Chapter 4: What now? revisited

Revisited: I was through writing this story and was inundated with feedback and comments. I fell to the pressure of the readers and decided to write a couple of more chapters.

Many readers had suggestions about both Dorothy and George. What they should do and not do. Most just wanted to hear it all from Dorothy's point of view. What would make a woman think the way she did. Here is Dorothy's story after the reunion. Again, thank you to my friend and editor Techsan for making my story a much better read.

Dorothy speaks:

After George spoke at the reunion I felt thoroughly humiliated. The bad part is I totally deserved it. Paul, the so called love of my life, wasn't any wall of protection by any means. My friends Dixie and Joe just sat there completely stunned. I may have been sitting with friends but I was alone, truly alone. I now realized I made the biggest mistake of my entire life. I lost my husband by choice, I was alienating my children who I truly loved, and I may not have a life with my grandchildren.

After George and June left the reunion I got up from the table and walked over to talk to my kids. I listened to them tell me how badly I screwed up. They were berating me pretty good. We also talked about all the good times we had both with and without George. They reminded me that family really matters, even broken ones. They still wanted to be part of my life but couldn't see it happening with me in another state. They wanted their children to know their grandmother, which brought tears to my eyes.

I told them all how much I loved them and always have, never a doubt. Looking back now I was glad that George was their biological father. He was a good father to them and would make a terrific grandfather. I told them I had a lot of heavy thinking to do. I would be home on Monday, but now I didn't know where I would be staying. I hadn't planned on moving in with Paul till after the school term which had a few months to go. There was no doubt that George would not let me stay in the house. I guess I should have thought about that earlier.

George Jr. asked me to come and stay with him and his family till I made up my mind as to what I was doing. They had a spare room in their basement where I could have some privacy. I just started crying; all the crap I put my family through and they still loved me.

George Jr. looked at me and said, "We don't like what you did, Mom, or the way you did it, but as dad pointed out you are our mother and have always put us first. We have to learn to live with it. We all love you but not your actions."

I looked at George Jr. and said, "Your dad said that after what I did to him?" and I started crying again. "God, what have I done to my life?"

I kissed all my kids and told them how much I loved them, and would like to see them before they went home. They said they were going to have breakfast with their father in the morning, that I was welcome to join them but said, "Please, mom, don't bring your boyfriend."

I told them I would see if I could make it. Then I headed back over to the table with Dixie, Joe and Paul. I asked Paul if we could leave the reunion; I have had enough for one evening. Dixie and Joe decided to leave also; the crowd was just staring to much at all of us. I knew we were the topic of all the conversations.

Paul and I went up to the room. As soon as we got there Paul wanted to make love. Really all he wanted was sex, so I pulled away telling him that what I need now was love and compassion. I needed to be held; I needed to be comforted, not fucked. I looked at Paul and asked him why he didn't go over to meet my kids and introduce himself.

He said he was too embarrassed after finding out they weren't his.

I looked at him and said, "You have always told me that you wanted to become part of the family. That we were going to do everything possible to be a family unit. Do you still feel that way, Paul?"

He looked at me and said, "I don't know. I love being with you but I want you, not your kids and their kids. I have no connection with them. I thought we would move away from all this and be together."

"Paul, what about our families? I want to see my kids, my grandkids. I want to be part of their lives. I know we never talked much about family, but I love mine and want a relationship with them."

Paul's answer shocked me.

He said, "Dorothy, why don't we just make love tonight and talk about all this stuff tomorrow?"

I told him I didn't think so. I had to go out where I could gather my thoughts. I opened the door and walked out. I had nowhere to go so I went back down into the lounge and sat in a booth to think. I ordered a drink when two of my old classmates, Barb and Sue, asked if they could join me.

I just said, "Sure, I would enjoy your company."

Both Barb and Sue were divorced. They were a little wild but have tamed down a lot over the years. I guess after you get passed fifty your thoughts start to change. We were good friends during our high school years but that was many years ago. We have never talked much after I moved to Ohio. They both looked at me and said, "Dorothy, we need to talk to you. It's about Paul."

"Paul? What about Paul?" I asked.

Then they began telling me about not wanting to butt in to my personal life but figured, after my husband's speech, there were a few things I needed to know. Paul had dated both of them throughout the years. He said he was in an unhappy marriage and was going to get divorced eventually.

"We both knew that all Paul wanted was a good fuck, excuse our language, but we were both divorced so it was all we were after,"said Barb.

"We knew that you slept with Paul at the reunions but thought you were just out after a piece of strange at the reunions. We had no idea you were in love with Paul or we would have spoken to you years earlier. We liked you, we always have but if you marry Paul it won't last. He has had sexual relations with most of the divorced women in our class, and a few of the married ones also."

Barb continued, "I have no idea what kind of man your husband is, but your family is what every woman wants when she gets our age. Kids, grandkids, that's what life is all about. Do what you want with Paul, but don't lose your relationship with a great family like you have, for him."

"Paul didn't get divorced so he could marry you. His wife, June, finally caught him cheating on tape and had the proof she needed to get a divorce. She left Paul with almost nothing. You will be supporting him if you two get together."

My mind wandered in a dozen different directions. I didn't know what to think but for some reason one question entered my mind. I looked at Barb and Sue and thanked them for telling me all this before I made an even bigger fool of myself. I asked them if they could answer one question for me and please be honest. It was very important.

They said, "Of course we will tell you the truth. We have no reason to lie to you. What do you need to know, Dorothy?"

"Is one of the married women Paul slept with Dixie?" I asked.

"Yes, she is, but we thought you knew since you two were best friends. In fact, word out there is that you and Paul swapped with Dixie and Joe."

"What? No, that is not true. I have never had sex with Joe. Who started such a lying hateful rumor about me?" I asked.

"Well, Dorothy, you better take a big slug of that drink before I tell you. You're going to need it," replied Sue.

"We were sitting at the table during the reunion with Bob and Harry. When Bob looked at you and said, 'If I knew she played around I would have tried to get in her pants.'

"Then Harry said, 'I had talked to Joe earlier and he said he was in her pants not two weeks ago, ' " said Sue.

Barb added, "I said 'Bullshit, Harry, Dorothy wouldn't sleep with Joe'."

Then Barb said, "Harry replied, 'Joe said he could prove it, ' that you have a little brown mole on the right side of your bush next to your pussy. Like we'll get a chance to see that," Barb laughed.

I was in panic mode and started crying. Barb and Sue tried to console me. They said, "We know Joe's lying. Everything will be alright."

I looked at Barb and Sue and said, "I do have a mole, but how did Joe know it?" I then asked them if I could bunk with them that night. I don't think I wanted to be with Paul then, nor Dixie and Joe. Not till I got some answers.

Sue went over to Paul's room and picked up my clothes. She said Paul was pissed but let her have them. I then called my son Mike's room. When he answered the phone I asked him if I could ride home with him in the morning.

He just said, "Sure, mom, we will be glad to have you." Then he said, "Love you, mom."

I said, "I love you too, Mikey."

Barb, Sue and I went back to their room where we talked some more. I was drained after the whole evening's activities. The girls just let me have one of the beds and after a couple more drinks I fell asleep.

The next morning I showed up at the family breakfast. It was nice just being around my family. I could tell George wanted to throw digs my way but took the high road seeing all our kids were there. Damn, I spent thirty two years of my life with this man and never took the time to really get to know him or him me. When George left to go home he said goodbye to all the family and then told me to enjoy my new life. I couldn't help tearing up; after all whether I loved him or not, we spent thirty three years together. After all our thirty third anniversary was the next day.

After breakfast I went back to Barb and Sue's room to get my stuff and go home. I thanked them for letting me spend the night and for telling me about Paul. It will help me make some future decisions.

I then stopped by Paul's room. When he answered the door he was still in his underwear. He wasn't very happy with me. He said the only reason he came to the reunion was to be with me and I ruined that for him. He said nothing about everything that happened.

I told him I had to leave, that I was riding back with my son Mike and his family, that I would contact him later to talk with him. I went to kiss him goodbye and as we kissed he grabbed my ass and squeezed. Then he said that was something to remember him by till we saw each other again.

Paul did ask me how come I wasn't riding home with Joe and Dixie.

I just looked at him and said, "I have doubts about my friendship with Dixie since I found out you've been fucking her."

Paul's eyes opened wide but he didn't deny it. He just said, "The last time was a few years ago and that was a mistake. It's you I want, Dorothy."

The words 'last time' meant he had sex with Dixie more than once. With that said, I just said, "Goodbye, Paul," and went to Mike's room.

I asked Mike if I could use his phone to let Joe and Dixie know I was going home with them. When I called, Dixie answered. I told her that I was going home with Mike but I would be talking with her within the next few days.

She seemed a little stunned by my remarks but said, "Okay, talk to you later."

After getting home I called George about getting some of my personal items. I told him I thought the 65% to 35% distribution of assets was a bit harsh seeing we built all our assets together but I agreed to them so we could both get on with our lives.

He said I could stop by with George Jr. and pick up any personal stuff I needed. Also if I agreed with the divorce settlement to contact Sally Hawk, his attorney and she would get things started. As of right now he wanted little or no contact with me. He would not be home when George Jr. and I stopped by.