I would have liked to have more pictures in a few places, but it would have exceeded the limit and messed up my chapter plans. So, I apologize for the hefty dialogue!
This chapter (and the next) includes sexual themes and censored curse words. Personally, I don’t use curse words, but felt it was the only way to express the level of emotion I was going for. It probably looks awkward to have stars in the words, but I didn’t want to offend anyone!
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Emilio kept his word and was home a lot more after the twins were born. He was totally in love with his new little girls. I really enjoyed having the time off from playing housewife while he took care of me and the kids.



But all things must eventually come to an end. In a few months Emilio came home excited about something and wanted to take me to dinner. I was more than happy to have a real date with him and called Kelli to take care of the twins. She was always excited to watch the girls, as she wasn’t ready to have children of her own yet.

“I have great news for us Kat!” he announced over appetizers. My curiosity was peaked. “You know we’ve been under a great deal of financial strain since the girls were born, with you having to quit your job to take care of them. The less shares I represent, the less money I make. Well, my higher ups met and agreed to give me that big promotion I’ve been gunning for! I’ll be representing some of the firm’s biggest clients, and we’ll finally be able to afford a bigger house, start college funds for the girls, you name it!”

I raised an eyebrow. “But let me guess… you have to work more hours, right?”
His look confirmed it without words.

“Emilio, I don’t care about the money; we’ll make it somehow. I just want you to be home with the girls. I want them to grow up knowing their father.”

“I know you do honey, but can’t you be happy for me? This is a big deal! It’s what I’ve been working for!”

“Of course I’m happy for you.” I smiled and congratulated my husband. I was happy that my husband was successful, but it was hard taking care of two infants alone.

The girls became my everything. Caring for them took my mind off the loneliness that engulfed my life.



Before I knew it, my infants had grown into toddlers. Gabriella was a feisty little 2 year old with dark auburn hair like her daddy. She was always snatching toys from her sister and banging away at the baby xylophone Emilio had bought her. Isabella, on the other hand, with her golden brown hair, was a sweet and loving child. She enjoyed helping me feed the cat and liked to snuggle up with me as I read storybooks.

Sophia had planned a trip up to see me while Pete was on business in California. She brought her son Patrick, who’d grown into a handsome little boy.

I called Kelli and she rushed right over, eager to see her old friend, and we sat down to eat brunch.



Patrick was telling me about his summer while Kelli told Sophia about Emilio’s new job.

“Kelli, I think you were right,” I said, suddenly turning to their conversation. “I think Emilio is cheating on me.”



Sophia interrupted me by loudly clearing her throat. Throwing me an embarrassed look she turned to her son, “Um, Patrick, why don’t you take your cousins and go play in the living room, okay sweetie?”



“But Mooooom , I’m not done eating!” he protested.

“Son, please go play with your cousins and let the grown-ups talk. You can have a snack in a little while if you’re still hungry,” Sophia said gently but sternly.

“Yes ma’am.”



Patrick let the girls out of their bouncers and they followed him like little ducklings to the living room. Gabby went straight to her favorite toy and Isabella sat watching her older cousin play with race cars, fascinated by his ‘vroom’ noises.



Once the children were out of earshot, the two women turned on me almost viciously, rapidly asking question after question.

“What do you mean he’s cheating?”

“I told you he was scum.”

“Did you catch him?”

“I’m gonna kill that b*stard!”

“Men are such pigs.”

“You must be so angry.”

“What are you going to do?”



“Whoa whoa, slow down! First of all, I don’t know if he is… I just suspect it.”

“Why? What did he do?” Kelli asked.

“You know you told me to look for signs? Well… first of all, he changed his cologne. When I told him I liked the old scent better, he denied that he’d even changed it. He must be wearing it for a new woman. Also, there have been a lot of hang up calls at the house when I answer. And sometimes when Emilio gets a call on his cell phone, he leaves the room like he doesn’t want me to hear the conversation. One time he answered the house phone and got mad at the caller saying ‘I told you never to call the house!’”



“Oh my gosh, that’s so obvious!” Sophia fumed.

“I know, that’s what I thought, but he insisted it was just someone from work who he’d asked not to call him at home unless there was an emergency at the office.”

“Wait, do you think it really was someone from work? Maybe he’s having an affair with a coworker,” Kelli suggested.

“Actually… that’s what I suspect. See, he has this gorgeous little blonde haired, blue eyed, fake tanned, fake lashed, fake breasted secretary,” I said, recalling the image of the woman in question.



“I mean, what man couldn’t resist her, she exudes sex appeal. And more than her physical appearance, after she found out I was Emilio’s wife she’s always been rude to me when I visit the office. The whole thing is just fishy…”

“Sweetie, I’m sorry,” Kelli said apologetically, “but if it smells like a cheat, and acts like a cheat… he’s a cheat!”



“I agree,” chimed in Sophia. “You need to figure out what to do about this Kat. Are you going to confront him? And if he IS having an affair, are you going to stay with him, or leave? You can’t keep letting him walk all over you.”

“I know, but what about the girls? They need a father,” I said.

“Exactly. They need a FATHER, not a jack-hole that treats their mother like crap and gets away with it.”

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That night, Emilio snuck in half past midnight.



I had been sleeping lightly and awoke at sounds of him rustling around the room. This was it, the moment I had to come face to face with my issues. The girls were asleep and we were alone. Moments like this were few and far between, I had to confront him…



“Where have you been?” I demanded, trying to remain calm.

“Work,” Emilio huffed.

“Bull. The office closes at 6 and I’m tired of you coming home late,” I couldn’t tell, but I was practically yelling.

“I work overtime! You know that!”

“Til midnight? Every day? I’m not buying it Emilio?!”



“Oh, but you have no problem buying everything else. New stuff, new clothes, new toys for the girls… THEY HAVE PLENTY OF FREAKING TOYS KAT! I’m the one making that money you spend.”

“That isn’t fair! I had to quit my job to take care of the twins. And I have to buy new clothes, because my old ones don’t fit anymore.”

“Well maybe if you’d get off your fat a*s and do more than sit around here eating and trying to control me, you could fit into your old clothes!”



“Oh, oh, I’d like to see carry twins and not gain any weight!!”

“Whatever, I don’t have to justify myself to you! I’m out of here.” Emilio started grabbing his things and throwing them into a duffel bag.

I totally panicked, where was he going? When would he come back? Would he come back? I followed him around begging him to stay.

“It doesn’t have to be like this… W-we can work it out…” but he continued packing in silence. “Noooo! Baby… please don’t go!” I cried hysterically.

Wrenching his arm from my grasp, Emilio turned his back on me and walked out the front door. I collapsed on the floor, sobbing so loud that I barely heard his car drive away.

After crying my heart out for several minutes, I realized my sobs weren’t the only resounding throughout the house. Alarmed by the shouting and my moans, Gabby and Isabella had woken up afraid. I ran to their room and comforted my babies, repeating that Daddy would be home soon, more for my benefit than theirs.

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Emilio didn’t come home the next day, or the day after that. In fact, he stayed gone for a full week. At first I had thought he just needed some time and space, that he would come back in his own time. But now I was frantically making phone calls to his office to no avail. The little blonde brat of a secretary always told me he was busy, or not there. Liar. When I tried his cell he wouldn’t answer. I went from leaving nasty messages on his voicemail, to pleading him to come home between sobs of grief.

That weekend I had taken Gabby and Isabella to visit my grandparents. On the way home I dropped the girls off with Kelli and Damion. Fed up with the thought of returning to an empty house, I decided it was time to find my husband. I’d called some nearby hotels… nothing. He was either staying with his mistress, whose number I didn’t have (or want), or at his office. Not knowing how to track down the former, I headed to the latter of my options and hoped for the best.



The whole building was dark. When I tried the door, it was unlocked. I walked through the familiar corridors, rode the elevator to the third floor, and rounded the corner to my husband’s office. Reception was totally empty, no sign of blondie.



I heard a muffled sound and stopped dead in my tracks, terrified that I was wrong, no one was here except for night security who would catch me in the office after hours and take me in for suspected burglary. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or horrified when I realized the sounds were coming from Emilio’s office. He was in there alright.



I approached the door and turned the knob. Was he… crying? No… it sounded more like… panting.



There, in the darkened office, was my husband. I saw it all, every detail of the crude act before my eyes. The image of the two lovers was burned into my brain. Emilio and Trevor…



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Next time: Dealing with the aftermath, will Kat and Emilio work things out, or is this marriage doomed?

Sorry to all the Emilio fans! I know you were rooting for him, but this is just the way it happened.