Chapter 1

It's been three years since our divorce was finalized. Beth and I were married for nearly eighteen years before our breakup. We were high school sweethearts and married shortly after graduation. At the time we had no other lovers but each other. There is something to be said about that. It is really a good thing; love outweighs just sex any day of the week. Of course you don't really realize it till it's too late.

We led I guess what you might call a good life. We had four kids together: Amy, Brad, Carla, Daryl. We called them the alphabet kids. After Daryl was born I had a vasectomy. I didn't want the whole alphabet. Amy and Brad are in college now, but Carla and Daryl still live with Beth, my ex-wife.

What happened? What went wrong? We seemed to be a happy family. We were good parents and supported everything our kids did. We were like most young couples, struggling to make ends meet. I worked in a manufacturing plant and Beth started working at the local WalMart store, once the two older kids started school. The younger kids started in day care when one of us wasn't home to watch them. It wasn't the greatest thing to do but in today's society, that's how it goes.

When she got home, I asked her if she had a nice time. She told me she did and about some of the other girls. I have nothing against WalMart but a lot of the women that worked there were divorced and separated. It didn't seem like the type of people that Beth should be partying with. I told her so and she got mad at me for downgrading her friends.

"I did no such thing," I told her. "It's just that these women will look for men and you'll be there with them." She looked at me a little sheepish. We were together for eighteen years. I knew all her moods. I know I hit a nerve.

"Well, did you dance with any men?" I asked.

She delayed in answering me but then said, "I didn't do anything wrong. Yes, I danced with a couple of guys and that was all."

I knew a little more happened but didn't push the issue right then. She told me that she and her friends were going to go out once a month. I wasn't really happy with it but what could I really say. I would have to just wait and see.

The following month she wore a skirt with pantyhose. I watched her get dressed. She didn't say much to me. I told her that I would be waiting up for her. It was past midnight when she came in. She looked at me and started to go to the room to change.

As she started toward the bedroom, I asked her, "When you left, you had pantyhose on. Where are they?"

"It was hot and I took them off," was all she said.

"Beth, this is starting to get out of hand. We need to talk," I said.

She asked me to leave the room so she could undress. I told her that she had undressed in front of me for eighteen years and wanted to know what was so special about that night. I walked up to her and grabbed her by the arm. It was something I had never done.

"Please don't, Jerry, I beg you, please don't."

She knew what I was about to do as I reached under her skirt and found her pantyless.

She started crying as I pushed her away. Her pussy was sopping wet with another man's juices.

"Well, I guess that answers why no pantyhose, doesn't it?" I remarked.

"I'm sorry, Jerry. It just happened. I was drinking at this party and Joe kept telling me how beautiful I was and then he kissed me, and began touching me. I've never been with anyone but you Jerry. The girls kept telling me how good Joe is and I let it happen."

"No one man came that much in you. You had more than one man, didn't you?" I asked.

"When Joe took me, I was lying on the bed and a couple of other guys came in and took advantage of me also."

"They didn't take you; you let them all fuck you. Doesn't our marriage mean anything to you? Didn't you at least think about me or the kids?"

"Jerry, I'm sorry. It wasn't love like you and I have. It was raw sex and I liked it. Barb, one of the other girls, is married and she told me she and her husband are into swapping. I don't want to lose you, Jerry. Please come with me one time and try it," she begged.

I needed to think; my mind was going in a hundred different directions. I told her I didn't want to talk anymore right then. My mind didn't comprehend what just happened. I told her we could talk the next day. I'd sleep on the couch that night.

In the morning after the kids left, I got dressed and went to work. Beth was still sleeping from her hard night. I couldn't keep my mind on my job and took the afternoon off. I went to where Beth was working and walked up to her. She smiled at me; she was a cashier that day and at the next register was her friend Barb. I had read the name on her name tag.

"Honey, how come you're not at work?"

Her friend Barb kept eyeing me.

"I'm going to see Jeff, our lawyer today. I'm getting a divorce." I turned around and walked out.

Behind me I heard Beth yelling at me to wait. She had a customer at the register and wasn't sure what to do. I guess she was in panic mode. I didn't wait as I walked briskly out the door and got in my truck and left. I went straight to the house and packed most of my clothing. I threw it all into boxes and put it in the truck. I had no idea where I was going but I knew where I didn't want to be. I did leave a note for my kids. I told them that their mother and I were getting a divorce and she could explain it to them. I really would like to know how she was going to explain this one. Probably make it my fault. She was good at blaming me for most things.

I ended up going to my parents' house. They were in their sixties and had been married over forty years. I told them that Beth and I were separating and would probably get divorced. I know it hurt them because they really liked Beth and this was probably a shock. I told them I needed a place to stay and they offered me the whole basement. It was all remodeled and had a nice bedroom and even a small kitchenette and living room set up down there. They told me I could stay as long as I needed. They didn't much use the basement anymore. They didn't like the stairs. About two years ago they moved the washer and dryer upstairs after Mom's hip replacement.

I might ramble on a little while telling you this story. There's so much to tell you. I know you want to know about Beth and what the kids thought as well as input from the lawyer and a few other people.

I told Mom and Dad that Beth wanted more freedom. It was kind of hard to explain that she wanted to fuck other people. I didn't want to tell my parents that. I just told them that we felt differently about a number of things and didn't think we could come to an agreement. They weren't happy with that explanation but that was all I could tell them for now. I did make it over to Jeff's, our lawyer, and he told me that Beth had already called twice. I asked him if he was going to represent me or her.

"She doesn't want a divorce, Jerry. She thinks you can work this out."

"Answer my question, Jeff. Are you her lawyer or mine?" I asked again.

"I'm hers, Jerry. She called me first and I accepted the case. I'm sorry; if you would have called me, I would have been yours. Please talk with her, Jerry; you are both my friends and I hate seeing you two in divorce court."

"Did she tell you why I walked out, Jeff? Why I want a divorce?" I asked.

"She said you two had an argument about her going out. She got drunk and cheated on you," he replied.

"Truth time, Jeff. She went out after I told her I had a bad feeling about it. She fucked three men and then asked me if I wanted to swap with her friends. There's your case, Jeff. I'm going to see Sally Black; we both know she's the best in the business. I'll have her call you as soon as we get a plan together. Thanks for nothing, Jeff."

I turned around and walked out.

Sally was the best divorce lawyer in the state. She was as hard-nosed as they come. I knew a few men who went against her and they were all taken to the cleaners. I called Sally and she gave me an appointment for the next day. She told me not to talk to Beth until we had our meeting. I asked her about the kids and she told me to have my parents call them and tell them we would talk in the next couple of days.