Seasons of Change

51

Brad had assumed she wasn't interested or had forgotten about him so her DM was a pleasant surprise. Was it shady to be swapping nudes and videos with his brother's ex-girlfriend? Probably. But Brad didn't care, Heather hadn't been someone Krist had been serious about. Who was he kidding? Even if she had been, it wouldn't have stopped Brad.

Heather was a freak, even by his standards. They talked about feeling unfulfilled by their spouses and having to resort to infidelity because their needs weren't being met. She still lived with her husband, she was a stay-at-home mother. Jeremy, her husband, made good money as a general contractor so her financial needs were met but he had begun to suffer from erectile dysfunction after his long-term steroid use.

She told Brad he still went down on her and used toys but it was boring. Her entire life had become boring, she said. Heather woke up, made breakfast for the family, packed lunches, went to the gym, and came home to clean and watch television until everyone returned. Then it was time for dinner, bedtimes, and a bottle of wine alone before bed. Day in and day out.

Brad let her know he was living alone, once again claiming to be in the process of separation and invited her out to breakfast on his Monday off.

She rolled up in her white SUV, hair done, makeup on point, dressed like every other Suburban wine mom in leggings, a white shirt with a scarf, and boots.

"I forgot how tall you were," she smiled appreciatively.

"You're pretty tall for a woman," he told her, something he liked.

He felt a little weird taking her out to breakfast being that they were both married but he was interested in her, beyond just the sex aspect.

She ordered a mimosa with her meal, followed by two more. Brad simply had water as he wasn't a drinker. They shared a common disdain for parenthood, Heather told Brad she only had her kids because Jeremy desperately wanted to be a father and it seemed like the thing to do at the time.

"Now, don't get me wrong, I love the little shits," she told him, "But I wasn't cut out for motherhood. I need my space, I need to be my own person. I need to be Heather, you know?"

Brad nodded, "I completely understand. I never even wanted kids but Madi got knocked up, and claims she couldn't get pregnant."

Heather looked appalled, "Oh you know that sneaky bitch knew she could! Seen it time and time again with these bitches."

"I feel like she did," he agreed.

After breakfast, she followed him back to his house for some mind-blowing sex. It had been hard to even let her go home, Brad wanted her to himself for a while but she had kids to tend to and a limp-dick husband to answer to.

Over the next few weeks, Heather came by every morning after the kids went to school, before he had to work which turned into her coming over after they went to bed and finally her staying the entire weekend with her phone shut off so Jeremy couldn't reach her.

He knew she was cheating, made threats to her, and threatened to find out who the other man was and "take care of it" but Brad wasn't intimidated.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Brad casually threw it out there that she should just leave limp-dick and move in with him. They were compatible, she could stay home and he could give her the things she wanted and Jeremy could handle the life he wanted for himself with the kids.

Heather had rolled over to face him, laughing hysterically. Brad felt like a bumbling dipshit for a moment until she said, "I have been thinking the same thing! I didn't want to bring it up and scare you off."

So they hopped into her Suburban and decided to go grab her things. The kids were at their grandparents' as Jeremy was more than a mess with Heather gone. When the two entered the sprawling McMansion, Jeremy was sitting on his leather sofa, eyes swollen, face red.

"Where have you been?" he sobbed, and then he saw Brad, staring at him with red eyes, "You are leaving me for him."

Heather nodded, a smirk on her face, "I'm done, Jeremy. You know I've been done."

There was no confrontation or physical altercation. Heather simply gathered her belongings into a few plastic bags while Jeremy wept in the living room. It was pathetic, really.

"See what I mean?" Heather asked Brad as she backed out of her driveway, "He turned into a little bitch, crying. Dick doesn't work. Why would I stay with him?"

They returned to the house, Heather eagerly tossing Madison's things into black garbage bags as she put her things into the closet. Brad understood he should have felt guilty but he didn't, he felt relief.

That same night, he texted Madison to let her know he would be going to the courthouse to file for divorce. He expected some sort of pushback from her or some sort of fit, instead, she simply replied with, "Ok, just let me know what I need to sign. If you could bring me the rest of mine and Gwenny's things, that would be much appreciated."

It seemed ridiculous but he almost felt offended that Madison had taken it so easily. Was she fucking around on him the whole time? 

Whatever. He was going to be free of Madison and that's what mattered.

****

Madison stared at her phone, mouth agape. No way did he offer to divorce her. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised, he had been cheating, she knew that...it was such a freaking relief, though she was hesitant to be too excited.

"Linda?" Madison called softly, stepping into the living room.

Linda was sitting in her recliner, crocheting a blanket for Audrey, "Hey, what's up?"

Madison handed her the phone so that she could read Brad's text, trying not to smile. Linda looked up at her, trying to gauge her reaction, "This is good, right?" She finally asked.

Madison sat down on the floor with Gwendolyn, "I know he's your son and all...but phew...I feel like a weight is lifted off of my shoulders."

Linda nodded, she understood exactly how Madison felt. When she and Marcus finally got those papers filed, she'd never felt more exhilarated in her entire life. Free! She was free!

"Madi, I can have Bill look over the papers before you sign anything. I don't want you to agree to something you will regret," she said gently, "I don't trust Brad to attempt to do things in a way that is fair to you."

"How so?"

Linda sighed, "Well, child support for starters. He hasn't done much anyway, make sure you get everything you're entitled to."