Cheating Wife Abandons Family After Shocking DNA Test 

Why didn’t you tell me? Because you and Haley seemed to be happy. I thought you two had a good marriage. Hell, I thought if I figured out about Ted and Jeb, you probably had. And who was I to make waves if you didn’t? Harold had to think about this. But it did make sense.

Harold, I’m sorry if you think I should have said something. After I found out I knew that Sophia and I were getting a divorce, I couldn’t live with her betrayal, but I didn’t want to be the cause of your divorce. Plus, let me confess to a more selfish reason. If you were nearby, you could keep a close eye on Ted. and you did that. Half the reason he turned out to be a fine young man is your influence on him. I know that and I’ll always be grateful for that. It’s true. After the Rizzo’s divorce and until Sophia moved away 3 years ago, the boys became closer and Harold was almost a second father to Ted. Tony watched Harold for a minute, watching him try to absorb this information. Kind of makes your head spin, doesn’t it? Spin. I’m ready to puke. I’m so dizzy. I can’t tell you how many times I thought of beating the out of you and here you are just as much a victim as me. I’m glad you’re not one of those hottheads coming into my office with guns blazing. Well, now I have to find Mazetti and have a talk with him.

Any idea where he went to? Tony answered, “Mazetti’s dead. Dead? How?

Boating accident. He had too many drinks, went out on his boat on Lake Meade and fell overboard. Drowned.” The smile on Tony’s face as he related Mazdetti’s fate sent a chill down Harold’s back. The smile was there for only a split second before being replaced by a look of deep concern.

Shame really. We both probably could have sued the bastard for child support or something. But in the long run, it’s probably better this way. I don’t think either boy would want to connect with someone who goes around seducing married women. With that, both men got off the park bench and walked to the car. As they drove back to the dealership, Tony asked what brought this up after so many years. Harold explained how the DNA tests precipitated it all, including Haley’s flight to her sisters. It’s none of my business, but what are you going to do now with Haley? I guess with Misetti gone, I’ll have to get my answers from Haley. I was hoping to hear both sides of the story, but all in all, I’m not saddened to hear the drowned. Does Ted know? No, Ted still believes I’m his sperm donor. I try to keep in touch with him and show him I care despite the divorce from his mom.

Some days are better than others. One of us calls the other at least every other week. Harold nodded. Jeb, knowing he’s half Italian, will probably complicate things. He thinks he’s Ted’s half brother and that you’re his biological father. When I tell him the truth, he’s bound to want more answers and it will eventually get back to Ted. You and Sophia might want to get ready. Tony was suddenly overwhelmed with sadness. He loved Ted and didn’t want that to change. Can you ask Jeb to hold off a week? Give me a chance to talk to Ted.

You know I will, and I know Jeb will agree. Good luck, Tony, and thanks. By the time Harold climbed into his car and started the drive home, he was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. There was a sign for a chain hotel before one of the exits as he headed south. Harold decided to pull over and get a room, whether for a few hours or the night he’d decide later.

With the key to a room in hand, Harold changed his mind about a nap. The gentleman’s club across the street seemed to be calling his name. He hadn’t been in a strip club since his bachelor party almost 30 years ago. In fact, Harold had only seen one naked woman besides his wife in all those years.

Time to fix that. As Harold walked into the club, he almost turned around. What the hell am I doing here? But he paid the cover and sat down in the rear of the room. Next door was a liquor store.

Harold bought a pint of bourbon and went to his room. The following morning, Harold woke up with a splitting headache. He looked at the clock. Damn, it was 9:30. His mouth tasted awful. No wonder the last time he brushed his teeth was yesterday morning. Harold put on his pants and a t-shirt and walked to the office. He grabbed a tin of aspirin, a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and a cup of coffee before heading back to his room. The shower helped, and within an hour, he was feeling more human. He dialed Haley’s number and was pleased when she picked up. We need to talk. I’m at work right now. When do you want to meet? I can be at the house in an hour.

Can you take the rest of the day off?

Why? Where are you? Harold’s headache was coming back and it was making him miserable. Never mind where I’m at. Just tell me if you can be at the house soon.

Harold could hear Haley start to cry.

I’ll be there. I love Harold had hung up. As Harold drove north on the freeway, he wondered why after all these years he was so angry. He’d known for years that Jeb wasn’t his biological son. He always suspected Rizzo was the father. Was part of his anger the new knowledge that Haley had been with that sleazy Mazetti and that Mazetti was Jeb’s father. He always hated that guy.

Harold realized that no matter how far down you push the feelings of being cuckolded, those feelings are always there. Haley was already at the house when Harold pulled into the drive. He walked into the house to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Haley was sitting at the same dining room table at the same seat where Harold last saw her 3 days ago. “So much has happened since Easter,” he thought to himself as he watched Haley open a box of pastries from his favorite bakery. Bribery, Harold said it with a smile in his voice. He loved this woman. Who said these are for you? Haley replied as she took a bite out of the cream cheese sweet roll. Haley’s humor was one of the traits Harold loved about her and she knew it. He appreciated her attempt to lighten the moment. But it was time to get serious. Tell me about Paul Mezetti.

Haley actually flinched when Harold said the name. She suddenly looked small and scared. Could this be the end of her marriage? How did Harold find out it was Paul? All these thoughts swirled in her head. With nothing else to help her clear her mind, Haley stood up and poured the coffee into the two cups sitting in front of her. She passed one coffee cup and the box of pastries to Harold. Harold sat there waiting without taking a sip of coffee or a bite of the cinnamon roll. Haley finally started to speak. It happened twice. I’m sorry I’d give anything to undo it. Then I ended up pregnant with Jeb. I swear I thought Jeb was yours. Everyone said how much he looked like me and my brothers. It wasn’t until he started to grow up that I saw Jeb and Ted together when they were in the same fifth grade class. I can still remember that horrid moment.

It was during a field trip when both Sophia and I were chaperones. I looked at Sophia when the two boys were waiting together to get on the bus. I could see it in Sophia’s eyes without her even saying a word we both knew. We never spoke about it. Even after Tony left Sophia and filed for divorce, even when Sophia put the house up for sale and left town. Harold was getting tired of the rambling. He wanted answers. Tell me how it started. Haley looked Harold right in his eyes. When I tell you, I want you to understand something. I’m not excusing my behavior or blaming anyone but myself. I also want you to know that Jeb has been your son in everything but in DNA since he started to grow in my belly. He’s our son, yours, and mine. I told Jeb the same thing Sunday evening, Harold replied.

I’m glad he loves and needs you. It started with Paul 6 months after Hal was born. I was still fighting the extra pounds from the pregnancy and feeling fat and ugly. Harold interrupted Haley.

Don’t give me that I was feeling fat and ugly. When did I ever say you were anything but beautiful? Given Harold’s outburst, Haley’s reply was calm, much calmer than she felt. You didn’t have to say it. All you had to do was screw that from work for the year you two were carrying on your affair before and after Hal was born. If Haley had pulled out a shotgun and blasted Harold in the chest, the effect of her words couldn’t have been more severe. He sat with his mouth open and just stared without saying a word. What?

You didn’t think I knew? Did you think you were so sneaky that I couldn’t smell the intimacy and her perfume on you when you rolled in late from working all evening on important projects? Harold still hadn’t said a word, so Haley continued. I didn’t set out to cheat or to get even. All I wanted was for you to figure out you still loved me and wanted me for your wife instead of that girl.

What kind of woman tries to steal a man away from his wife who just gave birth to his infant son? Paul took advantage of the situation. He was walking past the house one evening. I had just come home and Hal was in the back seat. I had the groceries in the back of the car and Hal was screaming his head off because he was dirty. Paul stopped and while I changed Hal, Paul brought in the groceries. You were working late again.

I invited Paul to sit and have a beer while I put the groceries away. Paul was charming and I told him more than I should have. That was Paul’s in and my downfall. He was a master seducer with his charm and good looks. I was the lonely, pissed-off new mom with low self-esteem. For the next few weeks, Paul seemed to be available anytime I needed something done. Call me anytime, he said. So, I did. When the garage door got stuck and you were at work, Paul fixed it. When the furnace was putting out a bad odor, Paul found a dead mouse trapped inside. And every time he came over, he’d tell me how beautiful I was.

He even gave me a bouquet of flowers.

They sat right there on the dining room table for 4 days, and you never noticed them. Then one day, he kissed me, and before I knew it, I was naked on my back, and Paul was inside me. Do you want specifics? Like, was he better than you or bigger than you? Harold just shook his head. No, he was still trying to get his head around the fact Haley knew about the affair. An affair with a coworker that lasted 8 months before he ended it. He remembered why it ended when he felt Haley slipping away from him and he realized how much he loved her. He remembered the fear when Janice Müller threatened to call Haley and tell her all about their affair. He had dodged a bullet, a nearly year-long affair, and his wife was none the wiser.

It was a secret Harold kept for these past 20 plus years. Haley wasn’t finished and her words interrupted his thoughts. Good. But I will tell you he was neither no better, no bigger. But he was there when I needed a friend. Only he wasn’t a real friend. Just one more with an ego who was looking to score. A couple of days after that first time, he came back and we did it again.

Two things happened after that second time. Number one, my conscience hit me so hard that I cried on and off for 2 days. Number two, the very next day you came home right after work and kissed me like you hadn’t kissed me in almost a year. When I told you I hadn’t made dinner, you took Hal and me to Sullivan’s for a nice dinner. We made love that night and every night for the next week. I was in heaven. You were my husband again. I thought that was the week Jeb was conceived because it was my fertility week. I never dreamed that Paul was the father. Not until the day of the field trip. Was he the only one?

Harold asked. Haley was pissed and her voice rose when she responded. Yes. Was Janice Müller the only one? Damn. She even knew and remembered her name. Yes, she was. And I’m sorry. It was stupid of me. And it’s the one thing I’m most ashamed of in my entire life. Well, I guess that makes two of us. What do we do now? I know you always hated Paul’s guts, and now you know he and I had an affair, even if it was a short one, and that he’s Jeb’s biological father. Can you even look at me after this? I still love you, Haley. I still want to be your husband, friend, and lover. I want us to grow old together. I’m not naive. There might be some fallout, maybe a few arguments after this, but I want you to move back home today. Haley got up from her chair and sat in Harold’s lap. She put her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss. Take me to bed. And he did.