Did She Suspect, Submission 3 by Brian Zook

Their marriage was in shatters, but rekindling an old flame was not what he had in mind. He thought there would be no harm in looking up a college girlfriend and catching up over a drink. He just needed to sort through some things with somebody who understood him. His recollection of his former flame was that she was a good listener, unlike his wife, who came across as increasingly aloof.

He looked up her number and called her.

How long had it been? Eight years?

“Yeah, let’s get together.”

He was honest with his wife. Told her he was seeing an “old girlfriend” for a drink, and she didn’t ask any questions.

So there he was, sitting at the designated bar waiting for his former girlfriend to walk in. She peeked in, as if she wasn’t sure if this was the meeting place. She saw him and smiled. She was just as he remembered her. Brunette. Spunky. Fun. Just a few additional wrinkles around her eyes.

They quickly ran through their “How’ve you been’s” and “Remember when’s” and got down to more serious catching up. He found out she was recently divorced. She kept talking about her adjustment to being a divorcée and inability to cope alone. He felt obligated to help, but knew his boundaries. After a couple of drinks they parted and he promised to keep in touch. It was an overall pleasant encounter between old friends, and it felt good to unload, but he didn’t like seeing her so sad.

A chance encounter with her the following month lead to another friendly chat and another invitation to meet more formally. This time they decided to get together at a restaurant that he suggested, and she told him to invite his wife. He made some excuse about his wife hardly ever being around and told her it would just be him.

So they met again.

Again, over dinner, the divorce came up. He expressed his concern. She thanked him. He felt strangely attracted to her, but remained professionally platonic.

Is this being unfaithful? No, nothing had happened. He had even told his wife that he was meeting her again, this time for dinner.

“So who is she, just out of curiosity?” asked his wife.

Other than an intrigued look on her face when he mentioned her name and who she was married to, she was cool with it. Cool?

Did she suspect?

Did she know?

Did she even care?

Another encounter was arranged between the old friends. This time she chose the restaurant and it was more cozy. At one point during dinner, during a particularly vulnerable remark that he was making, she reached out and briefly placed her hand on his. He let her. She quickly withdrew her hand and visibly blushed. He gave an awkward smile, but he was just trying to be polite. Then he reached for her hand, and they held hands across the table. His heart was beating audibly, and his mind was just a blur. What were they, teenagers again?

Slippery slope. Point of no return?

Oh, but the thrill!

Nip this in the bud, he thought. Later that night after he got home and after much mental turmoil, he called her and told her he couldn’t see her again. She understood. The tryst was over.

Next, he decided to confess his wandering heart to his wife. He assured her that nothing had happened. Not even a kiss. Just friends catching up.

His wife listened at first, then smiled and finally burst out laughing. She couldn’t contain herself. The irony was unbearable. She finally leaned over and told him uncharacteristically bluntly:

“Honey, why do you think she’s divorced? I’m having an affair with her husband!”