The Brief Affair

[Infidelity]

Accepting friends into my circle at the age of 25 may seem odd, but let's go back 25 years. I was a brand-new teacher in British Columbia who didn't love my husband and felt hurt by the surroundings and people.

The school, the students, the teachers, and the administrative staff were great. I became close with the two principals, one a resident and the other a non-resident, who followed me. I didn't realize he had a crush on me until my husband mentioned it. 

One night, the non-resident principal and his wife left our party early, and later, I found out they had conceived their first child that night. I spent a lot of time at school to avoid going home. 

It was a Sunday, and I was alone in the classroom when the weather was fantastic and everyone else was indoors. I was there for less than ten minutes when I heard someone enter the school. I knew it had to be someone with a key because nobody without one could get inside. 

I had my materials for my three classes spread out on the board meeting room table. I was playing music, singing, and dancing around the room when I thought I saw someone looking in, but they disappeared, so I didn't check. Maybe they were just curious and then went to get some work done.

I sat down and turned up the music when my male administrator walked into the boardroom and sat across from me. I turned down the music and greeted him.

"Sorry, Brad. I've taken over the table," I said with a smile.

"No worries," he replied.

"I can pack up and go to my classroom so you can have the table; your work is probably more important than mine," I offered.

"No, no. That's not necessary, Jo. Why don't you wait until I'm done here? It won't take long, and then when you're finished, we can discuss your orienteering course idea for your physical education outdoor class," he suggested.

"Sure. That sounds good to me. Thanks." I put my nose back into my books and tried not to sing, but I couldn't resist. Suddenly, Brad started singing, too. Before we knew it, we laughed and danced around the room like teenagers.

"What are you working on, anyway?" he asked.

"Oh, well. That's a loaded question, isn't it?

We'll play bingo for 15 minutes in period one and then write about the experience.

In Period 2, we will discuss whether morality has a place in society today. Why or why not?

In Period 3, we're dissecting a song that most of them love. The artist tells his audience the meaning behind the music. The kids will be surprised when they find out what's behind the lyrics.

In all three classes, I've ensured we're heavy on the activities and light on the writing. But they'll all know how to read and write better on my watch, sir." I smiled at him and took a deep breath.

Then I asked, "Do you see any holes in my work? Oh, yeah, I also have some props in my classroom. Do you want to see them?" I heard the words and thought, Oh my goodness, I was like an overenthusiastic child.

"Yes, I'd love to see them. Do you want to go now?" He raised his eyebrow and gave me a look I wasn't familiar with.

"Hey, Brad, I have to ask you something. Please don't take this the wrong way. It's just a yes-or-no question. I didn't think this up; my husband did. Okay? He asserts that you have developed feelings for me and fallen in love with me. Is any of that true?" I looked straight at him, and my face was a cold stare. His face went beet red, and he looked at me with a nervous look—something I'd never seen before in him.

"He's correct. Yes, and yes," Brad said. And then our eyes met.

I rose from my seat and approached him to embrace him; however, he desired a kiss. Despite knowing our marital status, we both crossed the line. That was the beginning of the end.

Brad and I went on walks early every morning. During period three, we mapped out and created an orienteering course for my kids to follow. The kids had never been to that part of the island, and Brad and I were the only two teachers available to supervise. We had a blast that day.

We threw a massive party at our house for my daughter's first birthday and Marcy's birthday, Brad's wife. Everyone was invited, and I made a teddy bear cake. My daughter was the hit of the party. Of course, everyone was drinking except for me. We ordered pizza that night from Shirley's, and Brad and I went to pick it up. It took forever to get it. When we got back, I knew that my husband was fuming, as was Marcy.

Shirley called and apologized for the delay, saying she had some complimentary appetizers ready for pick up if we wanted them. So Brad and I went back out, got them, and came right back. Now everyone knew the truth.

The party continued until the wee hours of the morning, but only after Brad and Marcy danced an Irish jig. It was pretty cool. Everyone else laughed. 

The next day, we had a public event, and everyone attended it. We left early because Shayne was in a snit. As soon as we left the door, he bellowed at me like a crazy man. Then, when we got around the building, I had my daughter in my arms, and he whipped her sippy cup at us. It whizzed inches from my head and hers.

Another teacher heard the entire encounter and took us into his house. Then, he went outside to deal with Shayne.

"Who the f**k do you think you are talking to anyone like that, let alone your wife, man?" Joe said.

"F**k off and mind your own business, asshole," Shayne said.

"I don't think so, pal." Joe grabbed him, turned Shayne around, and subdued him. "The next time you talk to me, your wife, or anyone else like that, I'll be coming for you, and trust me, it won't be pretty.

By the way, your wife and daughter are staying at our house tonight." He let go of Shayne, and I watched Shayne take the items he had in his hands to our home. Then I saw him leave with a bag packed, headed for our boat.

"Does Shayne talk like that to you all the time?" Joe asked me.

"Most of the time, yeah," I said.

"Why do you put up with it? You are a stunning woman who is also exceedingly intelligent and kind; you can surpass him." Joe winked at me and then hugged me. When Shelley got home, I told her all about what happened and why I was there. She made me tea and talked with me about healthy relationships.

When I got up to walk the following day, I had to bring my daughter. Brad wasn't fazed in the least. He carried her so I could have a break.

Sure, here is the revised version of the text:

"Shayne left on the boat, right?"

"Yes. I hope he gets lost."

Smiling, Brad said, "I'm planning a men's weekend and thinking of inviting Shayne. What do you think?"

"I don't trust him, and neither should you. He lies, cheats at everything, and steals." I couldn't believe I finally had someone to confide in about Shayne, someone who believed me and understood what living with Shayne was like.

"Okay, he's in," Brad said with a smile. "Don't worry. Everything will work out; you'll see."

The men went on their weekend, and when they returned, Shayne was different. He no longer yelled at me. He stopped talking to me, except when he asked me to go to Ocean Falls on the boat. We went but left when we shouldn't have, and the waves were over the ship. I went to the bunk with my daughter and prayed to see the land again.

When we finally saw the harbour, Brad stood on the deck, waiting for us. He looked worried and sick, and his expression said it all.

He lifted me from the boat after he had grabbed my daughter from my cold and wet arms---the rain was coming down in buckets. We got into his truck, and he said, "Shayne, that a**hole, can walk back up to the house." He shook his head and said, "I was so worried about whether I'd see you two again since the waves were so high." 

I was frozen and tired since the stress had zonked me.

Shayne remained on the boat. Brad and Marcy stayed with me, offering me tea and caring for my daughter while I got warm. They slept at my house that night. Shayne never returned to the home until he announced after Christmas that he would go to Vancouver to stay with his mother and take my daughter.

I watched with a heavy heart as Brad and Marcy left for Christmas. They asked me if there was anything they could bring for me, and I asked them for some Sleepy Time tea and blueberry waffles.

When they returned, they wouldn't accept any money for the items I requested. Shayne took off, and the affair continued. Brad and Marcy owned a cabin on the mainland across the pass, and they took me there with them many times. We spent a great deal of time together—the three of us.

The first time, I was tasked with lighting the fire in the wood-burning stove. The wood was wet, but I managed to get a fire going, which impressed Brad. Then we went for a hike while Marcy studied accounting. I asked her if we could split the chapters up and answer some of the questions to have some fun with her included.

She laughed and said, "Thank you for the offer, but I don't think so." 

I headed outside to go for a walk in the deep snow.

Brad was cutting wood, and I headed outside and said, "Brad, I'm going for a walk if you want to join." Without hesitation, he threw the axe, and we were off with Caelus, their dog, a beautiful husky that was more wolf than dog. Marcy loves huskies.

I had a memorable day at Ray's house, playing cards with his wife, listening to music, and enjoying the great outdoors. As the day ended, I said farewell and left abruptly, grappling with conflicting emotions. Despite my close friendship with them, I felt guilty for misleading Marcy, especially since I knew she was expecting. The fact that her husband was also unfaithful and deceived her made it an increasingly difficult situation.

The following Monday, I received a flyer for a professional development opportunity that the board was sponsoring in Vancouver in my mailbox at school.

When I got back to the island, my dishonest husband started spreading rumours about an alleged affair between Brad and me.

After a few days in Vancouver, I returned home and was reunited with my family. Brad later visited our farm, and we had a wonderful time together.

However, I soon realized he hadn't been forthcoming with me. He eventually took a job at Pelly Crossing and left without informing Marcy and me. It was a painful and disappointing end to a relationship I had hoped would last.

Looking back, I see things more clearly now. While I had believed our bond was destined to endure, Brad's actions revealed otherwise. It was a difficult lesson but taught me to value honesty and integrity.

In his mind, he knew he would return to Marcy and that she would take him back. So he was having fun and making sure she knew it, and I knew it. We were both being played. I had to contend with geography. To top it all off, Marcy lived with Brad's parents while she took her maternity leave. They had built a house near his parents and planned to make their own fully autonomous farm on Salt Spring Island.

Twenty-five years later, they did it. They followed their dream. I searched and searched and finally found them again, and I apologized. Marcy forgives me, and we chatted—kind of. Brad wouldn't talk to me, and he still doesn't.

I tried to ask for his forgiveness numerous times, but there was a deep-seated hatred there. I'm not sure why. I'm the one who should be upset with him, but I'm not. I'm good. I just want everything to be straight between us.

Life makes us grow up, whether we truly want to or not. When we do, we understand our actions and their consequences. Then, we forgive ourselves and seek forgiveness for those we have wronged.

I'm sorry for everything except for the euphoric feeling Brad and I shared once upon a time when our world was a small island on British Columbia's Northern West Coast.

What's sad is that he pursued me; if he had, nothing would have happened between us. Now, nothing is between us. We are no longer friends or anything. to one another.