The Business Trip Read online

  I could not face what Erika was saying to me. How could she not understand after a year of me pouring out to her, she said she got it but her approach was way off because that would not solve a thing.

  “OK. Let’s take it from that angle.”

  “You are leaving to see her in a couple of days, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Go see her but do not tell her it is the last time you will be together. Keep her happy and smiling. When you get here tell her it is OK for her to see other people because it is not fair that you be with your family and she is left alone. She will cry and says she can’t do it but you are going to encourage her but she won’t, that’s when you are going to say that in order for her not to get stuck in that position waiting for something she will never have, you will have to end it to force her to take that step. Then you end it. She will be devastated then she will get angry then she will go.”

  I almost laugh inside at how easy she thought that would work.

  “So what will happen with me?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You didn’t factor me in that little plot?”

  “Ah...yes. You will be depressed but you will have your life in tact and your daughter will continue in the loving home she has been growing up in. You have a very successful life and you have to tighten your belt and do what you have to do to protect the life you have because I am telling you again, in order to get Alison, you will lose everything. Your family, your parents your brother and your sister, grandparents everyone will side with Sydney on this. You will not be supported on this move. Is it worth it?”

  “Yes. It is. If you were inside me or just be a fly on the wall when we are together, then you would know how much Alison and I need each other. You are right. Being with her meant losing everything and that everything includes Taila, it means crushing Sydney, it meant disappointing everyone I know and I have to now weigh which of these I will be able to survive.”

  I took up my bag to leave.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To see if you are right. I am going to my mom.”

  “No! That’s a terrible idea. The least people know about this, the better it will be.”

  “She is my mother. If she can’t understand then I can forget about everyone else understanding, including you.”

  “You have kept this from her for a year, there is a reason you did and you have suffered as a result of this affair. Why reveal it now?”

  “Because I am about to lose Alison. She can’t take anymore.”

  “Then lose her!”

  “Then what happens to me? You keep leaving me out of your little ideas. I have to go,” I said and went out the door.

  +++

  I was more confused than ever but at least Erika gave me a plan. It was not one I was interested in but at least it was better than the none I had. I drove to my mother, knowing that she has gone to bed but I needed her and she will have to wake up for this.

  I used my key to let myself in and unarm the house. I locked the door behind me and headed to my parents’ bedroom and knocked on the door.

  “Mom? Mom?” I called then I heard her voice.

  “Logan! What’s the matter?” she asked opening the door.

  “Can I talk to you a minute? Please?”

  “Of course, honey. Come let me make some tea,” she said and I followed her into the kitchen.

  I sat at the table as she got the water ready and placed two cups on the counter.

  “How is Sydney? Is she OK?” She asked with her back still turned to me.

  “Yes, she is fine. Maybe worried that I have not reached home but I called her to tell her that I was going to Erika.”

  “Did you go to Erika?”

  “That’s where I am coming from.”

  I knew my mother was trying to get some idea of why I came and woke her out of bed and immediately she assumed it had to do with something at home so I bet she was confused now because I didn’t tell her that Sydney was upset.

  “So what is on your mind?” she asked, placing the cup of tea in front of me that I knew I was not going to drink.

  “I am in trouble and I don’t know how I am going to get out of it. I have been keeping it to myself for a year but now I need to do something and I don’t know what to do. I turn to you, Mom, because I don’t know where or who else to go to about this,” I cried.

  “Honey, what is it? What trouble are you in?”

  I took a deep breath because once it was out, there was no way to take back the words.

  “I met someone in New York on a business trip and I fell in love with her.”

  “Continue,” my mother said, not looking frightened but she must have been.

  “I have been in turmoil for a year now because I know what I have to lose. I tried so hard to forget her but I can’t. Sydney is such a good wife and mother and I can’t imagine destroying my family but I can’t walk away from Alison without feeling like I am going to die,” I said pleading for understanding from my mother.

  “You know, Logan. You are the only gay person in this family and for years I thought something was wrong with you; I was so worried because you never introduced or brought anyone home. When you told us you were in love, we didn’t care if it was a bear, we were just relieved that you found love. Then we met Sidney and got to know her and I could not be more proud of your choice, it made up for all the worry I had for you before. Now, I can sleep peacefully in my bed because my three children are successful and happily married. So what is this? What are you trying to do to this family?”

  “Mom...I am not…”

  “We are happy, Logan. Are you not happy with Sydney?”

  “Of course I am…”

  “Then it is sex?”

  “No! It is not that…”

  “Then what could cause you to want to redo perfection?”

  “Love. I love her. I feel like she was made for me, I was meant to be with her.”

  My mother took a sip of her tea and told me to do the same. I did but I tasted nothing because I was dying to hear her next words.

  “I knew who I was meant to be with. His name was Jerry Bailey. I loved that man to the ground he walked on. We were made for each other but he was irresponsible and he was an alcoholic. He hurt me in so many ways but I believed that my love would eventually change him because when he was sober, he made me feel like a princess. I believed he loved me too. Then I met your father and he knew how much I loved Jerry. I could not hide it and your father said to me ‘You deserve a better man than that. He loves you and you love him, but the man, you deserve better than him. I am better. Our passion and love may not be as intense but it will be consistent.’ Those were his word. Your father promised to make me consistently happy and loved and that’s what he delivered. What would have happened to me with Jerry? I would have loved him straight into the hole he went. I chose to walk away from the love I had because I deserved a better man. Now, my story is not your story but you have consistent, happy love. You have a daughter who would never be the same if you leave. After your father and I got together, I was devastated for a while but he understood where he took me from and he had to be patient but it was easier for me because he knew and was willing to help me through it. When I think of Jerry, I remember how I felt then but it has no effect on how I feel now for your father. I love him and he loves me. We built a wonderful life together. Breaking away from Jerry took everything from me but I got tough and went through a moment of immense pain for a lifetime of happiness. That is my story. Make yours. I just want you to know that you will not have my blessing to leave your family for this woman and I don’t care if the love is dripping of both of you like honey. I can’t hate you because you are my child but I am sure I will come close to it,” she said getting up from the table. “Let yourself out.”

  I watched with my mouth wide open as she walked out the kitchen and left me with my eyes blinded with tears. I took up both our cups and emptied the conte
nts in the sink. I washed them and put them to drain then just stood there and let the tears flow. Erika was right. I would have to lose it all to be with Alison.

  CHAPTER 2

  I left my parents’ house and drove in the direction of mine, my thoughts jumping all over the place from one scenario to the other. My mother said my dad helped her to get over the intense love she had for Jerry and I wondered if Sydney would do that if I told her. Would she forgive me and helped me through it? She would but that would be so unfair to her and painful because I would have to admit that I was cheating on her for almost a year.

  I drove into the garage and prayed that Sydney was already in bed. The thought had barely left my mind when the door to the dining room opened.

  She came around to the driver’s side and opened the door as I gathered my briefcase and my phone. I got out of the car and gave her a quick kiss.

  “Hey. Sorry for keeping you up. I was hoping you would be in bed,” I said and headed inside the house while she walked behind me.

  “I tried but I couldn’t sleep and I was calling you but got no reply. I just figure if you were at Erika’s then you would be safe. I tried calling Erika too but she didn’t pick up. Something is definitely going on with her,” Sydney said and I almost fell down the stairs.

  “W-what do you mean?”

  “She is Tai’s godmother and she used to be so involved, I could not get her to stay away but for a while now she has all but kept her distance except for the few times we dropped her off for their games date. Have you noticed?”

  “Not really. She has been getting a lot of work and has been complaining about how tired she was. I just think things have changed with her so we have to go along with that. She has a life.”

  “I know,” she said as she sat in the bathroom watching me take off my clothes to get in the shower. “Are you going to tell me why you were crying?”

  “I wasn’t,” I said, adding to the trillions of lies I told over the past year.

  “You know if something was bothering you, you can tell me right?”

  “I know.”

  “You can talk to me about anything at all and we can work through it together. Your happiness is very important to me.”

  “Thanks, babe,” I said as the water beat down on my body.

  “I noticed a pattern.”

  “What pattern?”

  “When something is bothering you, you stay late at the office.”

  “That’s a pattern of having a rough day. I am starving, honey. Can you make me a plate?” I asked dying for her to leave so that I don’t start spilling everything.

  “OK, baby. Anything special?”

  “No. I’ll eat whatever is on the plate.”

  Sydney left and I rested on the shower glass and closed my eyes and there she was. Alison. The most beautiful woman I have ever met. I held my breasts in my hands and gently caressed them but they were her hands on me, I opened my eyes and her beautiful blue dreamy eyes looked back at me. Gorgeous pink lips transformed into a smile and two dimples appeared at the side of her face. I fought the image from my mind and hurriedly got out of the shower but I could not shake the burning of my body that yearned for her touch. I needed to see Alison. I had to try Erika’s method and see if that would work but I couldn’t wait a couple of days because this thing was killing me.

  I got dressed in pajamas and ran downstairs to the kitchen.

  “That was a long shower,” Sydney said and put a plate before me.

  “Thanks, babe,” I said and it really was too late to be having this meal but I had not eaten since early breakfast and would certainly die in my sleep if I did not have a good meal.

  “What would you like to drink?”

  “Water is fine. Thank you. What news did Tai bring home today?”

  “Oh, her friend Josh got a bloody nose because another child was playing and his elbow accidentally hit him. There was blood everywhere, she said.”

  “Wow. I hope that doesn’t happen to Taila because they don’t like when I pay the school a visit.”

  “You should go to the school when good things happen and not only when bad things happen,” Sydney said.

  “Why would I go when good things happen? Like what?”

  “Like when they had the open house with all the work that the children did and your daughter’s miniature tree house got featured.”

  “I was away on business and I was the one who built the damn tree house, so what are you talking about?”

  “Don’t get upset. I am not arguing with you. I am just saying that there have been good things that happen at school that you have missed. I have not missed one.”

  “Baby, you are a professor, five minutes away from Taila’s school and you leave work early so it is easier for you to make those trips. It is not so easy for me but I try to be involved as much as I can. I take her to soccer practice every Saturday when you are taking your beauty sleep. I go to all her recitals. I take her to ballet sometimes because it is in the afternoon when I have to…”

  “Logan, I am not questioning you duties as a mother. You are an excellent mother to our daughter. I am just saying that you storm into the school gun blazing when a hair falls from her head. It would be nice if they don’t expect trouble when they see you coming in. Go and speak to the teacher and ask how she is doing. You could take her tomorrow to school and make up for missing story night, then you can talk to the teacher.”

  “I have a business trip tomorrow,” I said looking at her like I did every time to see if she was on to me.

  “Did you take a third project in New York?” She asked looking annoyed.

  “No, I didn't.”

  “When will this one end?”

  “This is my last trip. I am just tying up some loose ends and then I will be home.”

  “How long will you be there?”

  “Maybe three days.”

  “I will put up with it this time because it is the last one but you have to take Tai to school tomorrow before you leave.”

  “I will,” I smiled. “You can got to bed because I have to make flight arrangements and do a few things before I come up.”

  “Well, if you come with me now and since you are leaving tomorrow,” she said sitting across my lap, “we could have some hot dirty sex.”

  “Fuck them tickets...race you upstairs,” and she laughed out and had to cover her mouth so we didn't wake Taila.

  She was out of her robe and her sexy negligee and on the bed in a flash. She was so beautiful and inviting. I removed my pajamas and climbed in bed with my wife. I always tried to stay focus on enjoying her but I was on the verge of losing Alison and that was messing with my head. I kissed Sydney gently tasting her soft luscious lips. Sydney's tongue came out to greet mine and we enjoyed each other's mouth.

  We have always had great sex and not deny each other whenever we wanted but I was losing the battle of keeping Alison out of my mind. I always tried very hard not to think about the other when we are having sex because I did not want to make the mistake of calling one the other’s name.

  “Is something wrong?” Sydney asked breaking away from our kiss.

  “No! Nothing,” I said and lowered my head to her breast.

  “Ah! Yea…” I heard Sydney as her nipple slipped into my mouth.

  I should not feel guilty for making love to my wife but this was what Alison spoke about, this was what kept her up at nights, the thought of me making love with someone else regardless of the fact that she was my wife. I thought about how I would feel if Alison was making love to someone else like I was doing right now, it would have killed me. I traveled down Sydney's belly and down between her legs. I focused on her, my wife, and licked at her pussy and enjoyed it too because I was going to New York to end my relationship with Alison then I would be doing a lot more of this for my beautiful wife. She deserved to have her pussy eaten good and I ensured that it did.

  I dove into her with my tongue then removed it and trailed it up
to her clit which I sucked and play with while she pulled my hair from its root. I didn't mind the pain because I loved that it kept me reminded on who was in charge of me, who I belonged to. I heard my name left Sydney’s tongue, warning me of her imminent explosion. I prepared for it and enjoyed every moment of her release. She wrapped her legs around me and held my head in place as wave after wave of pleasure consumed her. When she finally released me for air, I heard her gasped.