Them Novel – For a while now, I have suspected my husband was not being faithful. So when I saw Christopher, my husband with lipstick on his collar I didn’t flinch. I sat at the kitchen island and acted like I didn’t see it. “How was work,” My husband asked me as he sat his shoulder bag on the kitchen counter. “It was fine,” I lied as he stepped closes to me. When Chris was about a foot away from where I was sitting I got a whiff of a female’s perfume. He wasn’t even trying to hide it. Now that smell would be forever in my head. When I heard the door to his office close I got up and stood in front of his shoulder bag. I found a white thong on the side of his bag.
Who ever says marriage is easy…they are lying. Actually, now I can see why people divorce. It’s not because it’s an easy way out or because you fall out of love. Well at least that’s not why I want a divorce. It’s this thing called infidelity that can ruin your marriage and your self-esteem. But then again my marriage was going downhill way before that. I can see why he would cheat on me. I’m a difficult person and lately I haven’t been in the mood to talk or be intimate with my husband. Intimacy brings people close together and creates children. I don’t want to be close to my husband at the moment and I can’t have kids.
As you can see intimacy hasn’t been a factor for us in a while. It’s not like intercourse with my husband is bad. It’s just I’m going through a lot. I’m in a dark place. So when I saw Christopher, my husband with lipstick on his collar I didn’t flinch, I didn’t even ask him about it. I sat at the kitchen island and acted like I didn’t see it. I just continued to read the newspaper as if it was interesting. “How was work,” My husband asked me as he sat his shoulder bag on the kitchen counter. Work hasn’t been a factor for me either. Actually, I’m on the verge of quitting my job. I haven’t really been myself lately. Christopher hasn’t really been his self lately either. Christopher seemed more stress than usual. He had creases in his forehead. On top of that he had a bit of gray hair growing in and he’s only thirty-one. He should be happy but I was bringing him down. “It was fine,” I lied as he stepped closes to me. When Chris was about a foot away from where I was sitting I got a whiff of a female’s perfume. He wasn’t even trying to hide it. Now that smell would be forever in my head.
He could have at least showered. Chris nodded then headed to his office at the back of the house. We normally don’t spend more than five minutes in each others presence. We don’t even sleep in the same bed anymore. It’s like we’re roommates instead of spouses. I don’t know what to do anymore. When I heard the door to his office close I got up and stood in front of his shoulder bag. I never felt the need to go through my husband’s things. But at that moment I was feeling low and I wanted to know what was in his bag. So yea I opened his bag and went through it. I soon as I did it I wished I could take it back. I found a white thong on the side of his bag. “Seriously,” I said to myself. I returned the thong to the bag and closed it.
I was a little hurt but I expected it. I didn’t expect to find a thong in my husband’s bag and I expected him to be a little more secretive about his intercourse life outside of this marriage. For a while now, I have suspected Chris was not being faithful. I’m madly in love with my husband. He’s funny and intelligent. He’s doing great things with his life but I can’t help but feel like I’m holding him back. He’s hot thus I’m sure women throw themselves at him. He’s tall and muscular. His smile is prefect thanks to braces. Did I mention his body? He has cuts and muscles everywhere. He’s dark brown skin complexion is what drew me to him. I have a thing for dark men. A man with confidence is another turn on. Chris is a confident man and sometimes cocky but it’s hot on him. He walked with his head held high and is back straight.
He doesn’t show fear or weakness. He’s very prideful. He’s everything I never knew I wanted. He’s my bestfriend, confidant, lover, and husband. But I could not continue to drag him through the mud. I wouldn’t do it! Chris deserved better than what I can give. I can’t give him a family or happiness. I needed someone to talk to because clearly I can’t talk to my husband. My girlfriends are busy with their family life. To be honest, I’m happy for my friends but I’m also jealous of what they have. There was one person who could probably help me, Logan. After the incident with my husband I went to see Logan. I had to talk to someone and since Logan was also going through a divorce I thought he could help. Logan is Chris’ partner at the law firm and a good friend of ours. Chris would have never met Logan if it wasn’t for me. I wouldn’t have met Logan if he wasn’t dating Tonya, who was one of my good friends once upon a time. “Hey what up,” Logan said as he opened the door. I step into his home. I use to love this house but now I could hear myself echo.
There were boxes lining every wall. It used to be a beautiful home, furnished with the last styles. I think Tonya should have been a decorator instead of a cop. But now the house just felt empty. “So you’re really leaving this house?” I asked him as he led me to what use to be the living room but now only had a love seat and boxes in it. “I brought this house for me and my wife now it’s just me. I don’t see a need for the house anymore.” I could see where he was coming from. This house probably had a lot of memories and it was time to let go of those memories that the house brought. Plus Tonya had intercourse with other men in this house. I wouldn’t want to keep the house either. “How is the divorce going?” “We’ve been separated for a year and a half so the divorce should be finalized soon. Now I’m looking for a new place to live. I can’t believe this is what it came to. I’ve been with Tonya since high school. You were there to witness our love grow.
She’s the first and only girl I think I’ll ever love.” Logan and Tonya were supposed to grow older together. Those two have known each other since 9th grade. We all admired their love and wanted a love like there’s. They lost their purity to each other. I never would have guessed they would have ended like this. I never thought they would end unless one of them died. They were like Prince Charming and Snow White; Will and Jada; or Jasmine and Aladdin. What is going on? “Logan there are other girls out there for you,” I informed him. I really truly hoped he could find someone else. Someone who would not dog him out like Tonya did. I hope he could get pass the hurt and pain Tonya caused him so he could find another girl.
“What brings you here?” He asked. “Last night Chris came home with lipstick on his collar and I smelled a girlie fragrance on him. You know Chris. I want to know is he cheating on me?” I probably had no right asking him that question because I knew about Tonya’s “other men”. I never once told Logan but here I was asking him to tell me something. It wasn’t fair but I had to ask. I had to know and I was pretty sure Logan would know. Chris has a couple of friends but Logan was the only one he trusted with his life. To be honest deep down I knew the answer to my question but I still wanted to be wrong. “You and Chris need to talk. You want to know the answers to your questions than ask him,” Logan informed me.
I already knew he wouldn’t tell me what I wanted to know but I still had to try. “I’m thinking about divorcing Chris,” I informed him. Logan let out a breath then said, “It’s easier said than done.” I nodded. “I think you should think about it.” All I had been doing was thinking about it. Yesterday made it real for me. But, the thought of not seeing my husband every day made me cry. I broke down and started sobbing in Logan’s arms. “I know a couple of people so I’ll get the numbers for you,” Logan told me as we pulled away. Logan is my friend and Chris’s friend but he seems to balance the two relationships.
He seems to be faithful to the both of us. He’s a great friend to us and I never once told him about his wife. Neither did Chris. We were wrong for that. I think my consequence for being a horrible friend to Logan was the death of my unborn child. If I would have stood behind Logan and not Tonya, I’m sure my daughter would be alive. I knew Tonya was wrong for what she was doing but I felt a since of obligation to her so I couldn’t tell her husband about her infidelity.