An awkward affair

Alan was able to see into minds of strangers. He was able to observe their thoughts, perceive their motives, and experience their emotions.

Alan had actually been surprised that Abigail agreed to invite Bob to dinner. But Abigail had said yes and so tonight he would uncover the truth. No going back, no turning around.

Alan had decided to dedicate the entire day to arranging the dinner party. On his list he sub-divided the morning into cleaning and shopping and afternoon into food and beverages. Alan was very good at lists.

He started tidying the living room. He'd listed such tasks as organize bookshelf by theme, lay magazines on table, and set fireplace with wood. He finished by adjusting the window shutters and table lamps. Alan took a moment to appreciate the patterns of light on the lemon walls of the living room. Alan was very good at tidying up.

He imagined an interview with “Home and Garden”. Sitting on the sofa with the reporter and just chatting about mutual interests in design and furnishing. Then reading the article with Abigail, sharing the pictures with friends, and receiving the congratulations of neighbors. He smiled.

But then his thoughts just veered into humiliating incidents from his past. A painful stream of excruciating clips that played out in full force and hideous detail in Alan's head. He told himself “they're thoughts” and “no, no” but the images of his past were too sticky to be excluded from the present. Alan's mind was turning nasty.

Then suddenly a surprising flash of blue-white light and loud crack of nearby thunder. He noticed the sky had changed - now a sea of strange, gray clouds and eerie, orange light that made the swirling trees into angry demons. The daytime darkness was being ignited by random knives of white lightning and rain was drumming rhythmically on the large windows and the copper roof. Water cascaded across roads and street lights flickered on-off.

Alan understood the storm omen and moved to cleaning the kitchen. He boxed the knick-knacks that lined the window sill and replaced them with fresh-cut flowers. He unpacked the dishwasher and carefully organized the chinaware, glasses and cutlery. He opened the double doors to the brick patio and let the daylight flood the modern kitchen. He was proud of his efforts.

Then Alan's thoughts began drifting again. He remembered how they met at a party - both drunk, both lonely, both vulnerable. He discovered her extraordinary ambition and she discovered his uncanny intuition. Abigail would joke that Alan could see the future. Alan knew he could.

Alan became a high school economics teacher. But he couldn't handle his students and couldn't manage the classes. The students teased him, derided him, and tricked him. Alan also felt the teachers didn't like him. He was awkward and uneasy and Alan's ticks were causes for stares and snickers. And he really disliked the expectation of extra-curricular involvement in sports, clubs and so on.

His thoughts pivoted from his failings to Abigail's successes. She was earnest and enthusiastic. She majored in politics and economics and completed her law degree and passed the bar exam in the same time that Alan took for a teaching degree. He knew he envied her strength.

Then he started having panic attacks. He'd be unable to leave his house and missed school at last minute. Then one day at school he panicked and locked himself in his home room. The students started knocking, the staff started knocking, and finally the principal forced the door open and found Alan. He was crouching under his desk and was weeping. Alan got up and ran out.

Abigail later found Alan on a park bench in their neighborhood. He never returned to high school. The embarrassment and humiliation was too painful and too overwhelming.

Alan had started seeing a therapist. He hadn't told Abigail, she thought therapy's moonshine. He was clever in hiding the appointments and payments. Anyway, Abigail never looked through the credit card or bank statements. She's was too busy for small stuff.

When Abigail got her position in corporate law at US Banking, Inc., she was elated. A dream job with huge opportunities, She worked long hours, she traveled world wide, and had dinners and receptions with the big-wigs of the banking industry.

She was asked to lead a new digital fraud division at US Banking, Inc. She got to hand pick her team members. That's when “new employee” Bob appeared.

Alan had told his therapist he thought that Abigail was having an affair. He described the frequent texts, corporate dinners, business trips and laughing together. Alan had asked the therapist for help in figuring out what's going on. But Betty had seemed flustered and redirected Alan to why he felt so insecure and suspicious. At one point the therapist got angry as Alan kept pushing for answers to what she'd do, to what she'd say. "Should he stay or leave?" he asked.

If was after the meeting with Betty the therapist he hatched the dinner party plan. He suggested they host a dinner party for her new colleague "what's-his-name" and his significant other. An opportunity to read Bob and their interactions and report back to therapist Betty. Alan was able to see into minds of strangers.

During the afternoon he focused on dinner. Alan was good at cooking. He enjoyed the process - cutting vegetables, sautéing meat, adjusting herbs, plating food - he loved it all. He's decided on Marsala chicken with a tangy salad and a spicy saffron rice. He'd earlier prepared the appetizer tray of cheeses, olives, pickles and homemade pepper relish. He'd gone to some trouble and expense for fancy Shiitake mushrooms, free-range chicken thighs and a really good Sicilian Marsala. He'd picked up several bottles of Chardonnay and Merlot as well as two packs of mixed beers to cover all guests preferences. Things was good to go.

Alan was pacing. Abigail was late. It was 6:00 pm the party was 7:00 pm. Where was she, what's she doing, did Abigail and Bob know what he and Betty knew?

Then Abigail called. She'd left work. "The meeting was longer than expected." she said. "Everything's fine, everything's ok.” she said. “Need anything from the supermarket or the wine shop?" she said. It was obvious that Bob was there.

Abigail walked in around 6:30 pm. She smiled at Alan and said “the house looks great, the food smells super.” But Alan was tired. The day of cleaning and cooking, together with three glasses of afternoon Chardonnay, and the likely prospect of a life-altering revelation, was taking its toll. “Be strong,” he whispered to himself.

“Ding-dong” the guests had arrived. Abigail went to the door while Alan stayed in the kitchen. He listened as Abigail was welcoming the couple. Alan heard Bob's voice and then their footsteps along the hallway through the living room to the kitchen. “Alan, meet Bob and Betty,” said Abigail.

Alan was frozen. Bob's partner was therapist Betty. Alan starred at Betty and Betty starred at Alan. Alan started to sweat, he started to blush, he heart was racing, his breathing was erratic.

Abigail and Bob just stood there like nothing was going on. But Alan now knew that Betty now knew they're both victims of cheating spouses. Alan knew he had to be strong for Betty. His hands were shaking, his fists were clenched, he stepped into Bob's path. Bob looked shocked. Betty looked confused. Abigail asked ”Are you OK?” Alan recalled the storm omen.

“I know about the affair, Bob” he said. “Betty knows about the affair, Bob.” he said. Alan took another step towards Bob. He lunged at the adulterers but slipped to the floor. He was kicking his feet, flaying his arms, and weeping. “You bastards, you bastards.” he screamed.

Abigail looked white. She knelt down. She put her hands on Alan's. She said “I'm sorry, Alan.”