Infidelity

“I’m headed out,” Alejandro said as he walked to the door, shoes half on. Maria poked her head out, her shirt covered in baby spit up and the remnants of some kind of baby food. “Ok, be safe, but I need you home today. I am taking extra shifts up at the hospital and I need you to be here for the kids.” She pressed, moving her body to lean on the door frame.

“Maria, you know I-” She cuts him off with a stern look and volume in her voice. “I don’t care Juan, I need you home, not drunk on the street.” Groaning, he rubbed his eyes and focused back on putting his shoes on. Marcus ran past the two with a small doll in his hand, playing by himself, making circles around the two. The fast motions make Alejandro’s head run wild, his eyes landing on the little doll in his fingers.

“AYE!!” He snatched the doll from his hands, the arm ripping and falling to the floor. “What are you? A sissy? Boys don’t play with girl toys.” Maria furred her brows, pushing off the frame. “He’s 6! God Alejandro, are you still drunk?” Marcus ran off into the other room, the yelling giving him the chance to, his shoes kicking up the stuffing that fell to the floor. “No I’m not, but I won’t have a tranny son.”

She went quiet for a moment, looking back, unable to spot where Marcus had run off to. “Just be back, ok? I know they have been cutting budgets lately, and money has been tight, but just do me this one thing.” He eyed her as she got closer. Scoffing, he nodded, eyes elsewhere as he felt a peck on his cheek. “Thank you darling, try and be back before dinner, I’ll make your favorite.” A smile crept onto her lips, soon dropping when she was shoved away.

“Get cleaned up.” He didn’t look at her. How could he? He was repulsed by the sight of her. Soon he would make it big and he wouldn’t have to deal with her any longer. Straightening his un-ironed dress shirt, he walked out the door. She scattered around before running to the door. “Alejandro!” She yelled, the door wide open. “Your briefcase,” and surely enough, that was what was in her hands. Rolling his eyes, he made his way back to her. “Didn’t I say get cleaned up? So do it, wife.” She looked at him, her hand extended, empty from where he took what she was holding. No other words were exchanged while he walked off.

He couldn’t figure out when this deep hatred had formed, but whatever he once felt, was gone. In truth, he had been laid off for about two weeks. Guess showing up drunk isn’t a good sense of formality. He thought back onto the times when she was younger, prettier, before motherhood had taken its toll. He had always gone for the uglies though, an awful trait he had. She had become lazy and fat in his eyes. And those kids? Didn’t even feel like his, so why pay any mind to them? Maybe if he hadn’t been so quick to wife her up, he would have had more time to be young, maybe find someone that fits more his style.

He had been lying to her face for a couple months about where he was going, who he was seeing. A man has urges, and he needed them fulfilled. She just wasn’t doing it anymore, and was a lot of trouble in the long run. Through his work, he found a young beautiful woman. She was sweet, her figure was one he could gawk at, but more importantly, she was naive.

He wasn’t really all here today. Downing three bottles of wine, and god knows how many drinks after, he felt like shit. Probably smelled like it too as he couldn’t remember the last time he showered. But the overpowering smell of booze did well to cover it up. Up the steps he went, the pretty white steps he longed to have, matched with the oak wood door. He hadn’t tasted this kind of wealth since he met Maria. Just another reminder how she was failing him.

A gentle knock on the door followed by the light footsteps of his mistress. And what a pretty sight he was greeted too. The way her satin robe clung to her skin, her dolled up face, her curves dipping in all the right spots.

“Hi, Mr. Salesman sir.. I didn’t know you made house calls.” She said, her voice gently spoken. The kind of voice that made all his blood run south. She leaned up against the door frame, her body bending ever so slightly. “Heard you had an issue with our product. Thought my service.. was better in person.” He smirked, stepping closer. Her hand clutched at the hem of her robe. “Well, who am I to be a bad hostess?” She gave that sweet smile that had him craving her from the moment they met before turning and inviting him inside. “Take a shower doll, those overtime hours have you smelling like a boy's locker room.” She snickered, moving around the island in her kitchen. “So kind of you to notice, but, as my princesa wishes.”

Like he said, a man has urges.

Lounging in bed with her tucked into his side, cigarette in mouth, he scrolled through his phone when a familiar name popped up. His eyes flickered to the time. Shit. He placed the phone to his ear, jumping out of the bed, waking his mistress in the process. “Hello?” He said, struggling with his pants, biting down hard onto the cigarette in his mouth. His mistress shot him a look of concern.

“Fuck.” He dropped the cigarette onto the carpet, his phone falling from his shoulder and ear. He bent down, hanging up the phone and grabbing the cig before it burnt the soft material beneath his feet. “Work needs me.” He managed to get out, grabbing his shirt and buttoning as fast as he could before putting the cigarette butt into the ashtray by the bedside.

“At this hour?” He ran around, while she pulled the sheets up to her chest. “My buddy bailed today and I have to take his place.” He stopped for a moment, looking up at her. “We have been short staffed lately.” Walking over to her, he placed a multitude of kisses on her forehead and around her face. “I’ll be back before you know it princesa.”

“Ok.” she whispered with a small smile on her face, watching as he ran out of the bedroom, the slamming of a door following. His phone lights up the night sky, the clock hitting 2:40am. How was he there that long? Fuck, he was screwed. He ran home to be met with an angry wife, her cheeks red hot, her face worn and exhausted.

“Where were you?” She whisper screamed. “I called you, I texted you? Nothing. We had a deal Alejandro. I had to spend money on a babysitter when you didn’t show. And with no word from you I had to leave work earlier, hindering any chance at a couple extra bucks.” he looked away, straightening his shirt. “It’s just a couple bucks.” “A couple bucks we need!!” Stress poured out from its seams. “We might not be able to pick up this month’s rent Juan!” Her lip quivered

“This is serious! When you tell me you are going to do something, I need you to do it!” He closed his eyes and grit his teeth before throwing his briefcase across the room. “I AM NOT ENTITLED TO LISTEN TO YOU WOMAN.” He yelled, Maria’s face morphing into one of shock before hardening when the sound of babies cries echoed throughout the house. “Going to get that?” He asked, crossing his arms, creating a barrier between the two. Cursing under her breath, Maria walked away to tend to the kids. “Get me a beer on the way back, overtime was stressful enough as it is, I don’t need an incompetent female yelling at me.” He grumbled, going and sitting down on the lazyboy and blasting the tv.

He drank the remainder of the night. The following morning, he got ready like normal, but this time Maria wasn’t here, and he didn’t remember her leaving. Then again, he didn’t remember what time he had his last beer, or what was even playing on the tv. What did he care? He thought, getting ready as usual.

The sound of the door caught his attention, his wife walking through. “Where were you?” He asked, raising an eyebrow, his head aching from the hangover he gave himself. She just walked past him, not even acknowledging him. “Are you still mad? Get over it, it was one time. I was working hard, providing for us. Can’t you at least be thankful for that?” He tsked as she disappeared around the corner. “Ungrateful woman.” He uttered, grabbing his briefcase. “Make me some fucking breakfast before I leave.”

She appeared back around the corner. “Make it yourself.” She challenged, crossing her arms. “What did you just say to me?” He stepped closer, his footsteps booming each time they made contact with the floor. “I said, make it yourself. I just worked a 5 hour shift, and am running on no sleep. Because someone decided they wanted to sleep with other FUCKING WOMEN!” She yelled, her chest moving up and down.

“What are you talking about, are you saying that I have been lying?” He asked, calmly, his demeanor never changing. It came with being a salesman. She laughed a bit, “are you serious?” “I was working overtime. You know this, I get money has been tight, but don’t take it out on me.” She wiped the tears that stained her cheeks. “I can not believe you are lying to my face right now.” “For god sakes woman. Get a hold of yourself, will you?”

“I called your work.” She spoke out abruptly. “What?” Alejandro shifted his stance. “I called your work, asking them to let you leave early today, and they said you had been laid off for weeks now. When were you planning on telling me?” Her voice strained. “And how does this loop back to me cheating? Are you accusing me just because I am out of work? That’s just fucking shameful. You should be ashamed of yourself.” He yelled, his eyes landing on the little blur that walked out behind Maria. “No, I’m not accusing you, because I know fact from false.” He rolled his eyes, scoffing at the idea. “Check your briefcase. There are panties and a note. Neither of which are mine.” Her voice broke as she spoke.

Shit, that minx. “A man has urges and you fit none of them! You are unsatisfying and tie me down to kids that aren’t even mine!” He swung his hands around before grumbling and walking over to put his shoes on. “You know what? I’m done. I have a proper home without you in it. It’s a perfect life where I can forget the mistake I made 8 years ago. Meeting you.”

Marcus ran over to his dad, clasping his hand. “Get off me.” He shoved the six year old to the side, feeling the soft nimble fingers in his hand again. In that moment his rage peaked and he swung as hard as he could, striking the poor kid right against the cheek. His watch clicked against the boy’s teeth. He fumed, watching the kid get up and walk over to his mom, a pile of blood in his hand and what looked like to be a tooth or two.

There was a moment of silence before it was broken by the door slamming behind him.

It was time for him to move on from the awful life he had found himself in. He and his mistress were the correct answer he had been looking for, but unbeknownst to him, Maria had called the number found on the note, leading to an hour-long conversation, trying to figure out what was going on. Because of this, when Alejandro showed up at her door, he was ignored. Figuring she just wasn’t home, he gave it a day or so, finding shelter in a motel or two.

The following day, he found a for sale sign on the house, and his mistress, nowhere to be found. He was truly alone.