Chapter 2: The family disaster and the solution

The neighborhood organized a barbecue in my neighbor's garden. He was Robert Urban and his wife was Eve. They had three kids, two-year-old twin daughters and a son who was four at that time. He was five years younger than me. His wife was the same age and she was a little but strong woman. She was very sympathetic towards me, but her husband was a cocky man. The barbecue was on Saturday, and the entire neighborhood was there, at least forty to forty-five people including children. Our kids were older so no baby sitter was needed, but we looked after them from time to time.

Suddenly, I got a mobile call from my job about a serious problem. They wanted my personal assistance there. I told my wife and my kids that I had to go into work. I went to my job and we solved the problem after three long hours of hard work. This was the last problem before starting of the final half-year test period. I was sure we could begin the work on the Central IT System in January.

We went home happy because my staff knew the fourteen hours a day and almost every Saturday hard work was over. We could do the half-year testing in ten hours workdays only. I returned to the barbecue, which was still going strong. I met my children, who were glad to see me and I started searching for my wife. I walked towards Rob's garden and was stunned to find them behind a big bush hiding from the crowd. As I neared I heard them talk.

Linda told Robert, "On Monday we can meet when you come home from work for lunch. I'll go to our regular place. We'll have enough time."

Robert responded, "That's a great idea, but we better be getting back to the party soon. I'll be at our regular place."

Linda sighed, "But ... Bill and the kids are never far from the house on Saturdays."

They hugged and passionately kissed each other. I went back to the crowd and sat with my children. I was sad, and completely lost for the next few days. Linda and the children did not disturb me at all, as they thought I was having issues at work with the project. I was so disappointed that I did not think of the future. Surfing the Internet I accidentally looked at the strange ANR site to reread that interesting dating ad. To my surprise, the ad was still there.

Mustering up some courage, I answered that ad with complete honesty. In my reply I wrote, I was married with two children. I told this unknown person that my wife was cheating on me with the neighbor and I had just discovered a few days before I wrote this letter. I wrote yet that my neighbor had a wife and three children and could not believe this had happened to me.