Dancing Ch. 02

Helen slipped into bed after a few more minutes teasing and drying her hair as I lay back watching her. She kept glancing at me in the reflection of her mirror I could feel her nervousness as she saw me watching her. I could detect and almost feel the guilt emanating from her across the bedroom. I smiled at her which seemed to unnerve her even more as she finished her hair and applied her night creams, all the while she felt my eyes on her but saying nothing. It was as if neither of us wanted to be the first to crack and say anything, a battle of wills almost, inwardly I was in turmoil and barely holding it together at this point.

Eventually Helen slid under the covers and clicked the bedside light off seeking the security of the dark as she whispered "Goodnight hun."

I lay in the dark my mind a whirl as I tried to process what I had discovered this evening. I was as sure as I could be that Helen was engaged in something with her dance partner or maybe it was the other guy I saw her dancing with. I did know that her underwear was soaked with what appeared to be semen or at the least her own juices, but in my mind I knew it to be the former. Now there was this trip to Blackpool that had surfaced from nowhere it seemed. I know it is the mecca for dancers but I don't recall any mention of this at the club but that could be explained I suppose. I then started to wonder about where she had been since 9.30pm and how fortuitous that she arrived home just before my usual finish time. Coincidence? Innocent? Maybe. No something was definitely going on here and as I lay in the dark listening to her steady breathing I committed to finding out exactly what and with who before I tipped my hand to her. Then there would be consequences.

I woke early to find Helen was already up and the smell of fresh coffee wafted from the kitchen. I followed the scent after a quick shower and dressing. I padded down the stairs and found her sat at the table scanning the newspaper. Breakfast TV was on in the background providing a soft murmur filling what could have been an awkward silence.

She looked up at me, her eyes looking over the rims of her glasses, for some reason I always found that such a sexy look, it was no different this morning and she knew it too.

"Morning lover, how are you this morning?"

I looked at her smiling although inside I was cautious, with the way I felt last night I didn't want to go off at her too soon so I put on my happy face.

"I am good babe all the better for a good night's sleep." I poured coffee and offered her a top up, she shook her head. Sitting down I grabbed some toast and took a bite as I looked at her trying to work out what she was thinking or indeed if I even knew who she was anymore.

"So how was dancing last night?" I asked as I grabbed the sport section of the paper and opening it up but looking at her over the edge of the paper. She didn't raise her head from looking down at her section of the paper as she replied.

"Oh you know, as usual it was the same crowd, anyway I told you that last night. Sorry but I was rather tired when you got in by the way." Her eyes never left the paper as she spoke.

"That's OK love, I was knackered myself so I wasn't expecting anything and I guessed you had had a busy day too, so is all good." I looked over at her again, she was still avoiding any eye contact, I smiled to myself. Is that guilt maybe?

"I have to go see a mate this morning, won't be too long though. Did you say something about a trip with the club or something last night I wasn't really paying attention is all?" I watched closely for any signs of any reaction from her.

She seemed to stiffen, just momentarily but then flipped a page of her paper over before she answered me.

"Oh yes, did I mention it? Oh I suppose I must have, well that's right a few of the dance group were discussing a trip to Blackpool, you know the Tower ballroom and all that. I don't know much about it but it is a weekend trip, one of the guys is looking at doing a booking for maybe a few of us at a hotel. I don't have any details yet or a date but it may be soon. Would you be OK with that?"

I looked at her as she tried to give me the gist of the trip without any details, she was giving a good performance that's for sure.

"Is it for couples? As in man and wife or just dance partners?" I asked casually.

"I don't think there are many places as it could be as few as four couples, so I think it is dance partners as there is the chance to dance at the ballroom there too. So places are limited. I won't put my name down to go if you don't want me to." She looked across at me over the rims of her glasses.

I held her gaze for a second or two as I thought about it, we had been away on weekends separately before so there was no reason to refuse or baulk at this one. However I had something to worry about this time. I played my best poker face.

"I am sure it will be a really special weekend and I know you have always wanted to go there so why not, go for it."

I was surprised by her as she seemed to leap from her seat and grab my face and plant her lips on mine with the hottest kiss I had at that time of the morning in some time.

"Oh Rick thank you, it means so much to me, I won't forget this I really wont. When I get back I will make it up to you thank you!" She gushed.

I prised myself free from her grasp as I tried to fathom out the sudden onrush of affection, I allowed myself a smug smile as I patted her on the ass as I got up to leave.

"I won't be long love, I need to drop by Alfie's, see you about lunchtime."

Helen was still smiling as I left, so was I. I had gotten through that without getting angry or tipping my hand, I was rather proud of myself. Then I thought that wasn't the point, here was I almost spying on my own wife who I now suspected of doing the dirty behind my back. What on earth state was our marriage in? That's if we indeed still had one.

I drove to my mate Alfie's place, we had known each other since school and played golf together every other weekend. It was normal for us to hang out together so Helen wouldn't be surprised at me going over there. He was married and had a couple of kids about the same age as mine so we had often shared tales of teenage angst and tantrums over a beer at the 19th hole in the past. I pulled up outside his place and he was pushing his mower along the front lawn.

"Hi Rick, what's the occasion? It's not Sunday is it?" He hollered as he turned and mowed away from me. I stood watching him as he turned and headed back towards me.

"You got something on your mind I can tell, I know that look, be with you in a minute. Go inside while I put this away, everybody's out so we won't be disturbed."

I went in through his open garage door and stepped into the house. It was quiet, as I wandered through to the kitchen I could see the trappings of his family everywhere, it felt like a home, lived in welcoming and comfortable.

I sat at the breakfast bar, checked the coffee machine was loaded, flipped the switch and waited. Alfie clattered through the doorway, he always was a clumsy so and so.

"So what is it Rick?" He sat facing me on a stool, concern filling his eyes.

"I am not sure, well I am as sure as I can be but I think, no I know Helen is stepping out on me." I watched his face as the words sank in.

"Fuck off Rick! You are kidding me! No way! You must be mistaken."

I sat silent as he looked at me.

"Oh my fucking God! You are serious!! Shit!! Tell me mate what can I do? Do you know who? How? Or where? I mean sorry but it's a shock you know. Whatever you need mate I am here for you OK? Are you really sure?"

I could feel my eyes filling up as my heart ached, I bit my lip as I looked at him. My best friend, I needed help I needed something I didn't know what yet but I definitely needed something.

Alfie put his hand on my shoulder.

"Fuck it! Come on man, we can deal with this, tell me what you know. I am assuming you haven't said anything to her yet?"

I tried to pull myself together and took a few deep breaths before I could answer him. For the nest several minutes I filled Alfie in on what I knew and what I had seen and now suspected. He sat back his face pale as he saw the effect it was taking on me I am sure I could tell by his face that this was serious too which in a way added to my distress.

As I finished my tale of woe I seemed to feel a little better I got a few tears out of the way too, what a wimp! I thought to myself.

"What are you going to do Rick? Confront her or what?"

"Yes I will do that but I need to know the extent of this, I get the feeling there is more to this. She is dropping hints about a trip to Blackpool soon with the dancers at the club so I have an idea that is a cover to have some extra fun."

I looked out the kitchen window at the manicured lawn and the apple trees that I had helped him plant a few years back. Alfie's eyes followed mine.

"I remember that too mate, was a great day and every year we get more apples as a reminder too. Mum would have loved them."

"Yes I know I used to love her apple pies, seemed fitting somehow to plant them in her memory." Alfie's mum had been so good to me after my own parents passed, she looked after me when I was a wayward teenager, I owed that woman so much. How I needed her wisdom now.

"If she was here she would slap Helen into next week for sure." We both laughed at that, she was a no nonsense East Ender, touch as old boots as they say but with a heart as big as a lion. No one messed with her kids or her family, she was fearless but always fair without question.

"So what are we going to do mate?" Alfie asked.

"I need to find out some more about the guys in that dance section, I saw one or two that I wouldn't trust with next door's cat let alone my wife. George and Brian, I don't know any others but those two are definite maybes."

"Rick, think logically if it is just those two, are they married? Do their partners or wives know what is going on? Are they involved?" He looked at me as I registered his questions. They were things I had not considered as yet although there were possibilities for some form of retribution there.

"I know I need information on the two guys she has mentioned already and somehow find out about the other members too, they all seemed to be very tight when I saw them the other evening though. So your guess is as good as mine. I have to keep it together until I know more. Just the thought of this is making my blood boil."

Alfie looked at his friend. "Hang in there mate, we will get to the bottom of this then maybe kick some ass too, OK? Look I will get Patty to maybe ask around the women and see if anything turns up on these guys in the meantime. Don't worry I will tell her to be careful we don't want to spook them."

"I appreciate that man, I do need help and someone to be in my corner at the moment. I think I will steer clear of the club for a few days in case I bump into one of them, so don't worry OK?"

We sat for another hour just talking round options and potential plans for revenge, some were outlandish of course but the mere fact I was thinking in that way seemed cathartic somehow. I looked at the clock it was after 1pm, Helen would be wondering where I was, well maybe I hoped, but there was no call to my mobile phone. I left Alfie with a promise to speak again tomorrow or as soon as there was any news.

Driving slowly back towards home, my mind weighed with thoughts of my wife. I thought we were OK, happy even. I never saw this coming but now with the veil of betrayal lifted a little I could see where there were opportunities and to be honest even small signs too. Hindsight is wonderful dammit.

I had blindly waved her off every week without a thought of any potential trouble, how stupid was I? How trusting too. Why didn't I just go with her? I had to get a grip if I was to face my wife, I couldn't allow what I knew to burst out and turn into a confrontation just yet. If I was to get any satisfaction from this affair I needed to get all of them, every last one of the bastards.

As I pulled into my driveway I saw the garage door was up and Helen's car wasn't there, I parked and went inside to an empty house. Thankfully both our kids were away staying with friends, having a great time too no doubt. I was glad of it really as I had to get control of myself and maybe take a look round to see if I could find any clues as to what was going on. I spent the next hour or so checking our PC and mail accounts for any clues, nothing! I had a quick look round upstairs, in her drawers and closets, again nothing! I sat in the kitchen frustrated and wondering where to look next. It seemed possible that there was no paper trail and it could all be word of mouth, would be safer that way and not leave anything to be found. There had to be something somewhere. I picked up my phone and stared at it, of course! It wouldn't be perfect but would be a start and may give some clues. I searched the play store and found a tracker, ok all I needed to do was load it onto my phone and Helen's then at least I may see where she was going. At least it was something, I just had to do something. I downloaded the software and set it up on my phone, when Helen came home I would do the same to hers if I could prise it from her grasp that is. Of course that is the place where any evidence if it exists will be located. I needed her phone! I had to get into it and check for messages and texts, there had to be something no matter how small I couldn't think of anywhere else and reasoned they had to communicate somehow.

A few minutes after 2pm I heard Helen's car pull into the driveway. The clicking of her heels on the brick paving echoed as she approached the front door. I looked towards the lounge door as she appeared, her eyes met mine and for a split second I saw something, nervousness? Fear maybe. I knew then she had been up to something and so fast after our brief chat earlier too. I watched as she dropped her handbag beside the sofa as she entered the kitchen. I smiled my best welcome home smile and offered to pour coffee, she nodded gratefully. We sat opposite each other at the breakfast bar as we sipped our coffees.

"How is Alfie?" she asked as if to fill the silence.

"He is good, we are thinking about a fishing trip as it happens, maybe while you are away dancing with your partners, if that's OK with you of course. Patty is interested in your trip too so if there is a spare place she would like to join you so if you could find out and let her know?"

I watched her face flush slightly before she replied.

"Oh that's a shame I found out just this morning that there are no places left now, I will make sure she gets to know when the next trip is arranged though."

She looked at me with a slightly troubled look on her face but the actor in her covered that with a belligerent look, almost smug before she quickly returned to normal.

She looked at me as she finished her coffee, I returned to looking through the sports section of the paper.

"I am going to get in the shower, I feel a little grubby OK sweetie?"

"Sure." I replied as I kept my head down. She stood and headed upstairs to take her shower. I wondered how she could have gotten grubby by just after lunchtime but took the opportunity to grab her mobile from her handbag. Inside 10 minutes I had the tracking software loaded and working. The important bit done I had a quick look through her messages. There were a few to a couple of contacts with a handful sent and received this morning after I left to go to Alfie's. I took the IDs and numbers of the contacts, the IDs were just initials oddly but matched the guy's names from the club. I was in some way relieved that she only messaged three people so maybe it was a small group? I read the messages but they were just one liners stating things were all OK but no other details. I wasn't sure how long she would be in the shower so I left it at that for now. I just confirmed they were in contact and how so that was enough for the moment. I also spotted an e-mail account so I took the user name down although the password was coded, I knew it was 8 characters long. I will work on that later I thought. The last thing I quickly looked at was the call logs, armed with the numbers I had written down I checked and sure enough there were a lot of calls to the same numbers. OK enough for now.

The next couple of days were tense for me but also an anti-climax in some ways with nothing apparently happening. My mind was consumed with images and what ifs as well as a barrage of questions. Why? How long? How many even? Filled with my own thoughts it was exhausting getting through each day, I begged off any sexual contact with Helen which turned out to be easier than I expected. She did look at me sideways a couple of times but nothing was said.

The trip was arranged for the coming weekend, Helen was excited and had her dancing ensembles packed and ready by Wednesday. It seemed she was really looking forward to it for some reason. Although I never said anything I was watching everything. Her evening at the club seemed to have gotten her excited and she arrived home later than usual, her face seemed flushed too. I sat sipping a large JD when she came through the door.

"Have fun tonight love?" I queried nonchalantly.

"Yes it was good, we were going over the arrangements for the weekend, travel and hotels and such."

I didn't ask any details and was waiting for her to offer the information, I waited but it never came so I let it go. She didn't know but I had all I needed already, Alfie's wife had been busy and a little lucky when she was chatting to Brian's wife she saw a copy of the hotel reservation for two rooms. Seems like it was just the four of them going after all, how cosy. Thursday I went over to Alfie's.

"So what's the plan?" he asked as Patty poured us a drink.

"I want to really kick some ass Alfie, but I am worried I will kill somebody. I don't want to end up in jail. I am going to try for some humiliation, try to fuck things up a little maybe. I know it's childish but what options do I have for some revenge? Me and Helen are toast anyway I won't have her back after this weekend under no circumstances. I intend to shift all her stuff out and have it ready to move to her parents place. She will not set foot back in my house after she leaves on Friday. No fucking chance!"

Alfie looked at me, his eyes wide as he saw how angry I was. Patty stood behind me her hands on my shoulders as I tried to hold it together. I cracked and started to sob, the first time since I found out what was going on. Patty's arms wrapped round my neck as she whispered in my ear.

"Hang in there big guy, we are here for you whatever happens."

The feel of her behind me reminded me of what I was now missing in my life. I couldn't remember the last time Helen and me had hugged each other like this or even when we had actually touched each other. I know it was a couple of weeks or more since we had sex. The tears flowed freely down my face as I silently sobbed.

I made a supreme effort and pulled myself together. The ache in my chest where my heart once lived was constant but I had to get through the next few days and weeks.

"Tomorrow will be hard when I wave her off, I know what she has planned but I have to let it happen. Stopping her now will not erase what she has already done or what she may do in the future. Our marriage is busted, no way back, fucking bitch." I clenched my fists as Patty hung on to me, Alfie reached out his hand on mine.

"Let's get into it Rick, let's do the bastards. We will find a way to fuck them all over, trust me they will not get away with this."

Friday, I left work early as Helen was due to leave by 4pm, Brian and his wife were driving up and Helen was taking her car to meet with the others and go with them. It wasn't specified who the others were exactly but I already knew who she was meeting anyway so I expected her car to be parked at his place for the weekend. It was about a two hour drive to Blackpool but was easier to drive than use the train, more convenient too she pointed out if she wanted to come home early or go out maybe. I helped Helen loads her two suitcases into her car, she seemed excited but distracted as I felt her looking at me as I loaded the cases. I turned and gave her my best actor's smile.