Chapter 5: What Now? The conclusion.

George and Dorothy had been married for nearly thirty-three years. One day Dorothy gave a 'Dear John' letter to George before going to her thirty-fifth high school reunion. In her letter she said she was leaving him for her former boyfriend who had been her lover over the past twenty-eight years. She also thought that her former lover was also the biological father of George and Dorothy's three children who are all grown now. This proved to be false as George presented evidence at Dorothy's reunion.

George planned his revenge and carried it through. His grown children and their families attended the reunion and all faced their mother with the facts. There were two sons. George Junior, whom they called JR; another son named Mike; and a daughter Dottie, whom they called Dot for short. She was named after Dorothy.

At the reunion, Paul, Dorothy's former boyfriend admitted he didn't want anything to do with Dorothy's family. She also found out he had sex with her old high school friends, and her best friend Dixie.

Dorothy broke off her relationship with Paul after finding all this out. She also broke off her relationship with her friend Dixie and her husband Joe when she found out Dixie had sex with both her husband George and her boyfriend Paul. Dixie also had let her husband Joe have sex with Dorothy when Dorothy was passed out. Finally Dixie didn't tell Dorothy that her husband George knew about the upcoming divorce.

What Now? The Conclusion:

George speaks:

Our divorce was finalized six months ago. My life was now rather sad. I spent quite a bit of time at the bar. I guess just wanting company, people to talk to. That's when I began to realize that Dorothy and I really had a life together. Maybe not the best, surely not the worst, but we were companions.

Every night now I would go home to an empty apartment. Sit there and either go on the computer or watch TV. For the first few months it was okay, but now it was becoming very boring. Here I was in my fifties, sitting home alone.

I tried dating a few women but they just seemed lonely like me. With most of them there was sex. I guess I was still a pussy hound. I didn't want any commitments, I didn't want another marriage. That seemed to be what most of these women wanted. Someone to share their life with and possibly help take care of them. I stayed away from married women. I guess after what happened to me, I didn't want to be responsible for ruining another marriage, even if the wife was just looking for sex.

I started spending longer hours at my welding business. The money was good but money wasn't my problem. I missed my bitch of a wife Dorothy; I don't know how to really explain it. The woman cheated on me over a 28 year period. We lived pretty much separate lives. She did her thing and I did mine. But there were so many times that I started to reflect on the times we spent together. The vacations we took as a family. Always having a good time. Going to the kids' ball games. We were together laughing and backing them up.

The only times I seem to enjoy in my life now is going to see the kids and grandkids. I started to remember that every time I go to see them Dorothy is there. We talk nice to each other trying not to be rude or bring up bad memories. Maybe it was just her being around me, I don't know. Then I think damn her, damn her, damn her for doing this to our life. Then I started remembering back to all the affairs I had during our marriage. God, I was no saint. Most of the women might have been one night stands but they were still affairs.

I guess Dorothy could have left me after any one of them. Why didn't she? According to her 'Dear John' letter she knew about them. I can recall at least twenty times that I was unfaithful to her. Why didn't she ask for a divorce? Could it be because she felt she was no better than I was having this affair with this jerk Paul? Damn, I'd like to know. Maybe some day I'll ask her.

I got up from the couch to make myself something to eat. Damn, I missed Dorothy's cooking; that woman sure knew how to cook. She knew what I liked and how to prepare it. In fact she knew all my likes and dislikes. Right down to what my favorite beer was. I guess after thirty-three years with a person you get to know a lot about them. Why was I so blind to this long running affair?

All I knew right now is that I would much rather have one of her pork roasts, with broiled potatoes and carrots than this frozen pizza I was about to make. I had to visit my kids this weekend so I could get a good meal. Maybe I'd suggest a cookout and they could invite their mother and she could make something good. I'll offer to bring the beer and beverages. That was my specialty.

The phone rang. It was my daughter Dot. She said she was coming home this weekend and just wanted to talk to me and see how I was doing.

I replied, "I'm doing fine, honey, but I miss your sweet smiling face." She was my baby girl and I really did miss her. She was in Michigan going to college. She tries to come home at least once a month. When she does, she stays with her mom. They talk a lot and do their woman thing, whatever that is.

After talking to her for a few minutes I suggested that she call her brother Junior to let him know she'll be home for the weekend and we could all get together for a cookout. That she could even invite her mother.

"So, dad," she replied, "You miss mom's cooking, don't you?"

"No," I said, "I just..."

She interrupted me and said, "It's okay, dad, I miss mom's cooking too. I'll tell her about the cookout, and I'm sure she'll come. What do you want me to tell her to bring?" She laughed.

"How can you be so sure she'll show up?" I asked.

"Dad, I shouldn't be telling you this but mom said to make sure that whenever you're coming over to make sure we invite her also. I know you don't want to hear it, dad, but I truly believe mom loves you. She's living in a hell that she made herself. She totally blames herself for all she did to you. I don't think she'll ever get over it. It kind of bothers me. Her total life is school and family. I know she doesn't date. A number of men have asked her out and she just tells them no thank you."

"Mom also cut it off with her best friend Dixie. She didn't tell me the whole story about why but I know it had something to do with her old boy friend and you, dad. Would you care to enlighten me?" she laughed.

"Anyway, dad, what do you want mom to make?" she asked.

"How about a pork roast."...

Dot interrupted me again. "Dad, it's a cookout. No pork roast at a cookout."

"Okay," I said, "how about your mom's BBQ chicken with scalloped potatoes? I'll buy the chicken, JR can grill it, and Dorothy can apply her homemade BBQ sauce, and her homemade scalloped potatoes?"

Dot laughed, "Okay, dad, I'll see what I can do." She paused, then said "Dad, I love you."

"I love you too sweetheart," I replied. "See you Sunday," then hung up. The frozen pizza was done, time for dinner.

As I started to eat the pizza, the reality of loneliness was setting in. About a half hour later the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID. It was JR.

"Hi, Dad, JR here. How ya doing?" he asked.

"I'm just finishing dinner and watching the tube. What's new?" I asked.

"We're having a cookout Sunday around noon and wanted to know if you wanted to come?"

"What are you having?" I asked.

"BBQ chicken and scalloped potatoes like you didn't know," he laughed.

My kids were smart; that must come from Dorothy's side. "I'll be there, noon it is," I replied

"Dad, you supply the beer and beverage and we'll supply the chicken. Pick up some chip and dip also," he asked.

"Will do, and JR ... Thank you."

"Anytime, dad, anytime," he answered, then hung up.

God, even my kids knew how I felt. God, I loved them.

It was Sunday and I headed over to JR's house. I remembered the beer, beverages, and the chips and dip, just like I was told. As I walked in everyone said hi. I gave them all a hug. Kissed all the kids and my two daughter-in-laws.

Dot came over and kissed me on the cheek and whispered, "Don't worry, dad, she's here.

I just stared at Dot wondering how she knew what I was thinking. I looked up and saw Dorothy dressed in a nice yellow sun dress, applying her special BBQ sauce to the chicken. I walked over to Dorothy and just said, "Hi, Dorothy, nice to see you again. Chicken smells great."

Dorothy smiled at me and said, "Thanks, George, I made it just the way you like it."

"How's school?" I asked, trying for a little small talk.

"The kids get on my nerves once in awhile but other than that everything's fine." Then she said she had to go check on the scalloped potatoes in the oven.

Mike asked if he could talk to me privately for a minute. He had something to discuss with me. So we went into the living room away from everyone and he said that Dot had talked to him earlier. He said Dorothy's ex-friends Dixie and Joe had broken up. Now Joe has been calling Dorothy and harassing her.

Mike said, "Dad, I can't let that prick harass mom. I don't know what it's all about but Dot said he was going to try to humiliate her. I can't let that happen, dad. Mom's been through enough"

Damn, I like the way my kids stood up for their mom. There was no way I was going to let my kids get messed up in these personal problems.

I looked at Mike and told him to hang loose, not to do anything stupid; he had a wife and kid to take care of. I would check into the problem with Joe.

We went back outside and joined the BBQ. I told JR thank you for inviting me. It was the best BBQ chicken I had in a long time.

He said, "Thank mom; she made it along with the potatoes."

I looked over at Dorothy and said, "Thanks, Dorothy, you always were a great cook."

She looked over at me and said, "Thanks, George, anytime."

I wondered what she meant by anytime? Was it just a slip of a word or did she mean, anytime?

I went home and decided what to do about Joe. Now he was messing with my family. That wasn't going to happen. I waited till Monday and went to the bar that I knew Joe might be in. I had seen him sitting on a bar stool and walked up to him. He looked very nervous when he saw me.

I said, "Joe, I need a word with you."

Now, I was a welder with strong arms and hands. Joe on the other hand worked in an office and didn't even work out.

Joe looked at me and said, "I have nothing to say to you, George."

"Joe," I said, "I want a word with you. I suggest you get off that fucking bar stool and come over here and sit in the booth with me for a minute, or I'll just go outside and wait for you. The choice is yours."

Joe got off the stool and came to the booth and sat opposite me.

I stared at his eyes but didn't say anything for a few seconds, just to make him squirm. Then I said, "What's this shit I hear about you calling Dorothy?"

He looked at me and said, "What's it to you? You're divorced. She can see anyone she wants. She's an adult and over twenty-one."

I stared at him again, waiting before I spoke. Making him more nervous. "Now, mother fucker," I spoke in a very low voice so only he could hear me. "I made a mistake letting your sorry ass have her as a revenge fuck. I should have never done it. You aren't worthy enough to lick the shit out of her ass. You will call her one more time. You will apologize for any remarks you have made to her or about her. Then you will tell her you will never and I mean never bother her again.