The Secret Garden Of Martha Grim.
By Richard A. Lopez (c) 1992

Page 6.....

After that day, little things kept popping into John's suspicions. A work glove or shirt, tools left behind to be conveniently picked up on the next weeks visit. John ached deep inside, at the pit of his stomach, every time he thought of that slime putting his hands on her, letting alone being in the same bed with her. What was worse, was that Ann expected the same from him! Finally, when he could no longer keep his suspicions to himself, he confronted Ann with the allegation that she and Cole were having an affair. An affair, that was a laugh. They were screwing each other like dogs in heat! Matter of fact, that's just how he put it to her. Talk about righteous indignation. Ann was furious at the thought of even remotely having anything to do with the likes of Willie Cole, especially in the bedroom. John cited what had led to his suspicions, the items he found, the new found sexual attitude. He stated it wasn't like her to turn their bedroom into a porn movie set. That was it. She let loose on him with a verbal assault that he had never seen. As to the items left behind by Cole, if he was a forgetful idiot, it was by no fault of hers. She had no power over his being an imbecile. As for the bedroom, well, just because she felt that their love-life needed a bit of spicing up, and that their marriage could benefit from trying a few "different" things, well, if he didn't like it, then his prudish ass could plan on sleeping in the spare bedroom from now on!

That was six weeks ago. Their marriage had become one of convenience. They were cordial to each other, but that was all. John set himself up in the spare bedroom, next to Tommy's room. Tommy, he was confused at first, but like all kids, he adjusted by thinking mommy and daddy were just playing a silly game.
Sure, it was a game, alright. Except the only one having fun was Ann. He was sure that she and Cole were still at it. One day he even caught him coming out of the house, just as he pulled up into the driveway. Willie said that Mrs.Hawkins had been good enough to let him use the bathroom. When John went into the house, Ann just gave him a contemptuous look and went into the bedroom, the door slamming shut behind her.
He knew she wanted out, he felt it deep in his soul. Either she didn't have the guts to leave, or was going to try for a big divorce settlement. John didn't care...Hell, he'd pay her to go, just so long as she left him and Tommy alone. He knew she didn't want Tommy, wouldn't take him, and he'd be damned if that bastard Cole would raise his son. No, Tommy would never go with her, he was sure of it. Besides, if it came down to it, he'd play the affair card. He'd been gathering evidence, just in case she tried to do something stupid or sneaky. "You want out", he thought to himself..."Fine, but you go alone...not with my son."
It was all a matter of time, he thought as he watched Cole speed off after Martha Grim. John closed the car door, and carried his son house. "Not in a million years, right sport?" he said to his son.
Tommy just looked at him and giggled...daddy was silly.

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to be continued