The Affair
1. Revelations & Pie
Friday, March 20th 2020
12:00 PM
"Hmmph! Men!"
"Now what, Sam?"
"I kicked his ass out last night, and filed for divorce this morning. I caught the bastard cheating, again!"
"Yeah, well Sam, I won't say I'm sorry. I think you're well rid of that weasel. I never did like him anyway. You know, I didn't ever tell you this, but… Oh, here comes Carly."
"Hey guys…"
"Hi Carl's"
"Carly"
"So, what are you two conspiring about?"
"Well Carly, if you want to continue playing Miss. Matchmaker your going to have to start helping me find guys for Sam as well as gals for me."
"Why? What's happened Sam?"
Sam begins a semi blow by blow recount of the last few days with her soon to be ex husband, Phil.
The three best friends meeting for lunch isn't unusual. It happens every third Friday of every month, rain or shine, good times or bad, with few exceptions. Being ill only brings the other two to you with remedies. Out of town or holidays meant rescheduling before hand. Childbirth meant Fred and Sam taking turns feeding Carly ice chips while George, Carly's husband, got some rest. But that's another story in itself. Lunch was at noon, every third Friday of every month, period. They took turns making reservations. Reservations were always, only, for three.
Sam continues her story through ordering, serving and dining. Just as the waiter stops to replenish beverages and ask about desert, Sam finishes.
"…this morning I filed suit, I'm done with the SOB. I took Phil back the first time, uh uh, not again."
"Anyone like to see the desert menu?" the waiter asked.
"Don't need one, thanks. The lovely brunette will have cherry pie a la mode, the gorgeous blond will have triple chocolate cheesecake and I'll have key lime pie. Coffee all around also please. Cream and sugar as well."
"Freddie, some day I want you to teach George how to order like that. I never get tired of listening to you order desert for us."
"Yep Benson, ya still got it, smoothest nub I know…"
"Yeah, uh huh…" he said.
They all had a good laugh.
Saturday, April 11th 2020
8:30 PM
Damn! Where did I put that phone… Ah coat rack, coat pocket… It's Sam's ring alright.
"Hey Demon"
"Dork, I need a favor"
"s'up"
"I'm at The Spot Club, on Madison and 2nd. Can you come get me? I came with a girlfriend from work that seems to have gotten lucky."
"On it. I know the place. Any income opportunities?"
"In fact, yes… I'm at the bar. ETA?"
"About 20. Adios."
Sam placed her phone on silent and put it on the bar directly in front of her. The person on her left was with a date. The guy to her right had tried to chat her up a couple times. Sam looked at him, and smiled…
Soon her cell flashed with a text message; 'here, ready'. Sam turned to the fellow on her right and yelled, "WHAT DID YOU JUST ASK ME?" The poor guy just sputtered and stuttered trying to keep from getting involved in a scene. "DON'T TOUCH ME THERE YOU BASTARD!" Sam yelled, now the guy was backing away muttering something about not touching you or talking to you, whatever. He retreated to a table with some friends over by the far wall. Freddie, standing just inside the entrance, walked over toward him.
"Dude, what did you do to that gal?" Fred asked.
"Nothing, the bitch is nuts!"
"Nah, you just didn't handle her right, I saw the whole thing."
The guy's friends were split on who was right, but…
"Tell ya what, fifty says I can buy her a drink inside of five minutes. Two hundred says I can take her home inside of half an hour."
"Yeah right, that's your girlfriend or wife, huh."
"Nope, neither one. Just another blond in a hot green dress. You wanna do this?"
"Who's gonna hold the cash?"
"Bartender. Winner cuts him in ten percent, deal?"
"Done."
The two men shake hands and go to the opposite end of the bar from Sam. Fred calls the bartender over and explains the bet. The bartender shrugs and sticks the four hundred fifty dollars in his shirt pocket. The other fifty he stuffs in his pants pocket.
Fred goes over and sits on the stool next to Sam and orders a drink.
"OK, smile and get friendly. I have to buy you a drink now and have you out of here in about twenty minutes."
Sam looks over at Freddie and nods, smiles and puts her hand on his back. Their drinks arrive.
"So your friend got lucky, met a guy? I haven't been in a bar in forever. No wonder I quit going to clubs, look at what's here."
"Yeah, well at least she knew the guy. Old college flame or something. They left already. I don't know why I let her talk me into coming tonight. I hate night clubs and the 'singles scene'."
"Yeah Sam, you and me both. At least we'll pick up a couple bucks before we leave here."
"I've been meaning to ask, what was it you were going to tell me at our last lunch? Just before Carly walked up. It sounded like you didn't want Carly to know what it was."
"Hmm, oh yeah! No, it's ok with me if Carly knows this. It just slipped my mind. Now, get this. My ex Shelly was one of your ex, Phil's conquests. While she and I were still together."
"Well hell Freddie. That means they were having an affair just before I took Phil back the first time. Why didn't you tell me?"
"They both told me they had ended it. I had already started the divorce proceedings against Shelly. You had just taken Phil back, and seemed happy. I didn't want to screw up your chance. I'm sorry, I guess I should have, but, I didn't."
"Well, it wouldn't have made a difference I guess, or maybe it would have, who knows. I don't now if I could have kept that a secret from you, regardless of the consequences. I'm just glad to be rid of the asshole. But thanks for telling me. Do you ever hear from Shelly?"
"Yes, in fact. It was just a couple months ago. She came by the house one Saturday afternoon. She said she wanted to try again. I'll tell ya Sam, I was tempted. She was looking real hot. But all that baggage that goes with the ride just wasn't worth it to me. We chatted for about fifteen minutes. Then I lied and told her I had a date and that she needed to leave. Emotionally that was the right decision."
Sam smirked "Yeah, and was that the right decision physically?"
"No… but like I said, all that baggage… I just don't want to deal with all the baggage. Look, time to go. Let's make some money."
Sam and Freddie stood up. Sam gave him a hug and took his hand, leading him toward the door. Fred stopped for a moment, pretended to whisper something in Sam's ear and returned to the bar. He called the bartender over, made eye contact with the guy he had bet, and smiled. The loser nodded, and the bartender hands Fred the money.
Sam and Fred get in his car and head toward I-5. He gives Sam the money…
"Four fifty huh? A hundred each. You doubled the bet! The bastard must have called me some name."
"Yeah, he called you a bitch, so it cost him extra."
"Not bad, dork. Not bad at all… Here's your three fifty."
"Yep, not bad at all, demon…"