What Now?

He was 45 when they married. At 29, she was 16 years younger. He’s not my best friend but we were friends enough for me to be invited to their wedding. That was 5 years ago. A good age difference, I said. That is how I prefer it as well. To avoid confusion, let’s call them John and Mary.

She was a likeable girl; pleasant and friendly. When they met, she was involved with a no-good scoundrel (let’s call him Peter) who is unemployed more often than employed. She dropped him like a hot potato. The new love grew fast and 10 months later, John and Mary were married. Her two children from a previous marriage were about 8 and 5 at the time. From what I understand, they adore John. All seemed well.

About a year ago, I went to a pub in Parow. I grew up in Parow and go there quite often. To my surprise, I saw Peter and Mary at the far end of the counter. I may have assumed it an innocent or coincidental meeting, was it not that they were holding hands. I pretended not to notice them and went to the toilet. When I returned, they were gone. They left their drinks. I asked the bartender if they come there often and she said yes. Note that Peter lives in Parow but John and Mary lives in Goodwood.

Since then I saw them together several times; always in Parow, usually very cozy and holding hands. The last time was in a clothing store. They were at the men’s clothing, he fitting shoes. She had several garments in her arms. I was with a friend and he wanted a pair of jeans. While he was looking, I went back to the lovebirds but they were gone. She dropped merchandize right there on a shelve.

I had a look at it. Two pairs of trousers, four shirts, a six-pack of undies, and 4 pairs of socks. All good quality brand names. My blood boiled. This a**hole had no way of paying for those goods. As if it is not enough that she was cheating, she was buying her lover clothes on her husband’s account.

How do I proceed from there? If I ignore it, I become part of the plot and I'm betraying a friend. I can tell him straight but what if she comes clean with him and he forgives her. Then I’m the wolf in the story who wanted to break up their marriage. I decided to talk to her.

I called her the next day and set up a meeting at a coffee shop. It is not what you think it is, she said as she sat down at the table. So she knew what it was about. I’m sure it is not but it is going to end just the same, I said. If not, I will send the pics I took to John. I never took any pics but she did not know that. This was about six weeks ago. I don’t know if it ended, I have not seen them together again but they may be more discreet now. Perhaps even meeting in another suburb.

So, perhaps I went about it the wrong way, but what else could I do? Let’s just hope that she has come to her senses. John is a good guy.


Enjoy the day.