I spent some time looking at the photograph on WhatsApp of my wife, Maggie, and her partner for the evening, Michael. Michael looked young, but I guessed he was in his early thirties from what I knew. Maggie looked younger than a woman in her mid-forties with two grown children. Michael was well over six foot and appeared very fit as might be expected of a former marine. He was clearly an attractive man and I was trying to work out if I was jealous, cross or just very excited.
Should Maggie have told me beforehand that Michael was black? Did she genuinely think that the colour of his skin shouldn’t matter, or at least it shouldn’t, so she would be making a point if she had mentioned it?
After a few minutes considering this, I noticed that the photo had received a couple of comments from their colleagues at Maggie’s school, who were part of the group who could also see the photo.
The first comment said, “Stunning couple.” The second said, “You both look wonderful.” A third said, “Be good, and if you can’t be good, be careful!!!” I could feel the jealousy building up inside. This is not how I wanted to be. I knew the comments were just teasing. They would know Maggie, and how she was. I wanted to be stronger, and more confident about my relationship with her.
The next comment to arrive was from a female colleague called Sue, whom I had met a few times at various social occasions: “You both look great. I envy you, Maggie. You have a great husband. Mine would never agree for me to go to an evening in London without him.”
That made me feel a bit better. Maybe not everyone would feel that I was simply weak.
Then another comment appeared from another female: “Agree with Sue. Your husband is the best, and you are the most loyal wifey I know. Great what you’re doing for Michael. Enjoy the evening. Celebrate. GO, GIRL!”
I realised that at least some of Maggie’s colleagues knew that our marriage was strong. This wasn’t about anything other than a work’s night out and my caring wife wanting to make sure her colleague was supported on his special evening.
I was determined not to spend the whole evening getting into a state and letting jealousy consume me. I trusted Maggie, and it all felt different from the evening of the rugby dinner with Simon. We had come on a long way since then.
As if on cue, I received a message from Kat: “Hi Paul, seen the picture. Just wanted to check how you’re coping. Simon and I are going down to the pub. Love you to join us. Hopefully, Debbie and Dave coming too.”
I wondered if they were always going to go to the pub, or whether Kat had organised it when she saw the photo of Maggie and Michael and realised how it might make me feel. Although I had been planning an evening in on my own, it seemed right to accept her offer and so I replied, telling her I would see them there. I sent a text to Maggie: “You and Michael looking good. Off to the pub to meet the usual suspects. Px”
I felt pleased with myself. I had worked through the shock of seeing Maggie with Michael, and I genuinely wanted her to enjoy herself. When I got to the pub, I saw that Maggie had replied to me: “Love you even more. Don’t worry, Michael being the perfect gentleman XX”
At the pub, I found Kat and Simon. Debbie joined us shortly after. She told us that Dave had got a few things to do but might join us later. I wondered if this was part of the fallout from the trip to the rugby tournament, when Dave was unhappy with Debbie and Simon’s antics.
Before much was said, Simon saw a couple of people he knew at the bar, and he left me with Kat and Debbie and joined an animated conversation with his friends. I was very happy to be left in the company of two of my favourite female friends.
The conversation moved quickly to Maggie’s night out in London. Debbie hadn’t known about it and she was eager to get all the details. Kat showed her the picture of Maggie with Michael from WhatsApp. She was impressed.
“Wow, Maggie has bagged herself a hot guy. She looks stunning and very un-Maggie like in that dress. They say once you go black, you never go back.”
“Debbie!” exclaimed Kat, giving Debbie a hard nudge and pointing at me.
Debbie turned to me and quickly added, “sorry Paul, I didn’t think she was going to do anything bad. It just reminded me of a saying, which I don’t even believe, or at least I’ve had no experience to know one way or another. Anyway, knowing Maggie, it’s just so interesting to see her out on her own. Or rather, not on her own, but without you. I know that she’ll always be the perfect wife. Which is why I both love her and hate her at the same time.”
I feared that Debbie was talking quickly and struggling not to offend me. I helped out.
“It’s all good, Debbie. Maggie’s out with a colleague, although I have to admit that he’s much younger and fitter than me. But we’ve discussed it and it’s fine.”
“You don’t think she’ll get into any trouble? I mean, if there’s glamour, champagne and a hunky young guy by your side, even sweet angelic Maggie could be tempted if she’s not tucked up in her own bed before midnight.”
Obviously, if Debbie was in Maggie’s place, she would want to have some fun with Michael.
“Maybe we should explain a few more things about Maggie to you,” I said as I looked directly at Kat.
Kat looked back and raised her eyebrows. “Should you check with Maggie before you say too much?” she asked.
“Debbie and I had a chat at the tournament. I think we can trust her to be discreet, and not even tell Dave things that I tell her in confidence. Is that right, Debbie?”
“Absolutely. I’m dying to know more so you can’t leave it like this. Just tell me what I need to agree. I’ll sign anything you want, but I have to know more. It was Dave’s decision not to come out tonight, so it’s his own fault if he misses out.”
Kat picked up on what Debbie said. “Are you and Dave alright?”
“We’ll sort it out. Probably. I’ll tell you more another time. I need to know about what Maggie’s been up to. TELL ME.”
We got a few strange looks from others nearby in the pub as Debbie raised her voice. She was clearly not going to let things drop.
I didn’t go into too much detail but I did explain to Debbie that before the rugby dinner Maggie and Simon had ended up making out after drinking too much at the pub.
“I remember that night. I knew that there was something going on when Simon needed a partner for his rugby dinner,” said Debbie triumphantly. “You both acted strangely.”
I told Debbie that things had gone a lot further after the rugby dinner and dance, but that we had managed to cope with that. At the weekend by the coast, Kat and I had become involved, and finally, we had more fun after the rugby tournament.
Debbie listened in increasingly stunned silence. It was very unusual for someone who, in my experience, normally talked continuously. She finally found her voice again.
“I’m gobsmacked, and then gobsmacked again. Paul, you and Maggie are the darkest horses and also about the most exciting couple I know. And coming from me, that is a high honour.”
“You can’t tell anyone else. Not Dave or anyone. You have to promise.” I was concerned that Debbie was so shocked that she would forget the commitment she had made.
“I will tell no-one, not Dave or even Maggie unless and until you tell me it’s alright to do so. But I have to ask, what have you and Maggie agreed will happen with her hot date tonight?”
“He’s a work colleague, so there might be a little flirting, but Maggie doesn’t want to go further with someone she’ll be in a classroom with on Monday.”
“I get that, but given how she’s dressed and how stunning she’s looking, she’s bound to get his attention. If the evening takes a different turn, would you be that shocked?”
Put like that, I could see what Debbie was saying. She always did say what was on her mind.
“I guess I could cope, as long as I knew.”
“I’m sure Maggie would always want you to know, since she so clearly loves you. I’ve never heard her say a thing bad about you.”
Debbie’s words reassured me.
“You’re my perfect husband, I’m envious of Maggie and I’m so impressed with how you’re handling this,” said Kat. “Maggie was nervous with anticipation about tonight, but I know that she didn’t want anything to happen that would upset you and put you back in the situation you were a while ago after her first time with Simon.”
“Thanks for your support, Kat,” I said. “I’ve always felt a little in the shadow of Simon, so that means a lot.”
“I’d never try and steal you from Maggie, particularly since so much of what I know that’s good about you has come from what she has told me. But, if there ever was the tiniest chance that she ever did leave you, I’ll be the first to call, and I’m sure they’ll be others.”
“You bet,” added Debbie.
My ego was getting a nice boost, and I stopped feeling so threatened by events in London. I offered to buy the ladies another drink, and as I went to the bar, my phone buzzed again.
The time was a little before 10 pm, and a picture appeared on the WhatsApp group of Michael, Maggie and an important looking person giving Michael a glass trophy. The background screen said, “Best Innovate Programme in a Primary School”, with Michael’s name and the school’s name below it.
I felt pretty proud of my wife, and quickly comments were appearing from school colleagues congratulating them. I sent a message, just to Maggie: “So very proud. Enjoy the celebrations.”
When I returned to Kat and Debbie with the drinks, Kat had already seen the picture from the awards dinner and had shown Debbie.
“You must be even more proud of that wonderful wife of yours,” said Debbie.
I agreed that she had done very well.
“What do you think they will do to celebrate?”
“I don’t know, we haven’t discussed that. I guess more champagne.”
Debbie gave me a cheeky look. “Maybe a little more fun?”
“It is a special occasion,” added Kat.
“Whose side are you on? Am I becoming a victim of a sisterhood?” I asked. I felt I was being pressured and I wondered if Kat and Maggie had discussed this all along.
“Sorry, Paul. We’re probably envious of Maggie, but we don’t want you to be upset,” replied Kat. “Are you getting worried?”
“I wasn’t before, but maybe I should be?”
In reality, my closeness to Kat and Debbie made me feel more secure about Maggie and me. I was genuinely pleased for both Maggie and Michael, since I knew how hard they had worked, and it was rare for such effort to be acknowledged so publicly.
After another round of drinks, Simon joined us. We didn’t discuss the events between Maggie, Simon, me and Kat again. As we were getting ready to leave the pub at around 11 pm, Kat and I saw that another picture had been put on the WhatsApp group. It showed Michael and Maggie sitting side by side. Michael had his bow tie hanging undone around his neck, his shirt collar open and an arm around Maggie’s shoulder. Both of them looked very happy, and they were holding two flute glasses of bubbly. The message read “celebrating with one last glass of champagne. It’s been a blast.”
They looked happy in each other’s company. Kat touched my arm. “It’s going to be fine. Let them have their moment. I’m sure Maggie will show her appreciation when she gets home.”
I considered what Kat said. I really wished I was drinking champagne with Maggie and having a great evening with her looking so good in her posh frock. However, I also accepted that Maggie would never have gone through these changes and developed her confidence to wear clothes that showed what an attractive woman she is without the experiences she had with Simon. I could see that she would return from this evening with her confidence and self-esteem boosted further, which hopefully would open more possibilities for me and her.
“She might be rather tired, I don’t expect her home until lunchtime tomorrow.”
“Simon’s away early tomorrow to go fishing. So, if you want to talk, feel free to call.”
Kat was as caring as ever and we seemed to have a close bond.
I had enjoyed a fun evening with both Debbie and Kat, and I knew that my relationship with Maggie was stronger than either of their relationships with Dave and Simon. There also seemed a little sexual tension in the air and, at least for these two, the fact that I had agreed that Maggie should spend the evening with her young hunky colleague had not appeared to diminish my masculinity.
I sent back a message to Maggie: “Glad you’ve enjoyed the celebration – any further plans for the evening?”
Her reply didn’t take long to appear: “There’s dancing in the room next door, which sounds fun. Would you mind if we went to see what it’s like for a short while?”
I didn’t have to think for long before sending back: “Of course, that dress needs to be out on a dance floor.”
Her reply was simple: “Love you XX”
Debbie and Kat saw me on my phone and wanted to know if there were any further updates. While Simon was turned away, I told them that Maggie and Michael were going off to dance. They both gave me supportive hugs, and Debbie gave me an extra squeeze and she whispered, “If you’re ever lonely when Maggie is out on the town, you know my number.”
I just kissed her on the cheek, and said goodbye and took the walk back home. Alone again, I wanted to avoid spending much time thinking about things, and so I found an old film on Netflix. As I watched it, I started to doze off. I awoke as my mobile phone buzzed to notify me of a message from Maggie.
“Would you mind if I show Michael the view from my room? His room faces inwards and has no view. The lights and the park look so lovely. Please? XX”
I looked at my watch and saw that it was around an hour since they had been going off to dance. I felt calm and mellow after the evening at the pub. I sent a message back: “Sure, you have a special view to show him.”
I knew that my message was ambiguous, and that Maggie might recognise that. I had lost track of the film, and so I turned off the TV and got myself ready for bed, getting myself a cup of tea.
I went to bed a little before 12:30 am. As I was about to turn off the light, I was thinking of Maggie in her hotel in London with Michael and without me. I still felt calm and was pleased with myself for coping so much better than last time. A message popped up on the phone from Maggie.
“Michael likes the room. His is much smaller. Do you mind if he stays for one quick drink from the minibar?”
I wondered if she felt that she had to ask because of the high cost of drinks; we always avoided using minibars at upscale hotels. Or was she asking because of what she wanted to do with Michael in the room? I reasoned that things had got to the stage that it would be difficult to stop anything from happening even if I wanted to. I wondered if they had already gone further than two colleagues should go. At that moment, I was more excited than jealous. I messaged her back.
“It’s a special occasion, and a great room. Take advantage of it.”
I sent the message and thought a bit further. I was tired, and I was feeling quite turned on. I sent a further message.
“You’re a hot wife. You don’t need to check with me about anything else tonight. Just tell me everything tomorrow. I’m going to sleep now. Good night. Pxx.”
A reply quickly appeared.
“I love you. Sleep well. XX”
I took some time to get off to sleep, but after a restless sleep with many strange dreams, I woke up to use the bathroom. It was dark, and I felt a little lonely when I realised that Maggie’s side of the bed was empty. I checked my phone and it told me that it was just after 6 am. I saw that there was a new picture for me from Maggie, sent a couple of hours earlier. It was a picture of a pile of clothes on the floor. I could see that it included her dark blue dress pooled on the carpet along with a bow tie, dress shirt, trousers and the new platform bra that Maggie had been wearing.
There was a comment with the picture: “Hot wife at work XX”
