Guess What! I can update now because I have internet access in North Carolina, but I can only update one chapter. Too bad. Next time I might update my other story called Changes, but since this story is getting a lot of good reviews then I don't know.

Oh also this takes place on Christmas Day, but the characters really do not talk about Christmas much.

Gordo spent the night in Miranda's spare guestroom since Gordo was too tired to go home. They had been trying to cook up a plan all night about what to do with Lizzie's husband. They both knew that they needed to tell, but they were afraid that Lizzie might not believe them and shun them from her house.

"Gordo wake up," yelled Miranda in his ear.

"What," cried Gordo?

"I brought you some breakfast, geese; all I was trying to tell you was that I know how to convince Lizzie."

"How?"

"Well, let's just take it one step at a time. We can't tell Lizzie about what happened because she might kick us out of her house and then we might never have the chance to tell convince her again. So, we first figure out when Lizzie's husband is going off to a bar or some place to meet his girlfriend. Then we bring Lizzie to where that place is and she'll see what is happening between the two lovebirds," explained Miranda.

"That's a great plan, but what if Carl actually tells Lizzie what his destination is and he is actually going to that place and he really isn't meeting his boss, girlfriend, whatever," questioned Gordo?

"Well we will first see where he is going to go, so we follow him and see where he is going then if he is meeting his girlfriend then you stay at the place while I go get Lizzie. But, if they try to leave, try to make them stay without getting caught."

"How can I do that without getting caught?"

"You'll think of something, but right now, let's just concentrate on step 1 and then we will worry about the bigger things later on."

Gordo nodded his head and didn't even bother to eat the breakfast that Miranda had prepared for him because he was determined to show Lizzie that her husband was a liar and a cheater. He hopped in his clothes after he shooed Miranda out the door.

Miranda banged on his door and asked, "Aren't you going to eat breakfast?"

"Nope, why bother when we have a crisis on our hands," Gordo said anxiously.

"I bet you were longing to say that line once in your life," laughed Miranda.
Gordo nodded his head and just to make Miranda happy, he ate the bagel that she prepared for him. Then he grabbed her hand and they both ran out the door to start Phase 1.

Meanwhile at home, Lizzie had been noticing some peculiar behavior from her husband and her son. The son looked innocent, but her husband didn't, but it looked like the son knew something that Lizzie and his sister did not know. She wondered just why her husband had been gone so much these days because he wasn't at all like that when she first met him. Carl was the sweet guy who she knew ever since she started college. When she graduated from college, Carl took her to the nicest restaurant in the entire town and then took her dancing afterwards to a jazz center. Whenever she needed him, he would be right there for her. But now it seemed that whenever she needed him he was never there and when he needed her she always welcomed him with open arms. But now those days were over and now it seemed like she was just scum, worthless scum.

Her son entered the door and as soon as he saw his mother he started to run, because she knew that there was something suspicious going on that she didn't know of.

"Halt right there young man, where are you going and what do you know that I don't know," asked Lizzie?

"Well I am going to call um, Gordo and ask him something and nothing is up, I am just playing outside with my dog," said the little boy with guilty eyes. The boy wasn't lying about the Gordo part, but he was not telling the truth about that nothing was up because the boy saw his father with another women. He saw everything from the kissing part to the hand holding. And he was sworn to secrecy by his father that if he ever said a peep about this to anyone that he would be beaten alive.

"We do not have a dog," replied Lizzie.

"Of course not, silly me, why would I say that," the boy said and without another word he raced upstairs to call Gordo and tell him what he saw about his father and another women.

The phone rang on Gordo's cell phone and he picked it up without thinking who it would be, but to his surprise it was Michael, Lizzie's son crying on the other line.

"Michael, what is it, is everything alright," asked Gordo?

"No, my father....he has a....girlfriend and I saw them kissing....and—," the boy stumbled over his words with tears in his eyes because he couldn't believe he was saying this. If his father ever found out about it he would whip him alive. "he said to me that if I ever told..."

"Tell me Michael," commanded Gordo in a gentle voice. "I will protect you and everything will be alright if you tell me."

"He would beat me alive," finished the boy.

Gordo almost dropped the phone and there was a moment of silence on the phone. He couldn't believe that such a funny, charming man, that nothing Gordo would ever have, would cheat, lie, and harm someone who didn't do any harm to him.

"Michael, I absolutely believe you because I saw the same thing in a bar. Was it that lady with the big hair," questioned Gordo?

"Yeah, but please don't tell my dad," instructed the boy.

"Don't worry, I have a plan and I will clue you in it unless you do not want us to do this plan."

"Ever since day one I have hated my father, but Abby has never hated my father because he has never done anything to her. I will do anything to protect my mother from being hurt."

"Okay here is the plan..," said Gordo as he told the boy the plan.

Neither Michael nor Gordo knew that Lizzie was on the other line listening to every word that they were saying. She could believe it, but she had to see it for herself. Sure she believe her son, she didn't want to believe her son, but she did because that is why it explained all those times Michael went out and came back so late with a smile on his face and always smelled like lady's perfume. But, she had to get proof, and see exactly what he was doing with this woman.

Miranda drove over to Lizzie's beautiful house to pick up Michael and to figure out where exactly Carl was going out tonight. She walked up the brick stairs and rang the doorbell where there Lizzie opened the door with tears in her eyes.

"What's the matter," asked Miranda?

"Just watching a sad movie," cried Lizzie.

"Tell me Lizzie, you can tell me anything remember."

Lizzie looked up at Miranda and began to break down and she wondered what was wrong with Lizzie. Maybe Michael got into a fight again at school or maybe, just maybe...

"Michael is cheating on me," stated Lizzie.

"How do you know," asked Miranda?

"I overheard Michael and Gordo talking on the phone and for a second I didn't believe it, but Michael is my son and of course I would believe him. Also, why is my husband never here for the important thing like Christmas? Why is he never home is just the point? And why does he smell like lady's perfume when he comes home every night? Why, why," sobbed Lizzie.

Miranda comforted her and said, "We knew this all along, ever since last night when Gordo came to my doorstep. He really does care about you, but for right now we can deal with this later. I know you don't want to do this, but my opinion is to catch him in action and then you can file a divorce. I know you don't want to do this, but who wants a lying, cheating husband who could hurt your son."

"I know, I am ready to file that divorce. I will do anything to protect my family and friends."

Miranda smiled and hugged Lizzie. Then Gordo came up behind Miranda and Lizzie and questioned, "What's wrong?"

"Gordo, I heard everything about what happened when you were talking to Michael. I just want to let you know that I am filing a divorce to protect Michael and Abby. And if it weren't for you, I would of never known the truth," said Lizzie.

She pulled him into a hug, and Gordo thought that was the closest thing that would happen between them, but after she hugged him, she planted a kiss on his cheek. This wasn't a thank you kiss; it was more of a make-up kiss from all the years of denying their feelings for each other.

Well that is the end of Chapter 3, after this, there is more to come. A lot more, after Lizzie gets her divorce there will still be more problems up ahead.