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Click here"Leaving already? You just got here."
"Yeah. I saw you were having a reception and figured I didn't need to be here."
"Not even to say hello?"
"I just did." I was afraid to say anything else. My emotions would betray me. We looked at each other. Me wanting to beg for forgiveness; her...? I had no idea what, if anything, she wanted to say. Before either of us could speak, a member of her team saw her and ushered her back to the reception.
I left and went home. I decided not to have hotdogs or anything else for dinner.
She and I had no further communication and she and her team concluded their business and returned to SHAPE.
On Friday after they left I received, via NATO Courier, a package from her.
In it was an envelope from the same office that sent the original Separation and Divorce notice. It was addressed to me at my Washington address. My name had been crossed out and the words "No longer at this address" were written on it. It had not been opened. Attached to the envelope was a note from Irene:
"Phil,
I had my attorney send this to you, but it came back. Now I know why.
I was surprised to see you Monday. I hope you are happy.
Irene"
I opened the envelope and it contained the same papers I had signed and sent back, but this time there was another handwritten note from her attached to them.
"Phil,
I changed my mind about a divorce so didn't submit these. It seems I love you even when I don't want to. If you feel the same, Call me.
Irene"
I no longer had her phone number, but I got her office number from the SHAPE directory.
"This is Major Parker," she said when she answered.
"So is this. I got your package."
"And?"
"And I love you."
I could almost feel her smile through the line. "There is a 5:00 flight. I can be on it if you want me to."
"What time does it land? I'll meet you."
When we took the general home that evening, I told him about the phone call. "I'm happy for you and hope it works out. Take the weekend off and Monday if you need it; just let me know."
I was waiting when she came into the lobby. I wanted her in my arms, but wasn't sure if that might be too fast. I needn't have worried. She ran and flew into me. We blocked the way for a long time. Some guy said something in Italian as he walked by. "What did he say?" I asked her.
"He said 'get a room'." We both laughed.
We held hands to my car and as much as we could on the way to my quarters. My car was a floor shift standard transmission so when my hand was on the gearshift, her hand was on top of mine. Not much was said. We were just content to be near each other.
Ten seconds after the door closed, we were in each others' arms again. We broke apart and I asked her if she wanted something to eat or drink. We settled on wine. I poured us each a glass, we clinked them together, and sat on my sofa. We needed to talk, but where to start. She did.
"I was so mad with you."
"I know and I understand. I am so sorry, but seeing him and thinking you were with him... I just went crazy."
"So did I. When he called me and told me you had been there, I tried to call you to explain, but you wouldn't even answer your phone or return my messages. I assumed you never read them. That made me even madder. I was on an assignment and couldn't leave, but as soon as it was over, I flew to America to see you. The whole flight made me even more upset. Then you weren't home and I couldn't get in your apartment and I had to wait in the hall for you, it got worse. I cried on the flight to you and I cried on the flight back. I stayed mad and decided to divorce you. I told my sister and she tried to calm me down, but I wouldn't listen." She hesitated for several seconds, then continued. "I had calmed down a little by the time the papers you signed came back. My attorney is also my sister who is smarter than me. She didn't send them to the court. She kept them. She and I talked several times and each time I was calmer than the last. I came to realize that I really didn't want a divorce and asked her to see if she could stop it until I talked to you. She told me she had never submitted them. She was just waiting for me to cool down. I told you she was smarter than me." She paused again, and sipped her wine. "I tried calling you, but my number was blocked, and I got upset again because I assumed you didn't even want to discuss a.... how do you call it? Uh... a reconciliation? Then I sent the papers back you, but they were returned because you weren't there anymore. I didn't know where you were or how to contact you." She paused. "Then I saw you come in with the General and couldn't breathe."
"Yes. Reconciliation is the word. I was just mad and upset at first. I never wanted a divorce and after you came to Washington, I tried calling you, but you wouldn't answer."
She smiled. "I screwed up our first year together, and you screwed up this past year. We can't afford to screw up any more."
We both laughed. "No, we can't, and we won't." I took time to sip before asking, "Who is he? And why was he there?"
"He is my.... how do you say kusine....cousin. He and his wife were staying there while their apartment was being painted. He opened the door, saw you and at first thought you were Frederik. His English is not very good and he was nervous. He was at our wedding and had seen you there, and after he recognized who you were, tried to explain but couldn't because of his English, and you wouldn't listen to him. When he called me, he felt bad about not being able to communicate with you and explain who he was."
We sat for a long time not saying anything. I finished my wine and got up to get more. She saw what I was doing, gulped down the rest of her own and handed me her glass. While I was pouring more, she went to her carry-on bag and took something out, returned to the sofa and sat. I handed her glass and sat next to her. She put hers on the table without tasting it and extended what looked like an old, dried flower.
"When I got this, I cried for happy," she said. "It is the flower you sent."
I'd always heard "make-up" sex was the best you could ever have and after that night, I believe it.
The weekend was fantastic. I called The General on Sunday afternoon and confirmed that taking Monday off was still okay. It was, and we added it to the best weekend ever.
On Monday afternoon, I took her to the airport.
Working as the Aide to a General Officer means long hours and very little time off, but we took advantage of what time we had. Trips between Belgium and Italy were frequent and fun. That went on for four months. Then one day, General Thompson called me in to his office. "Phil, Esther (his wife) and I are taking two weeks off. We're going back to Cleveland to see her brother. He's not too healthy. We'll leave on Friday. In the meantime, we want you to take some leave as well."
"It's too bad about her brother, sir, and I understand her wanting to see him. I'll take the leave and spend it in Belgium."
"You won't have to. I've talked to the SACEUR, and told him I would like to have Major Irene Parker on my staff, so she's been transferred. She wanted it to be a surprise, but I hate surprises. She'll be here Friday. Frankie (Staff Sergeant Frank Branford, his driver) will take us to the airport so you can stay here and wait for her."
I thanked him profusely and left. The exec, admin assistant, and secretary all grinned at me when I walked through.
I had been living in the BOQ, where, it seemed, I spent most of my life, but two of us couldn't live there, so I went to the housing office to see what, if any, housing was available. Since I was the general's aide, I was entitled to a house on the installation. The only one available was on what they called "Colonel's Row". I wasn't a Lieutenant Colonel, much less Colonel, but they moved me there anyway. "Nobody will complain since you're the general's Aide", I was told.
The house was furnished with government furnishings, but they would suffice until Irene and I could get our own.
It was mid-afternoon on Friday. The general and his wife were gone and I was sitting in my office twiddling my thumbs when she walked in. I jumped up, went to her and kissed her. "I get the impression you're not surprised to see me," she said. "Who told?"
"General Thompson, and I'm glad he did. Come on, let's go home." Her car was loaded with her stuff, so she followed me to our house. She was surprised that we had a house. She expected we would be crowded into my little BOQ room for a while. "It isn't the greatest, but it's home for as long as we're here." I said.
"It's beautiful."
The next two years were good years.
General Thompson was reassigned back to the Pentagon and asked me if I wanted go with him. Irene and I talked about it and decided that we would prefer staying in Europe. The general completely understood and, again, called the SACEUR, who arranged for both Irene and me to be reassigned back to SHAPE. Like Mel Brooks said, "It's good to be The King."
In our case we weren't The King, but we knew him, so it was close enough.
We are back in Belgium now and have three years here, but can keep extending. Irene has been in her army longer than I have so will retire before me. When I retire, we will live in America, but visit Denmark often to visit her family.
Willy's grandmother is still alive and kicking, but she's doing it from a wheelchair. Willy, Sophie, little Phillip and his younger brother, Sean, have moved to Ireland to live.
Life is good.
- COMMENTS
Most lovely story. I had a father of a friend of mine working for the German Bundeswehr in Belgium. Everything you mentioned sounds authentic.
But - there always is a but - my small caveat is that all Nordic countries starting from the Netherlands and moving over to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland have something like ((slightly below, but normally above) 90% of fluent English speakers ((over 80% fluent also in reading and writing).
I can't imagine a danish person struggling to communicate a concept in English.
As I said, small caveat - but nonetheless a great story.
It's perfect for you if you want to fall asleep quickly and boring things don't upset you.
Starts with him being promoted and later informed someone as their eye on him so be prepared to be fast tracked and get some qualifications..Yet when the General returns to the Pentagon,he stays in Germany,how come,he doesnt hand out the appointments?If as suggested he was being fast tracked ,he would have been moved about and unless his wife resigned,she wouldnt be going with him.
That JAG officer needs to pull his head out... I'm sure the Capt had to make a marriage request as she being in a foreign national/service could jeopardize his security clearance - unlikely in this instance as an allied nation. Plus he had to get approval for hos marriage allotment so by granting that the USAA accepts the marriage as valid and recorded the certificate in USAA BuPers. True, Jag could not be his divorce lawyer just guide him. But a USA lawyer could commence divorce proceedings via the Danish Embassy that may require a Danish Esquire but it could be done. However, the sticky bogus point in the story is that once divorced he would have to notify USAA Records to stop the marriage allotment and he could not live in the BOQ. Maj security clearance would need updating that the Exec/COS would push (the story never picked up on - so he was always married and no-EX - his personnel records and any PCS/STO's orders would cover his marriage state for movements).
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In all still a good story and until you have been married, divorce and move while in the service you may not know these facts. I was, I did.
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Pride can shoot you in the butt with more accuracy than desire.
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5***** Hooyah, Salutes.... 2nd read still good
I wouldn't waste time getting tweaked by some of the comments. The story scored very well with 74 favorites. I would say the naysayers are in the vocal minority. Just enjoy the works of this fine author and let the Negative Nellies continue in their collective circle jerk..
I think a helluva lot of commenters here either didn’t read the same story I did or they just weren’t paying attention. Or maybe they just like making up bullshit out of thin air. They should use that talent to write their own stories. I liked the story, thought it was different from the everyday fare here on Lit. Thanks for posting it here, “E”. 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Office and headquarters drama, boring. They are not their countries best serving as a paper shuffler
"The Major I talked with told me that since we were married in Denmark, any separation or divorce action or procedure would have to be from there." That's just stupid.
Having lived in Lake Charles as well as in Germany with the AF and as an army brat, I thoroughly enjoy Ethesus14’s stories. He is so right about rebuilding from the storm damage.
Well ...
I like very much many of Ephesus14 stories.
But here I agree with a month old comment.
I found this story boring.
2 out of 5 from me.
Pretty ridiculous behavior by both parties. This trope of deleting messages unread is pretty annoying. And her idiot cousin? He had to know where Irene was, so why not say I am her cousin and she let us use her apartment while she is in Great Britain, instead of panicking?? Made no sense.
This was a nice story. These two people are so similar. They both have wicked tempers that almost destroyed their marriage but the marriage survived. Great story!!! Five stars!!!
It seems to me that the author of this story deliberately created a suspended intrigue regarding the presence or absence of adultery. Therefore, the opinions of commentators were divided. Most of the comments here are in favor of the wife's innocence, but the arguments pointing to her obvious inadequacy and considering possible options for her adultery are very weighty. In this context, I was reminded of the other two stories "24 hours" and "48 hours" by the writer Mainefiddleheads. There, too, in both cases, it is not completely clear whether the wives cheated or not. The opinions of readers in hundreds of comments were divided in half. And each side provides details and nuances from the texts of the stories, confirming or refuting one or another point of view. I assume that in this case Ephesus14 attempted the same trick.
Another good story, well written. Happy endings are rare in this category, good on you for bucking the trend. Spent a few years in Heidelberg myself, nice to visit ot again through your story telling.
"Twin girlfriends" is an interesting version confirming Irene's infidelity and explaining the appearance of British border stamps in the passport, but too incredible and fantastic. I will try to put forward more realistic options, also in favor of adultery: Irene, "kusine" and the third woman were a close-knit group of lovers having threesome sex. When Irene went on a trip, the other two stayed to wait for her return, in order to immediately indulge in amorous pleasures after separation. The second option: Taking advantage of Irene's absence, her Danish lover, who had a key to the apartment, invited his other mistress there. He tried so hard to keep Phil out of the apartment because he couldn't explain to Irene (when he realized that her husband was standing on the threshold) the presence of another woman there. Fearing for her marriage, he decided to confess everything to her. Arriving in America, Irene was in an embittered, guilty, frightened and unstable emotional state and, realizing that her husband had not read her messages, and therefore did not buy her lies, decided to accuse him of distrust of her and quickly rushed back to Europe, shifting the blame on him. She chose to file for divorce, but not to reveal her own dirty secrets in the process of discussions, explanations and clarification of details on the part of her husband. Note that she did not even mention the name of her so-called "cousin", only mentioned that he was present at their wedding. Most likely, the Dane is for her a "good old very close friend", well, or a "spare European hubby", while Phil was the "main American husband".
Great story. Take it at face value, and don't read into it. 5 star, the Bear loves it . Thank you, sir.
The BEAR
Most commentators tend to believe that there was no betrayal of Irene, there was a misunderstanding and subsequent misunderstanding between the spouses. OK! Then how do you explain that one of the author's rosa-blanca.ru for the story is "cheating wives", but no other wife, except Irene, appears among the main characters?
" The Major I talked with told me that since we were married in Denmark, any separation or divorce action or procedure would have to be from there." That's bullshit.
Great Story Lots of twists and turns BUT because i was in the Military.(no not an officer LOL) I did understand a bit better Best Wishes (jaybee186)
Wonderful story. So much wasted time. Military officer marriages must be rough being stationed all over. The second time, when separated was basically all on him. She had every right to be pissed. Why would he assume a woman who defended him while in a coma, who was with him through physical therapy all the way after the Afghanistan ambush would cheat on him. I hate how in these LW stories the aggrieved (or in this case perceived-to-be aggrieved) husband's deletes all voice-mails and refuse all calls. I cab understand not answering after discovery in short term, but really you might learn something useful in thr voice-mails even of the cheating was really. And no one texts?!? And email is a special thing? Confront! Don't run. He could have gotten someone to translate the guys speech. He could have recorded it and used Google translate with a voice to text app. The count of ten and just run was frustrating. But deleting all her calls was dumb. And then she shows up and he knows he is sunk and she is justifiably pissed but he can't find her before she leaves? He failed. The rest after that was hee agonizing with his total lack of trust and then not being able to reach him. He didn't know it before he went to Italy, but the Lily of the Valley probably saved his marriage. Except by then she had no way to reach him. Btw why was her number blocked on his phone? Did someone else have it and he got a new one with the General's staff? Glad they made it. Tough romance.
Nice romantic story. Yeah, the military life can be one with lots of traveling. But for separation, try the Navy. Yipes! 5*s.
There's a lot of veterans who like the military parts of the story. Some others may complain, but who cares. 82nd airborne
Great story. As always, I enjoy your writing about the military. This time you wrote about places and jobs that I did not experience, except for being junior lieutenant in a unit. Recreation and Morale officer was not as much fun as it sounds like.
Nice story! Really enjoyed it. It's hilarious how readers in this category obsess over writing epilogues and alternative endings to other peoples' stories. I'm going to start including alt ends for my own stories, just for the hell of it. Anyway, great job!
All the military stuff, especially if you're not into it, was a bit convoluted! (Yes I know it's a story set in the military but this should be more about relationships.) 4 - Stars!
It seems to me that Anonymous, with its interpretation of history, sounds very convincing... Why did "kusine", who realized that he was not facing a bastard-Frederick, did not bother to dissuade Philip that his suspicions were groundless? Didn't ask the "wife" to raise her voice from behind the door? - No! Open the door a little, just a crack? - Not Again!! Get out of the bathroom in a towel and call Irene in order to resolve an AWKWARD situation? - Again and again No? Communication difficulties due to the language barrier? Good... Why did the "cousin's wife" disappear into the bathroom and not cover herself with a blanket on the bed? Maybe Irene realized from her voice that her husband was at the FRONT door and that her marriage would end very quickly if Phil saw her in such a situation? The Danish "kusine" is not his wife's cousin at all. He's been a close friend of Irene's since high school. That's why he was invited to the wedding. Irene later decided to call him and.... Then you know....
I am not a supporter of the hypothetical version of "twin girlfriends", the previous commentator... But I can't think of a more realistic version of how Irene was able to get British stamps in her passport... And about the fact that she cheated - there is no doubt about it ... (My personal opinion).
PS: And, commentators! Stop idealizing and romanticizing Irene's actions... Her absurdities and her inadequacy are coming through from all the cracks - admit this fact... So, why did she have to remain faithful and blameless in this story?
P.P.S.: And it's not for nothing that the author placed this story in Loving Wives, and not in Romance?
I think the anon who wrote the novel explaining this story is just a bit off. The story was ok but it was pretty close to being in the wrong category, but that's just my opinion. I do agree with another's comments about it being a bit 'dry.
Kept waiting for some fireworks and cheating but alas it was short and sweet. It all comes down to surprises are not really a good idea and the other thing is never assume and the biggest thing is communicate. If you don't talk to each other you'll never really know what the other person is thinking. It could have been shorter. 4 stars
Loved your story! Thank you very much. 5 BIG ASS FUCKING HUGE FLAMING NOVA STARS!
The chronology doesn't seem to match... it looks like she'd forgiven him while he was still trying to contact her, but I don't want to go back and check.
Good story nonetheless, if a little dry.
Dear readers, now I will tell you everything that the author chose to keep silent about (and immediately everything will fall into place and this story will correspond to this category - "Loving Wives") :
As it turned out... Irene was surprised and discouraged by such a striking resemblance between her former scoundrel fiance and her new colleague, Phil. She became interested in the topic of doubles and posted her photo on many thematic sites. And after a while - Oh, a miracle! - responded a girl from Sweden named Gerda, who was her exact copy, like an identical twin sister lost in childhood... They got in touch, met and became very close friends. They began to have a good time and had fun to the fullest on weekends and on holidays, posing as each other in various everyday comical situations. They even began to travel all over Europe, with each other's passports, while playfully and arrogantly smiling at unsuspecting border guards and customs officers. Irene was in no hurry to introduce her husband to her, such an unusual friend, because, in the near future, she was already mentally inventing some grandiose furore, a prank or a surprise for her beloved husband - with the help of a twin girlfriend, Gerda, of course! But something went wrong... Alas and ah.. WEBCAM and telephone communication across the Atlantic Ocean do not really contribute to strengthening family ties, and, moreover, they are not able to satisfy the sexual needs and desires of a young, hot woman. Well, and then this bitch Gerda constantly whispers in the ear of our main character, with her North Scandinavian attitude to marriage (have you all heard about the Swedish family? This Swedish slut has more than once jokingly raised this topic in conversation with a "conservative and sanctimonious" Danish girlfriend).
Moving on...
I tell you, readers: "Yes! Yes! And once again - Yes!" Then, in that bathroom, indeed, his cheating wife, Irene, was hiding from her husband!!! For this reason, she could not open the door and sat very quietly, without uttering a single word or sound. Otherwise, her husband Phil would have immediately realized that his wife was behind the door, and that this Scandinavian man, who resolutely and desperately blocked his access to his wife's apartment, was by no means a cousin or any other distant relative of his wife. Actually, Irene did not warn her husband about the upcoming "business trip to the UK", precisely because she was not going to go there. This is her flighty "twin girlfriend", decided to go to the Foggy Albion... That is why the "pseudo-Arin" could not leave the British Isles until the "completion of her secret mission" ... (This slut Gerda simply ignored her mobile phone. The bitch was fucking someone with abandon!) Further... When Gerda finally returned to the mainland, Irene, taking her passport from her friend, immediately flew to her husband, to America, to fix the mess. But - "The best way to protect yourself is an attack, am I right?" She poked her husband in the nost passport with border stamps, assuring her husband that she was in Britain... Pretty Irene rushed back to Europe. She knew that if Phil started asking clarifying questions, she would crumble and burst into tears... She decided to "disappear from the radar" and turned on the "radio mode"... At first she had remorse, then a monstrous sense of guilt came, a little later there appeared (at the suggestion of a North Scandinavian sister) - self-justification... And what happened after that? You already know... Um, well - his best friend's grandmother, Willie - until now-is fervently waltzing in a wheelchair, breaking the hearts of many Irish grandfathers....
(ID: I R U S S)
Good story but left me cold. Liked the military stuff but not marrying the wacked out Dane.
All could have been cleared up if only Irene's cousin's wife had just said "I'm not Irene" through the door when he said "Irene! Irene! Come out! Irene You have ten seconds to come out and talk to me"
Nice story. It did leave me with some questions like why was the MC put on the fast track. Another is why would they retire to the United States when they spent their entire married life in Europe. Neither one is important to the story, of course.