Dave Brown sat in his formal lounge room in his recliner. Facing his chair was an empty couch. Between his chair and the couch was a coffee table with three champagne flutes on it, one full, two empty. Next to the table was a bottle of the stuff in an ice bucket. Anyone observing him as he relaxed at 7:02 p.m. that night may have been slightly worried when he spoke clearly.
Right. I hear a car in the driveway. But there were no observers. Dave was alone in the room. He continued to sit there looking relaxed as the front door opened.
It wasn't within sight of where he sat, but he immediately heard his wife's voice. Where are you, Dave? In the formal lounge, Deb, Dave replied. Dave stood abruptly as his wife entered through the archway. She was gripping the hand of a man perhaps 5 years younger than her 49 years.
He was slim, of about average height, and wearing a business suit. In her other hand, she held an A4 orange envelope. Um Dave, this is Michael. Michael, this is my husband, Dave. Noting her averted eyes and generally nervous demeanor, Dave took three steps and shook the intruder's hand warmly.
I'm very pleased to meet you, Michael. Do you mind if I call you Mike? Not at all, sir. He replied. Oh, please, Dave will be fine.
Can I offer you a glass of champagne? Please, won't you both take a seat? Dave watched as two very confused people sat on the couch and took the offered glasses after he filled them. Cheers. Now, do you mind telling this simple soul what's going on?
Deborah and Mike looked at each other. Mike gave an almost imperceptible nod and squeezed her hand. Um Dave, there's no nice way of saying this, so I'll just come straight out with it. Michael and I have fallen in love. I would like a divorce so we can get married.
She stopped, waiting to feel her husband's wrath. Raising her gaze from the floor so she could see the expression on Dave's face. This was going to be ugly. She just knew it. It can't have sunk in yet.
His face remained neutral. Unconsciously, she moved slightly closer to Mike. Okay, Deb. Are those the divorce papers? Dave asked.
Deb looked up again, stunned. She'd rehearsed this scene many times in her head, but never in her wildest dreams did it ever go like this. She looked at Mike and tried to convey with her eyes, "I don't know what to say. Michael stepped up to the plate. He took the envelope from Deb and placed it on the table.
"Yes, Dave, they are. I think you will find them very reasonable. Deb is asking for nothing from you but her car. In the packet is her quitclaim on this house, your car, all your joint assets, and your retirement fund. Everything is signed and notarized from our side.
I should warn you that I am a lawyer, so everything is watertight, but feel free to engage your own representative to reassure yourself. "Well, I must say you have both been very generous. Dave replied calmly. Deb was still looking very nervous, like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. "That was Mike's idea, Dave.
In fact, he insisted. He said it was bad enough that he was stealing your wife without taking your hard-earned assets as well. It was in no way my motivation, but Mike is quite wealthy. Even without your money, we will have more than you and I would ever have owned, Dave. Deb spoke nervously.
"Hm. Maybe that might have been different if you'd got a job after the kids were old enough and helped out with the finances, Deb. Deb just dropped her eyes again. So, Mike, is your wife going to get a similar speech to this one or has she already received it? Dave asked.
No. My wife died 8 years ago. I'm a widower. Mike replied. I'm sorry to hear that, Mike.
Really. Thank you, Dave. It hurt like hell for a year or so. But time heals all wounds as they say. Look, I'm really sorry about this, but I met Deb and she was like the missing half of my soul.
I didn't think I would ever be complete again. I wanted to tell you that I loved your wife months ago, but she talked me out of it. That's fine, Mike. I've never been one to harbor grudges. Please marry her with my blessing.
Dave replied calmly. Mike and Deb exchanged bemused looks. Deb because it was so different from what she'd expected. Then, she felt a huge sense of relief. Months ago, she'd led Michael to believe that her marriage to Dave was on the rocks.
That they were trying to save it. But hopes weren't high. She knew that the weak point in her plan was Dave's reaction making Mike see that wasn't exactly true. That's why she'd begged Mike to do all this without a face-to-face confrontation. Mike insisted that true men sorted out problems face-to-face.
He refused to be swayed. Mike was bemused because even with Deb telling him that her marriage was on its last legs, he'd expected an angrier reaction to the announcement that it wasn't going to be saved. He'd developed a mental picture of Dave from Deb's descriptions. From what she said, he was a big, uneducated man used to sorting out problems with his fists. Mike had tarried with the idea of bringing a bodyguard along tonight, but finally dismissed that thought.
In the back of his mind was that if the aggrieved husband roughed him up a bit, it may ease his own conscience slightly. His own feelings of decency were giving him a very hard time with all this. So, Deb, I presume you met Mike at one of your girls' nights out? Dave asked. Deb nodded at the coffee table.
One of the girls' nights out that you assured me were totally harmless and no threat to our marriage when I raised concerns. Deb nodded at the floor this time. I think there's a lesson for you there, Mikey-boy. Mike glanced at Deb. Deb's eyes moved to a section of the floor a little further away from Mike.
So, what happens now, people? Come on, you must have a plan. You're giving me the house, so I presume you were going to pack your things, Deb, and move to his house. Please, don't let me stop you. I was going to do that tomorrow while you were at work, Deb replied.
By tomorrow, the locks will be changed. I'm sure your lawyer friend will agree that's a wise thing for me to do. Simpler if you do it now, don't you think? Deb and Mike rose to go upstairs to get started. How about you stay and we can talk, Mike?