The Other Half

One

     "Do you just tell lies to make yourself feel better? Or to make me feel better?" Kinleigh asked, as she slowly raised her head from her folded arms that laid on the kitchen table. She had heard it all before. She had heard him say 'it was a mistake' or 'it'll never happen again' many times before. And it was always followed with, 'but baby, I love you. They didn't mean anything, they were just there - it just happened.' Kinleigh knew she had a choice to make. Stay with Wyatt or end a marriage of twenty-five years, be a divorcee with two children, in her early forties - entering the dating arena again.

     It was a decision that she always had put off, from the first time it had happened. She believed him when he said it would never happen again. But, the second time hit - next the third. It never seemed to stop - he never seemed like he could control himself around anyone younger than 40. There were some college girls, some women that are parents of his kid's friends. There were some co-workers, even his boss. He couldn't turn off his charm and charisma around beautiful women - he also couldn't turn off his sexual needs for other women. But, around Kinleigh, he was nothing like he was around other women. Maybe it was because they met their sixth-grade year, and got married when Kinleigh was eighteen. Or maybe it was because after having two kids and a full-time job, Wyatt didn't think Kinleigh had enough energy for him.

     "I know I have said it all before, but I am serious this time. I am done. They meant nothing. They are nothing." He paused, clenching his fist around the edge of the kitchen countertop, avoiding eye contact. "Honey, please just don't give up on us. Think of the kids, and how hurt they will be if they found out th-,"

     "That their father is a low-life disgusting man-whore that can't be bothered to stay faithful to his wife of twenty-five years!" Kinleigh stood up in a huff of anger. Wyatt just looked at her, in awe. He had never seen her that upset in the thirty-two years of knowing her. "That's it. I'm done. I am done pretending like I am okay with this. I am done knowing that while I am here, protecting and still building the life we have built together. You. You are out there banging some blonde headed bimbo college girl who works at Hooters! I am just done. I have no more fight left in me, you have taken that. You have taken all the fight and all the love that I have left in me." She sat on the couch, placing her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. She thought for a moment. "When Holden gets home from school, we're gonna leave. We are going to go stay somewhere, I don't know where yet. But, we can't stay here. I can't sleep in that bed one more night, I can't put on a fake smile in front of the kids when I kiss you goodbye in the morning while they are eating breakfast. I can't, and I will no longer live in this fake life that you have put me into. I deserve as much as you to be happy."

     Wyatt unhanded the kitchen countertop, he clenched his teeth and grabbed a cup from the cabinet behind him. Proceeding, he grabbed the bottle of bourbon and poured him a tall stout glass. Wyatt only drank when he was going to lose his temper. Kinleigh knew that he was past mad, he was becoming cold and distant.

     "No." A simple word, but it sent Kinleigh into shock. "You will not be taking the kids. You can go, you can go and do whatever you want to. But, you will not be taking my kids. You're right, you shouldn't live in a fake life if you aren't happy. You. And only you should leave. They have a life here, and they still have school. You are right the kids will never look at me the same. But at least they know that they still have everything here. Now, I'm not going to sit here and pretend like losing you is going to hurt, but I will get over it. I love you and I always will. But, I don't think I am in love with you anymore."

     A wave of shock and relief washed over Kinleigh as those words were pushed out of Wyatt's mouth with hate and brutality. But also with a love that has grown over the past three decades.

     They had been together for thirty-two years. They were the couple that everyone wanted to be in high school. They weren't the average couple that people think when they tell their love story. They weren't homecoming king and queen or prom king and queen, they were president and vice-president of the drama club. Active members of their school's volunteer club. They were your average high school couple that some people said they would last, while others didn't. They got married soon after high school graduation, they attended different colleges across the state from each other, but that didn't stop their love. One weekend was spent at Kinleigh's place, while the next was spent at Wyatt's. They graduated college and soon after they bought their first house, a two bedroom, one bath fixer upper - their dream house. Years passed, and Kinleigh was pregnant with their first child - Holden. Three years after Holden was born, she is pregnant with their second child - Brinley.

     After Brinley was born, that's when things started going downhill. With a three-year-old and a newborn Wyatt became more distant from Kinleigh. Working later hours at the agency, going out late at night, having more 'guy' trips. Anything to not be home with Kinleigh and the children. She just thought he was trying to take his mind of being a new father again, and all the responsibilities it entailed. But, once Brinley turned one - she thought it would stop, but it continued to go on. He was gone for longer and longer - rarely home. Taking more out of town 'business meetings', more late nights at the office.