Jack drove around the city for hours. His mind was consumed with thoughts of what he just learned. His wife had just admitted cheating on him. Worse was who she was cheating on him with. Anything would be easier to deal with than this. He finally ran out of places to drive, so he pulled into the driveway at home. He sat in the car for a few minutes. Finally getting out when his neighbor peered thru the curtains of her window. He looked like a torn man. He still loved Terri. That much was certain. They needed to talk and see if their marriage could be salvaged.
He walked thru the door to his home quietly. He noticed that there were no lights on. He walked into the living room and started to sit on the couch when he heard a voice say "Careful, you might sit on me."
Jack sprang up faster than anything. Terri was sitting in the dark on the couch. She sat up and tucked her knees under her chin. She looked like a little girl sitting there. He wanted to rush over and comfort her. Tell her that everything was going to be okay. The thing was, he wasn't exactly sure if everything was going to be okay. So he asked a neutral question "Where are the kids?"
Terri sighed and said "They are at mom's." A very basic answer to a very basic and neutral question. He shook his head and walked into the kitchen. He grabbed two glasses out of the cabinet and took out a carton of milk. He poured each of them a glass and walked back out to the living room. He handed a glass to Terri and said "Drink this."
She smiled sadly and said "Thanks Jack. Can we talk?"
Jack knew they should, but wasn't wanting to hear his wife say that she was leaving him for another man. She looked so sad at what his silence didn't say that finally he looked at her and said "Let's talk."
She sighed heavily and said "I never meant to hurt you Jack. You have to know that."
"The only thing I know is that I feel as though my heart has been ripped apart! I love you Terri!!"
"I love you too Jack! You have to believe me. I never meant for any of this to happen."
"Yet you didn't do anything to stop it!! You could have easily walked away from him!! You could have told him no!! Anything but what you did!! Didn't our vows mean anything to you Ter!!?"
"How can you ask me that Jack!? I love you with everything I have!! You have to believe me Jack!"
"I don't know what to believe Terri. I am numb right now! I can't think about anything but seeing you kiss Larry. Do you know how much that hurt me Terri?"
Terri is silent. She merely nods. She has tears in her eyes. For the first time she realizes what she stands to loose. She knows that her marriage is on the brink of collapse. She takes Jack's hand and leads him to the couch. He sits beside her and stares blankly ahead. She lays her head on his shoulder and cries softly. The fact that he doesn't push her away speaks volumes. It makes Terri realize that she has a shot to save her marriage. She looks up at Jack and says "I love you Jack. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. I…."
Jack looks down at her with eyes that are filled with love. Despite everything, he realizes that he still loves her. Terri looks up at him and he says "I want to know everything that happened. Most importantly I want to know one thing!"
"Anything…."
Jack looks at her and says "Am I a terrible husband? Why did you have to turn to Larry of all people? Do you love him? Do you still want to stay married to him?"
Terri takes a deep breath before she begins to talk.
Finally after a few moments she says "You are a wonderful husband. A great father and the best person I have ever known."
Jack looks at her and says "Then what made you…."
Terri holds up her hand and says "I don't know. I think it was because I was feeling unloved. You and the kids were always so involved with your video games and I was always on the outside looking in."
"Why didn't you say something? Let me know how you felt!?"
Terri shrugs and says "Would it have made a difference? Would you have believed me? Could you have seen your own faults? Seriously, I didn't know how to explain it to myself let alone you!!"
Jack puts his hands on either side of her face and says "Do you still love him?"
Terri shakes her head emphatically and says "No!! Loving him was never an issue!! There is only one man I love. That is you Jack!!"
Jack nods and says "Even though you have given me every reason in the world to doubt you!! I believe you!! I still love you Terri!!"
Terri lets out a breath that she didn't realize she had been holding in. She smiles thru her tears and says "I love you Jack!!"
Jack nods and says "I love you too Terri! More than you can ever possibly know."
Terri rests her head on Jack's chest. They both stare into the darkness……