Vanessa currently still didn’t suspect a thing, but Ashley has her suspicion. Since they were best friend Ashley would always be coming over on Tuesday to have some wine and gossip. A weird day to do so honestly, but they felt like a bit before the midweek always help them out.

She would bring her kid, Amber over to come play with Trish which was great, it was kind of like me and Tyreese as kids. Amber and Trish were barely a year apart and were already inseparable. Their house was only a block away so after their visit Tyreese would come pick them up after work.

When I got home, Ashley was already over; her and Vanessa already had their wine glass and were gossiping about what was going on in their respective job. Noticing Ashley, I gave her a warm welcoming “Hello Ashley, is it already Tuesday?” I peck Vanessa on the cheek, before continuing “Well how are you doing today?”

“I am doing mighty fine today. Got off work early and now enjoying some wine. How about you?” She replies enjoying some cheese and crackers with her wine. “Not doing so bad myself,” I reply as I took off my tie went to my room.

Closing the door, I heard faintly “Isn’t he coming home later than normal today?” Ashley questions. “Hmmm now that you say so, that is right. Probably that time of the year again.” Vanessa said not minding it. Ashly raise her eyebrows and replies “If you say so.” I was in the master bathroom making a call to June, because earlier I had already inform her of today plan. She picked up and we had a small chat.

“Hi,” I said in my loveliest soft voice. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the other end and replies “Hello Mr. McKeon” “I told you to call me David,” I said sternly. Getting into character she replies, “Oh right, hello David.” I chuckle and said, “It was nice meeting you today again.” She agrees “Yea it was fun.” I said lovingly “I hope to see you soon.”

“Me too David.” She said with a bit of guilt in her voice.

We hung up the phone and when I walk out of the bathroom there was my wife who had come in looking for something. She was still searching for whatever, while I was concern if she heard me talking correctly. “Honey who was that,” she said nonchalantly while searching through the room. “No one just a business partner,” I said going in from behind and hugging her. “Yah! stop it, I’m still looking for my damn new lipstick, I was just using it earlier and I wanted to show Ashley.” She said slapping my hands.

Still holding her I said, “I love you babe.” Thinking to myself right now and right here the many chance to say it lessen with each passing day. No matter what happen she would always be the one I love the most in the world… till the day I die.

After Ashley left my wife didn’t ask me any further about the phone call earlier. She didn’t insist that it was weird that I was talking in the bathroom, she didn’t think that it was weird that I am coming home late, she just loves me. How hard is she going to make this for me, how hard am I going to make this for her, how will she live without me anymore?

The next two day I done the same thing met with June and came home an hour later than normal, afterward I would call June in the bathroom and wait to see if Vanessa notices. Of course, she doesn’t notice or she does and the thought of me cheating just wouldn’t pop into her mind. She still believes in me and that I wouldn’t cheat so, I have to step up my game; the next day I hatch the next part of the plan: bring in the kids. Yea it was an awful and stupid thing to do but honestly whatever I am doing right now is awful already.

I met with Tyreese after work this time, “Tyreese I need you start your part of my plan. Make Ashley think I am cheating on Vanessa” I said after taking a deep breath in and letting it out a long sigh, after all I was feeling guilty, I added, “Tell her I am sorry later ok?”

Tyreese just pat me on the back and replies “I will man, I pretty sure she will understand. She going to tear me a new one, but she will understand.” We both laugh a bit, knowing that the jokes will be gone one day, I just smile weakly at him trying to keep in my tears. He gave me a hug before he had to leave, how many of these can I get before I leave, I wonder.

On Saturday night Vanessa and Ashley went out shopping. It was their daily monthly shopping trip and of course if Tyreese did good on his part then Ashley probably bringing up my unusual behavior these past few days.

“Vanessa, I heard that every day now David has been coming home later, now right?” Ashley questions diligently while looking through racks of clothes. She was next to her also looking through clothes rack and answers “Hmmm now that you mention it he has been coming home an hour later now.” She grabs Vanessa hands and replies “Anything else unusual about his behavior?” Vanessa looks at Ashley with a confuse look then thought about it “I guess it is weird he been getting call from his work more often lately.” She shakes her head and said sternly “Has he been hiding it from you or anything.” Vanessa who was getting concern a bit answers “No, he hasn’t but he always talks to them in the bathroom nowadays.” She snaps her finger and replies “Girl you need to put your man on check. He is making some sketchy moves and if you’re not careful he might be talking to some skanks.”

“Don’t say that, we been with each other for 15 years now, why would he cheat on me now.” Vanessa said with a hint of anger. “I’m just looking out for your darling. I heard stories of guys who been in relationship for more than 30 years who cheated on their wife.” She replies with a stern look “Yea well that is them. I know David and he wouldn’t do something so despicable.” Vanessa said clutching her purse ready to storm off. Ashley shook her head placing a hand on Vanessa cheek and replies “Honey I’m just looking out for you. But if I offended you, I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to be hurt.” Vanessa heart was pounding fast, but she thought about it more. They both continue their special day together, but Vanessa in the back of her mind a thought popped up.

Later that night I made it ever so obvious I was talking to June in front of my children. Trish is almost 8 whiles Kennon was 6; they were two of the most precious people in my life. Trish who was raise by my parents for two years while me and Vanessa finish college, didn’t really accept us at first. She treated my parents as her parents more and would often cry when she is being hold by me or Vanessa. Maybe somewhere deep down at that time she felt a sense of sorrow for us not being there for her. Still to this day I haven’t felt like I made it up to her, I don’t know if I ever can.

“Hey darling go and watch your movie while daddy make a call ok?” I said patting her on the head. “Ok daddy,” she said skipping back to the ground in front of the tv watching whatever new Disney princess movie that came out that year. Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes and I ready myself for this.

“Ring, ring, ring”

I softly said “Hello... June?”

“Hello David, so is this the start of the next phase?” she answers excitedly. She was really getting into character. Smiling and laughing on the inside I answer “Yes, babe it is. How was your day so far?”

“Nothing much just looking for other jobs while waiting for your call.” She said enthusiastically while scrolling on her phone.

Seeing where the children were at, I reply “Ah that’s great. I was hoping we can meet up soon again.” As I was talking to June on the phone Trish came to me. “Daddy who are you talking too?” Moving my phone away from me I replied to her “Oh darling it’s no one, just daddy special friend.” I said then I continue talking to June “I hope you wear what you did last time it was perfect.”

“ok daddy,” Trish said skipping back to her movie. Then Kennon was crying because he woke up from his nap. Taking the phone with me I went to go pick up Kennon. Even though my heart was breaking from what I was doing I knew that this would be one of the crucial parts of the plan. Kids tend to tell adults everything that happens and Trish will probably inform Vanessa of what I was doing.

The doorbell rings as Trish yells out “Mommy home!!!” Hearing so I quickly said, “I’ll talk to you later, love you.”

“Goodbye David,” She replies hanging up on me.

Vanessa coming into the dining room where I was holding Kennon said, “How was babysitting today?”

“It was fine, Kennon just woke up from a nap though.” I answer holding and rocking Kennon. She gave me a concern look and replies “That will be bad it is already so late.” Acting annoyed I answer, “Nothing I could have had done about it.” She took a deep sigh and replies “I guess.”