A confession about interesting hotel experience – 02

The music stopped and Harold and Shellie returned to the crowd. Just after they got back to their table I turned up. Shellie was obviously not sober. She doesn’t hold her drink well and is normally quite cautious. As soon as she saw me, she coloured up.

I wasn’t happy with what I had seen, but it wasn’t really enough for a divorce. I would have to give more warnings about cheating in the future.

On the drive home I asked if Harold or Dee were going to the symposium, Shellie told me she didn’t know.

We were stopped at some traffic lights, I looked across at her and said. “I don’t believe you would not know if a colleague was or was not going to the same symposium as you. I will not be happy if you are lying to me.”

The lights had turned green, so I could only glance at her as I drove off. She was looking down into her lap. I said. “You know what I think of cheaters. If they are going and use it to get together and you cover for them. I will assume you condone cheating and may do it yourself, and if you do cheat on me, I warn you again. I will be gone. Just gone. You will never see me again.”

Now I was convinced something was happening. But how to confirm it. I suspected that it was at the symposium, I would just have to do the Detective thing and follow her.

Then I had a break. I had stopped checking her phone after I heard Dee say no electronics, but I saw in passing Shellie’s phone light up. “Best Western Solihull. Mrs Jones, your confirmation…” Our name is not Jones and the hotel the symposium was being held in was in a Best Western Coventry, not too far away.

When I checked her phone later the message was not there or in the recycle bin.

I had them.

I had several plans running around my head. She would get one last chance, and in case she chose the wrong one I visited our solicitors and started things in motion, I came away with a letter of separation as a prelude to divorce. I got a copy of a divorce petition off the internet for shock value. But given the choice I didn’t think she would go ahead with it. But I had to put things in place to prevent her being tempted to do it again.

But even if she didn’t go ahead with it, what would I do? The problem for me was that I loved her with all my heart, but there was a limit. If she allowed a part of any other person to enter her body, that would be it. I will not stand for that.

If she did not do it, we could work on the trust, and that would be an uphill struggle. One that might still fail.

The Wednesday night sex was fantastic, but I still couldn’t stop wondering if it was guilty sex, I even got a blowjob on Thursday morning. That was rare. We were normally too busy on a workday. Shellie promised me more of that over the weekend.

I booked a room at the hotel in Solihull, still hoping nothing was going to happen. I took the day off work and got there early. I had a long chat with the receptionist about cheaters and trysts. She told me it was obvious who was having an affair. Married couples didn’t walk in holding hands; they were much more practical. Normally the husband will be carrying the luggage and the wife a small bag.

Either would do the talking. If they were having an affair, both carry small bags, and the man always did the talking and he would generally have his arm around her waist, or they would be holding hands trying to act like a married couple. As long as the staff didn’t get involved, it was all a bit of fun. So, when I came up with my suggestion for Mr and Mrs Jones the receptionist thought it was all a good idea, a bit of a laugh especially if they caught it on the CCTV. But it did cost me £20.

I saw Harold and Shellie arrive and followed them in, there was a mature couple between me and them. They walked in just like the lovers the receptionist described. I managed a photo, and I wondered how long that lovers’ look would last.

I heard him say this to the receptionist. “Mr and Mrs Jones, we are booked in.”

The receptionist looked at me, I nodded.

“Certainly sir.” She bent to the computer and did her thing. She asked him to complete a vehicle registration form and then handed over a key card.

I had prompted the receptionist for this next bit, she seemed to think it was a bit of fun.

She looked at my wife who was beside her would be lover, she smiled.

Then things changed, I saw Shellie’s body tremble. And she pulled away from Harold. She was shaking her head. I think she was muttering ‘No, no, no, I can’t’ Harold looked at her, confused.

The receptionist carried on and said. “The hotel is not concerned with the names you use. However, I believe your real name is Mrs Shellie Harris.” I saw my wife stagger, she moved away from Harold. The receptionist continued unfazed. “I have this envelope for you. Have a nice day.” She smiled and handed over the envelope I had given her. With that, she turned back to her computer.

My wife just stood there with the envelope in her hand. The receptionist looked up and said, “May I suggest that you open that before you go to your room?” I had not asked her to say that, but it was a good idea.

Shellie just stood there frozen.

Harold took the envelope off her and opened it. “Oh Shit.”

He handed the contents over to Shellie. She took them and looked at the pictures of them kissing and Harold fondling Shellie’s breast. She opened the folded paper which was an unsigned divorce petition along with the letter of separation.

Attached to it was a note that said. ‘What you do in the next 30 seconds will depend on whether you receive a signed divorce petition.’

I was timing her, but the time really didn’t matter, her actions did. The couple standing behind them harrumphed and this startled them into action.

Shellie turned round and ran towards the hotel front door, right past me. She didn’t look back.

Harold just stood there, looking dumbfounded. The receptionist handed him an envelope and said. “This is for you Mr Gault.”

The letter inside it said. ‘Your wife has received copies of the pictures and details of your planned night. Have a good evening’, It was unsigned.

I walked outside. Shellie was dialing on her phone. I headed towards my Land Rover. My phone started ringing with her ringtone. She looked up and saw me.

I called out. “Do you want a lift somewhere?” She dropped her case and ran towards me.

“I’m so sorry.”

I opened the passenger door for her. “Get in.” Tears were pouring down her face as she clambered in. I went and picked up her suitcase and put it in the back of the Land Rover.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I’m sorry, I got dragged into this by Dee.”

I ignored her.

“Which car is his?”

“That black Audi, over there.”

She pointed to a black Mercedes parked under the trees. “Are you sure, that’s a Merc?”