by Tom Fowler

Created on: July 29, 2008

Middle Age Mistakes

1.

Duane listened as she backed out of the driveway. He did not rise from the table to wave good-bye from the front window, as he would have done years ago. Instead, the sound of the Honda fading in the distance told him she was on her way.

He would be home alone this week, a fact he had mixed emotions about. He still loved his wife, but knew she no longer loved him. As he finished his coffee and cigarette, he remembered that two years ago, she threatened to kill him.

It was his fault, he knew, as he cleaned the kitchen table and loaded the dishwasher. A meaningless fling with Sherry Hoke ruined his marriage. He laughed a silent, bitter laugh to himself that a couple of evenings in a motel room with a young girl who wasn't even good company cost him so much. Well, at least Deborah Ann was better company and better between the sheets.

Duane Adams liked Deborah Ann Gardner very much. 20 years younger than he and modestly attractive, they met a year ago when she came to work for Brook's Automotive, where Duane was service manager. They hit it off right away and the affair blossomed when each learned of the other's unhappiness at home.

Duane was a man's man. Standing six-feet, six inches and weighing 230 pounds, he was well tanned and heavily muscled. His sandy blonde hair complemented a ruddy complexion very nicely. Duane was rugged, and healthy, and wore his 44 years well. He was a handsome man who attracted women easily.

The big difference in Duane and Deborah Ann was that, while Duane still loved Barbara and wanted to repair his marriage, Deborah didn't care about her husband in the slightest. Duane wondered why, if she didn't care about her marriage anymore, she didn't divorce William. At the same time, Deborah wondered why, if Duane still loved his wife, he shared a cheap motel bed with her. The answer, of course, was that they filled an emotional need for each other, so neither asked questions.

As Duane finished cleaning up before leaving for work, he thought that it would be easier than usual to see Deborah a time or two this week. At least, easier for him, he thought. Deborah had to be careful of William, who had beaten her in the past. Duane was not proud of himself for getting involved in a situation like this. If only Barbara would forgive him.

Duane had hurt her terribly. He felt guilty over it and was brooding this morning, knowing that Barbara would be out of town all week. She probably wouldn't miss him. Indeed, he was certain she wouldn't.

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