it really surprise you that I chose the man’s option? The only option that would allow me to remain a man. Does it? Yes, I destroyed your boyfriend and if I feel it necessary so that I can hold my head up high, then I’ll do it again and again. You forced this showdown Tracey. There can only be one survivor. To stop you and him destroying me, I have to destroy you both.”

The words were said with such a quiet, chilling certainty that they left no room for doubt.

“Bu…but I hoped, coming in here, that by completely isolating me from friends and family and getting me fired, you were done with me. John and I just fell in love Dave. We couldn’t help it. You can remember being in love can’t you?”

“Yes Tracey, I can remember back eight weeks. As I said that day, maybe it wasn’t your choice to fall in love, but it was your choice what you did about it. If you’d just come to me and said, “Dave, I’ve fallen in love with someone else, I want a divorce,” then I would have been sad, but would have gladly given you your freedom, or fought to regain your love. Whichever I chose at the time. By announcing your intentions the way you did, viciously and cruelly, you declared war on me. Betrayed everything I stand for and everything I thought you stood for.”

“What about now Dave? Can you leave John and I in peace now you’ve had your revenge?”

“Yes, I think I can. If only because I can’t think of anything else to destroy.”

“Thank you, Dave.”

“Don’t get excited Tracey. I’m not the one you should be worried about.”

“Huh?”

“No. I’ve had my revenge on Johnny boy. His wife hasn’t started on you yet. If I were you I’d look out for her. She’s one mean lady, I can tell you.”

At that moment a disembodied female voice came floating down the stairs from the master bedroom.

“Are you coming back to bed Dave? You promised me six orgasms a day and you’re under budget.”

“Who is that?”

“Jenny.”

She ran. With me yelling a warning not to go to the police again. I climbed the stairs to a fully clothed Jenny. She held me until the tremors ceased.

As for Tracey, she took off for places far away. I never tried to find or contact her ever again.  

Like I said, Dave’s the name and I feel great. I’ve read somewhere that some people who get revenge on someone who has wronged them, find it a hollow experience. Pigs arse! It’s the most effective cure for depression I’ve ever heard about.

Fuck it. Time to stop dwelling on the past. It is too negative. My new life awaits.

Jen and I never became an item. We did use each other to relieve our frustrations fairly regularly, but there was never the necessary spark to go to the next stage. We were good friends though and looked out for each other. Under our combined guidance, Rob and Sarah turned out well. I backed off when potential boyfriends were around her though and stayed out of her bed until their relationship ended. One or two of them were a little intimidated by me as I told them that if they hurt her in any way, they would have me to answer to. Before the last one proposed to her, he actually asked my permission. He was a great guy and I happily blessed their union. The wedding was very emotional. With her folks gone, she asked me to walk her down the aisle.

It was at the wedding that she introduced me to an old friend of hers who had flown in. With my Jenny, and self-administered therapy complete, I was well balanced enough to have a normal relationship and am now considering asking Jenny to give me away at my wedding. Well, why not?

Without the payback I exacted on the two cheaters, would I have recovered enough to lead a normal life? Hell no. 

Hello. I’m Tracey and my life has gone to hell in a handbasket in the last two years. I think I can justify what I did back then. It’s going to take some time to justify what I did last week though. Sorry, I’ll explain.

Looking back on it, my life with Dave was good. However, it had gone stale. The only thrill I had left was my first Granddaughter. So, when John started to show an interest in me, as a woman you know, I felt like a teenager again. He was attentive and caring and what can I say, he swept me off my feet. I knew what we had was wrong, deep down, but it just felt so damned good. Our relationship followed the normal pattern of conversations, to dates, to making out. I can’t remember guilt ever being an issue. By the time we crossed the line and kissed, I already knew that I loved him and he loved me. We planned to leave our respective spouses and marry.

A friend of mine, Carol, had been through a messy divorce and explained that her ex had taken control of all the assets at the outset and made it very difficult for her even to engage a lawyer. That’s why John and I quietly seized control of everything. I didn’t know how his wife would react, but I was fairly sure that my Dave wouldn’t be happy. We’d often talked about what constituted cheating and I realised I was going to be well over the line already before John and I made our announcement. I fully intended giving Dave whatever the courts demanded after the divorce. I just wanted to be in the driving seat and protect myself from any retaliation.

It was also Carol who asked me if I’d slept with John yet. I’d never really enjoyed lovemaking that much, but a girl needs to think she’s still woman enough to be sexually attractive. I knew my husband still found me so. He nagged me for a cuddle often enough. If only I’d still had the same spark for Dave that I had with John, the whole mess could have been avoided.

So anyway, Carol put doubts in my head. What if John had a tiny penis or lasted five seconds or something. When I did occasionally need sex, I wanted it to be good didn’t I? By my stage of life, sex was more an emotional thing, than physical. I didn’t expect John to be as good as Dave. Dave was considerate, gentle and filled me up nicely. That’s what spawned my final disastrous betrayal of my marriage. My first session with John was thus a twofold exercise. One to try him out and the other, as a final bonding exercise to steel ourselves for the emotionally difficult tasks we had planned over the next few days. Being honest with myself, I think I wanted to snare John’s full attention so he wouldn’t back out on our plans. Even then, I suspected he was quite a weak person.

I know what you’re thinking. Did I ignore the possibility I would be caught and make Dave go ballistic? Did I consider the effect on my father and kids? The simple answer is no. I never expected to be caught and if I was, I never expected Dave’s nuclear response. As for the rest, I just didn’t think of it okay. I never compared myself to my mother. I was so young when she left us, that she just didn’t come into the equation.

After all it cost me, I’d like to say that the sex with John was mind blowing. It wasn’t. He penis wasn’t tiny but nowhere near Dave’s calibre. He lasted a decent amount of time but seeing that I dried up after a few minutes, that just made it uncomfortable. I found myself faking enjoyment just as I used to do with Dave. Men and their bloody ego’s, I ask you.

I still have no idea how Dave found out about my one and only infidelity. It’s just not important to me. I was devastated when I saw the look of hurt in his eyes when he came in the room. I tried to justify that to myself later, but of course I couldn’t. He’d never done anything near bad enough to justify that. My guilt manifested itself as defiance for a very short time but that didn’t last long. The thought that my father had witnessed my transgression, and my daughter’s words just killed me. The look in the eyes of John’s daughter was almost as bad. I had no idea my husband was capable of such cruelty.

When I was called by the hospital, about John’s admission, I knew instinctively that it was Dave’s doing. The doctors believed that John’s broken jaw, concussion, bruised kidney’s, three broken ribs, cracked Tibia and shattered groin were consistent with a hit and run accident. I believed differently. That’s why I rang the police and gave them Dave’s name and car license plate number. When I rang back, two days later, they’d said that he was no longer a person of interest. That’s why I hadn’t left John’s side for the week he was in hospital. I knew he needed my protection.

Until seven weeks ago, if you’d asked me if my Dave could do such a thing, I’d have said, no way. For fifteen minutes, in my old bedroom, I’d caught a glimpse of the new, monster Dave. A monster that I knew I’d created. A monster that was more than capable of unlimited cruelty. 

Yes, I just knew it had been Dave. That’s why, just before John was discharged, I rang Dave and arranged to meet at our old house. This shit had to stop. Hadn’t he had enough revenge yet? John and I were both destroyed, get over it.

It felt sad walking up to my front door. Not as sad as I knew the conversation to come was going to be. How had I gone from loving a man, to thinking of him as the enemy, in such a short time. Before I rang the bell, I phoned Carol and told her that if she didn’t hear from me in an hour to call the police.

Dave answered the door in his dressing gown. Unusual. He wore no expression as he invited me in. When he asked me to hand over my phone and handbag I kicked myself for not thinking of bringing a recorder. Then I asked myself why. He was never going to admit to the assault. I stared briefly at the stranger I had known for over 27 years.

I did feel remorse for how our marriage ended. By explaining how I’d fallen, I hoped to ease his pain and maybe get him to back off a little. He shut me down as soon as I began. Saying he wasn’t interested in the why. His tone was harsh and his facial expression blank. Who was this guy? I didn’t recognise the face or the voice.

I was stunned when he blithely admitted to beating up John. When I heard his motivation, I could see exactly why’d he’d done it. Let’s just say, it didn’t ease my conscience any. I genuinely didn’t see why Dave hated John so much. He sure set me straight on that very quickly. I suddenly realised how self-centred I’d become. It had blinded me and allowed me to rationalise the completely unacceptable. I suddenly knew not only why we were being punished, but judging by the expression on Dave’s face, it wasn’t over.

My asking if he remembered what love felt like, was part of my prepared speech. His answer was like a knife twisting in my gut. How else could a fundamentally decent person feel? I knew I had to run. My question about future revenge was simply to see how far.

I hadn’t considered that John’s wife was a physical threat until Dave’s words. With a flash of insight, I suddenly found myself in her shoes. What would I do if she’d done to me what I’d done to her. A chill went down my spine. When I discovered she was upstairs, I ran. I collected John from the hospital, then we both ran.

The divorces were both finalised. The paperwork was delivered to our PO box, two towns away. The stress of living anonymously, with no friends and constantly looking over my shoulder, was tremendous. We had a little money eventually. The waiting was tough. The only jobs we could get were commission only real estate jobs and it was a long time between drinks.

John and I got married six months later. Looking back on it, we were two castaways thrown together and it was a mistake. I also think one of the motivations was that by getting married, we could retrospectively justify the pain we had caused to so many, especially ourselves.

My latest downfall started innocuously enough. John’s one remaining testicle never did work. He was totally incapable of having an erection. We never could afford the course of testosterone treatment required to alleviate the problem. That caused him to be moody, insecure and jealous. Let’s face it, a marriage that has infidelity as it’s cornerstone is an uphill battle right from the start.

His grouchiness caused me to get very unfriendly as well. A friend of mine recommended HRT therapy as it had fixed her similar condition. I baulked at the probable cost, but she explained that as every second woman over 45 was on it, it was much cheaper than testosterone therapy. One doctors visit later and as if by a miracle, life returned to a happy normal. My doctor had warned me that one of the side effects of Estrogen tablets was a resurgence of my libido. He said it with a smirk, like it was a good thing. When it happens to the wife of a man with erectile dysfunction however, it is very destructive. I found myself hornier than I had been since five years into my marriage to Dave. John refused my pleas of oral sex and masturbation can only get you by so much. I learnt quickly to hide my vibrators from John. They just set him off something shocking.

When a guy at my new work started showing an interest in me, I couldn’t help responding. He was much younger than me and it was very flattering. Hiding our dates was extremely stressful. Insanely jealous John was much harder to fool than Dave had been. The first time we kissed was like an electric shock. Not from the thrill of it, but because of the strong déjà vu experience it elicited. I refused to go through that again. I refused to cheat. I thought long and hard but finally came up with a solution. It was less than ideal, but John had to respect my drives, didn’t he?

So, I sat John down Thursday night last week and as gently as possible told him that I wouldn’t be home Friday night. I needed to take a lover. I would be discrete, it was only sex and I would never rub his nose in it. I took his silence Thursday night and Friday morning as reluctant acquiescence.

After buying me dinner and a disappointingly short fuck, my new lover fell asleep. In embarrassment I went home to John and I’s trailer. He wasn’t there. The wail of sirens alerted me to the fact that the dawn had revealed him swinging from a tree. I’d done it again. Destroyed a man. I braced for the payback I knew he had organised. I was surprised to find it only consisted of a suicide note and a letter to his attorney.

Well, the suicide note was emailed to all our friends, who dumped me quicker than an aeroplane toilet. The letter to his attorney was to change the beneficiaries of his life insurance policy and his will from me to his children.

When will I ever learn. Never mess with a man’s pride.

The end

Now lighten up.

Doctor, those hormone replacement drugs you put me on have given me side effects.

Yes, well madam, I did warn you there may be side effects. What seems to be the problem.

Well, I‘ve got hair growing where it’s never grown before.

Okay madam, yes that is one of the more common side effects. Where is this hair growing?

On my balls.

My neighbour knocked on my door at 2:30am this morning, can you believe that 2:30am?! Luckily for him I was still up playing my Bagpipes.