Chapter 1

My forty-sixth birthday party was just about over. The last guests were just getting into their cars that were parked at the curb. Elaine was bustling around picking up as only she could. Brian was helping her and Kitty, their daughter, was taking a last dip in the pool with Randy, her cousin. I looked fondly on my daughter. She was a younger version of my wife, Olivia. Tim, my son, was out in the pool area picking up beer bottles and Betty, his wife, was urging Randy to hurry up as they had to go home. No Daddy wasn't leaving yet. Grampa wanted to talk business.

Believe it or not, I was cold sober. I hadn't been earlier, but I had seen Olivia with one of our guests when I went upstairs to the guest bathroom. She and Jim Pike were just going through the door on the left. They must have heard someone coming up the stairs, for they had hurriedly shut the door as I came around the corner. I had recognized Olivia by the little flash of the distinctive dress she was wearing for my party today.

I continued down past the room and into the bathroom. As I passed the door that had just closed, I bent over and picked up a pair of my wife's panties. They were damp and I knew they had just been removed. I went into the bathroom, did my business, and went back down where I could watch the stairs. What was Olivia thinking? It was as if she was flaunting her lover in my face. They couldn't have had time to do anything, for almost immediately Pike came down and went by me to the outside and the patio. Fifteen minutes later, Olivia came down. I'm sure she wasn't pleased to see me sitting there.

She put on a good face. I think she suspected who they heard in the hall might have been me, but couldn't know for sure. "Having a good time on your birthday, dear? The kids and I worked so hard to surprise you."

"It has been great. The surprises keep coming. Are there anymore in store for me?"

"No, the party is it. Go out and join the last of your well-wishers. You shouldn't be sitting in here by yourself."

"Whatever you say dear." Pike kept as far away from me as he could the rest of the evening and was the first guest to leave. I saw Olivia on her cell phone about ten minutes later. The rest of the evening she stayed by my side. Tim and Elaine were taking down the banner that wished John Ryan a happy 46th birthday.

"I think I'll have a drink now. Anything for you dear? Tim, you and Elaine join me if you would. Brian and Betty have left with the grandkids." Olivia was across the table from me and shook her head no. I addressed the kids. (Kids? Tim was twenty-six and Elaine was twenty-five.) "It is time for me to conduct a little business. You know I started the company when I was barely twenty. At that time your mother was right in there helping every bit of the way. But that changed. For twenty-six years I have been at the helm. I think it is time I started taking it easy. As you know, your mother has thirty percent of the shares. I have thirty-five percent and you kids each have fifteen percent.

"The other five shares can't be voted. Two and half shares to the company attorney and two and a half to the accountant. My plan, as of right now, is to step down totally. This is what I'm going to do, immediately, as of now.

"I'm signing my shares over to you, Tim. There are a couple of restrictions. One, you must split what those shares earn every year equally with your sister. You vote them, and they in essence belong to both of you. The other restriction is that you are never to sell, give, or let your mother profit in anyway from the thirty-five shares I am talking about."

I had retrieved the shares from the lock box that was in the safe just before I sat down. I opened the envelope that held ten certificates. All were in denomination of 15,000. I started signing and transferred the ownership to Tim before anyone could say anything. All three present started clamoring, and asking why.

I held up my hand, "Wait, let me finish this." When the chore was done, I reached into my pocket and pulled out Olivia's still damp panties. I tossed them to my wife. I knew this was gross, but I did it for the shock effect. "I believe you dropped these in the hall when you were hurrying into the bedroom with Jim Pike. Did you remove them or did he?"

Sex was rarely discussed in this house and even off-color remarks were never indulged in. Elaine and Tim couldn't imagine their father accusing their mother of an indescretion, much less handle her used underwear.

"Mom, what's with Dad? He is acting crazy."

I didn't let Olivia speak. "I know the answer and I was only making a point. Now, as to my future and what it holds; yesterday, I took half of all of the money from your mother's and my joint accounts. I did not touch the corporation in any way. You three own it irrespective of the five shares. I also had my name taken off the deed to the house and your mother's car is paid for. She has title to that anyway. What I'm saying is, I'm making a clean break and leaving your mother. As to the why, your mother can answer that question."

I finally turned my attention to my wife. "Olivia, I thought we would grow old together. I admit I don't have enough evidence of adultery to divorce you in court on that charge. I have observed you in at least one compromising situation when you weren't aware I was anywhere near. My eyes don't lie to me. I'm being more than fair in leaving you well fixed financially. I just won't be here."

"You're leaving me?"

"That's correct. I'll let you sue for the divorce, unless you want to publicize your adultery. Contact Pete Gamble, my personal attorney, and start proceedings anytime. I will be in touch with him occasionally." Olivia sat looking at me. I think I wanted her to beg or plead, if only a little, to have me stay. She didn't. I guess that hurt more than what she had been doing to me. In a way, though, this set me free so I could get on with my life without regrets.

"Dad, you can't do this. You just can't walk out. Mom wouldn't cheat on you."

"Elaine, go get your Mom's cell phone. If the last call she made isn't to Jim Pike than I've been sadly misinformed. Olivia?"

My wife didn't say anything until Elaine came back with her phone. "Don't bother looking Elaine. I did make the call. Your father evidently has been sneaking around spying on me. Everyone detests a spy. Twenty-seven years we have been married. It was good for the first few years, but it has sure sucked the last few. We should have split ten years ago. I guess I should thank you for finally getting wise and doing something about it."

Olivia got up and went up the stairs to the bedroom. "Dad, tell us about you and Mom."

"To be honest, most of what I know are just rumors and some gossip I have overheard. When Jim Pike showed up tonight and I saw your mother go upstairs with him, I knew then it was time to finalize my plans. Six weeks ago I heard that Jim was involved with a married woman and had been for several years. The day I heard this, I headed home to ask your mother if she knew who Jim was involved with.

"I had no idea it was her until I came down the street and she was getting into a strange car. I followed it to a motel and watched her and Jim, whom I identified at that time, go into a room. They were there in the motel almost two hours. Tonight she couldn't be faithful right here in our home with the family in attendance. She was in such a rush she must have taken off her panties before she went into the bedroom upstairs."

I shrugged off thoughts of my unfaithful wife, and turned to Tim about the corporation. "You take title as president. Move Elaine into the office as vice-president. You both are smart and know the business inside out. Elaine handles the finances for all of my holdings and endeavors. That is what she is good at. It is time I stepped aside anyway. With you knowing all of these new and modern systems I can't keep up with, it will be a piece of cake for you."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know yet, coast for awhile, probably. I'll keep in touch. I've got fifteen and a half million dollars in the bank that I have removed from your mom's and my joint accounts. The properties that are held in the holding company I still own. Technically she could sue for a share of that and might win a judgment. I just split the liquid accounts as evenly as I could. I might start a little business or buy one. Something I can do and not work too hard at while catching up on some of the good life like your mother has been living. I would ask that you not discuss my doings with her. She lost the right to be kept in the loop as far as I'm concerned."

I sat still without saying anything for a few minutes. "You know, most men in my position would really land on their wife if they found out what she did. I just want away from her. I have come to the conclusion that she is not worth troubling myself over. I have contained my hate and kept the thoughts of revenge to a minimum the best that I can.

"Being as generous as I have, your mother will think she at first has won what she wanted without having to fight for it. I have the feeling though, her guilt will grow. It may take a long while if the way she has acted toward me tonight is any indication. Oh well, I guess I will go to bed. I'm sleeping in the guest room. I suppose I don't even have that right as your mother owns the house now." I grinned.

I knew there were a million questions my son and daughter wanted to ask, and over time they would be answered. "Elaine, I told Brian and Kitty that I was going to be talking to you and Tim. That is why they went home earlier. Tim, the same with Betty and Randy. They probably are wondering what this talk was all about. You can tell them when the little ones aren't around. Kitty and Randy just don't need to know."

Tim spoke, "Sure Pop. You go to bed. I want a few words with Mother before I leave."

Apparently Elaine did too, because I heard them go upstairs together and into the bedroom where Olivia was sleeping. I went up behind them and past them down the hall and made ready for bed in the spare room. I went to sleep with crying and screaming going on between Elaine and Olivia, with the occasional rumble of Tim's voice. Then there would be raised voices again. I put the pillow over my head and went to sleep.

I awoke, knowing it was much later. The house was quiet and I wondered how long the kids had berated their mother. I heard the door to Olivia's room open. She came down the hall to my room. I pretended to be asleep. She turned the light on, leaned over and shook me.

"John, wake up. I have some things to say. Don't think this is an apology, because it isn't. First I will divorce you as soon as possible. I'll get the papers ready and you can sign them. I don't love you. Maybe I never have. Who's to know? You have turned Tim and Elaine against me. I could hate you for that. That is the meanest thing you could have done to get even. Now I just want you out of my life.

"The corporation and the property in the holding company, I don't need them. Those damned things are what has come between us. I'm signing my shares over to you. I am my father's only heir. He'll take care of me, so with what accounts you didn't take, I'll be fine. You could have taken everything and it wouldn't bother me at all.

"I do want to know how you found out I was cheating on you. I've been so damned careful."

"Look to one of your friends. I think one of them wanted this Pike guy you have been sleeping with for herself. She gave me just enough information for me to start looking into our marriage. I was shocked at what I found."

"Yes, well it had to come sometime. Jim is just the last one of many men over the years. It probably is Maryanne who wants him. She cheats on her husband and she can have him. There is always someone better and he isn't that great, just exciting. So, what are you going to do with your life now that you don't have a business and don't have a woman?"

"I have no idea. I'm going to take a tour of the country. I'll keep in touch with Elaine, Tim and the grandkids, but I can settle down anywhere."

"Sounds like fun. You wouldn't want to take me with you, would you?"

"No."

"I was joking. You're too serious and I can't imagine you having any fun anyway. Look, stick around for a week until I can get the paperwork done for the divorce and anything else that comes up. You can even stay here if you want. Keep your door closed at night, though, because I may have a guest in. It would be disrespectful if you heard me. Take care, John. I'm sure you would be right for some woman, somewhere, but it certainly isn't going to me you are going to grow old with."

I sat up. "Did you ever have any love for me?"

"I'm positive I did when we were first married and the kids were small. But then you wanted to build an empire with those patents you developed. When I suggested that you find something for me to do with you, you said I wasn't needed. You said you were working to give me a good life so I didn't have to work.

"I started partying when I was lonely. One night when you called and said you couldn't make it to the country club dance, and for me to go alone, I said what-the-hell and let myself be talked into someone's bed. It was exciting and I liked it. I just promised myself I wouldn't go overboard and would be as discreet as possible. It has taken you ten years to discover I was unfaithful.

"You know something? Everytime I was with another man, I would think my poor dumb bastard of a husband was working his ass off for something that would never be. How's that for respect?"

That hurt. "So you are saying this is all my fault and I'm just a poor dumb bastard for believing in you. Is that it?"

"That's about it. Even now when you found out I was cheating, you planned on being generous. It hasn't worked, and that is why I'm giving you back my shares to the corporation. I almost think if I offered myself to you right this minute, you would take me up on it. How about it?"

"No. I may be a poor dumb bastard as you say, but on that I'll pass. Olivia, you've turned yourself into a slut so get out of this room. This will be the last time I sleep in the same house with you. Somehow I think you are going to regret how you have treated me.

"I will take the shares to the corporation though, and I will sign the divorce papers. Just get them ready as soon as possible." My wife turned and left, leaving me with the feeling that one of us was crazy. I just hoped it wasn't me.

When I got up, I made myself breakfast and packed two suitcases. I called Elaine and said I'd have lunch with her and would stay the night if it was okay. I made a list of things that needed doing. This was the way I had always worked out a problem and as of yet, I couldn't change.

Tim came over to Elaine's in the afternoon and I sat down with the new corporate president and vice-president. Both had been fully involved for years, so the transition would be a short one, only needing a couple of days.

I called my lawyer late Monday morning, and made him aware of what was going on. Olivia's attorney had got in touch with him, informing him that the shares were signed already, and in hand to turn over. He thought he would have everything concerning the divorce ready for my signature by Friday. I called Olivia and left her a message that Tim and Elaine's husband would be coming after all of my things and putting them in storage for me.

In a way I was being chicken, but who wants to be called a dumb bastard as many times as she had called me that. I didn't doubt that I had been referred to in the same way other times out of my hearing. The way Olivia was thinking, she would call me the same every time she saw me.

There was a surprise waiting for me when I went into the attorney's office to sign the papers. My father-in-law, who was also my godfather, was there. We had never bonded that much, but he shook my hand. "John, we have never been close. Olivia has told me all about why she is divorcing you. I think you are wise to get a divorce as soon as you found out about her being unfaithful.

"She is my daughter and I have to love her, but God she has treated you rotten. Understand, I think you have been very successful in your life with everything except Olivia. Would you always consider me as your father-in-law even though I won't be much longer?"

"Thanks Perry. I appreciate your saying that. I will and you can count on it." Olivia was standing beside her father and this didn't set well at all with her. It was a short meeting and it soon broke up. I had no words for my wife. It would be six months before the divorce was final, but that didn't bother me at all.

Saturday morning, I took delivery of a three-year-old Buick four door sedan. This car was low mileage and the maintenance records showed it had been well maintained. It was a nice roomy vehicle and it just floated along the highway. I didn't want to be driving a car that was apt to be stolen. I gave Elaine the keys to my Mercedes, saying the car was hers as a going away present. Tim and Elaine had a small gathering at her house to say good-bye. I looked fondly on Kitty and Randy, with regret. They would miss me and I knew their love would be with me always.

Sunday morning I pulled out of my daughter's driveway and headed out to Lord only knows where. I had never had time to travel anywhere except on business. I hit Route 6 and drove west. The plan was to hit 66 and follow that until it met Interstate 80. The whole west was open to me now. These routes were dubbed scenic and I wanted to see if they lived up to their billing. I drove leisurely, taking my time. In the middle of the afternoon I pulled off and went toward a small town. I might even hole up in a motel if I found one, even though it was early.