The Adulterer's Unofficial Guide to Family Vacations, A Novel Read Free Page B

the secretary and the copywriter.
    Tears started to form on the edge of my eyelashes.No point in stopping now.It’s dark and there’s no one here to see me.
    Scratch that.My body jerked in surprise as the door next to me opened and a dark figure stepped outside beside me.There wasn’t anything I could do.All doors on this level opened onto the same walkway.I wished I was invisible.
    “Dammit Susan!I thought you said you were coming out here to join me and the kids later in the week!”
    Unbelievable.Is there an epidemic of abandoned spouses?Did the staff know that when they relocated me?
    “I know, but that case was over last week!”Another non-refundable, Florida vacation that had to be acted upon.I should’ve felt a bit embarrassed at my eavesdropping, but I was fascinated that my next door neighbor has the same exact problem as me.
    “Yeah, I’ll keep my cell phone on.”Something sounded a bit familiar . . . not just the situation.I couldn’t put my finger on it.
    “Whatever.”I could hear a woman on the other end arguing as he clicked off the phone.He stood with his back to me, leaning with his arms on the railing.Obviously, he didn’t know I was there and had witnessed his little meltdown.Now, I just felt uncomfortable.Any second he’d turn and see me and think I’m some snoopy freak.I should say something.
    “Um, hey, sounds like you’re in the same boat as me,” I tried to sound friendly.I lifted another bottle of beer to his back in the darkness, “Would you like one of these?”
    The man straightened, as if I had startled him, then he whirled around to face me.It was dim, but once again I felt that something was very familiar about him.Nonsense, I told myself, you’re an idiot.
    “Laura?”He asked.
    I froze, still holding the beer in front of me, “What did you say?”
    He stepped closer.I could just see his eyes.A chill swept through me like a déjà vu with a perverted sense of humor.
    “Alan?”It was barely a whisper.
    He nodded, and I thought I could make out a similar look of shock on his face, “I think I will take you up on that bottle.”
     

 
    Chapter 3
     
    “Alan?”I repeated myself as he took the bottle from my hand.
    He opened the bottle with a simple twist, brought it to his lips and drank.Then I realized my mouth was still hanging open.
    Alan James.Alan James, the first, serious love of my life, was sitting next to me, apparently in the same situation I was in.How bizarre.
    “How long has it been?” Alan squinted at me, eyes adjusting to the lack of light.
    “It . . . it must be about twenty years?”I stammered out a reply, sounding a little like an idiot.I wanted to slap myself, but feared that might look too strange.Alan pulled a chair out of his room and sat next to me.
    “Twenty years . . .” he sat back in his chair and took another swallow, “I think you’re right.”
    We sat together in silence for a few moments, not really knowing what to say.Our situation was so strange I guess we had to let it sink in it for a moment.
    Never being one to bear awkward silences well, I broke the fast of conversation, “So, your wife bailed on you and . . .”  
    “Yes.You too, eh?”He seemed to be just as surprised that I also ended up this way.
    “Yeah.It’s just me and the twins.” I wondered if it really was possible to die of embarrassment.
    “Twins?How old?”
    Was he really interested?Or just making small talk?
    “Jenny and Ben are five.Yours?”
    He smiled, “Alice is five, Jack is four.”
    Another silence.I struggled to recall the last time I saw him, but the memory was too hazy.Foggy images of a tavern near campus danced into view.I took another swallow of the beer to clear my head.
    “And here we are, in the same predicament?Isn’t that a bit strange?” I fumbled, not knowing what else to say.
    He laughed, “A bit strange?Hell, I think it’s the most unlikely thing in the world!”
    I had to agree. In all honesty, I wasn’t sure how I felt about