Chapter 5

                This pregnancy seemed to be going a lot smoother for Elynne.  Yes it was hard to deal with an infant and a pregnancy, but if Gussie could work as hard as he had been to make ends meet, Elynne could grin and bear it.  Her produce was sought after throughout Appaloosa Plains, and she started to fetch higher prices at market.  People sought her out and paid double just to be able to get their hands on some of her produce.  Jazzlyn even paid extra for delivery.

                However, Elynne just had this underlying feeling that something wasn’t right, and she found out what it was late one night.

                Elynne had gotten up with Turner in the middle of the night for a feeding and a diaper change when she heard Gussie’s voice from their bedroom.  It sounded like he was talking on the phone which was ridiculous because it was 3:00AM! 

She put Turner to bed, and cleaned the kitchen while she waited for Gussie to get off the phone.  She was sure it was Hailey, Gussie’s boss.  That was the only person he’d been taking phone calls from recently.  Elynne normally didn’t think anything of it until just now.

By the time she was tired enough to go back to bed, Gussie had been off the phone for a while.  She slipped under the covers, and fumed for several hours until she finally passed out.

The next morning, Turner aged up.  He was a toddler now!

Elynne was so happy she could hardly contain herself.  Gussie went out and bought a birthday cake for Turner, and the three of them ate it for breakfast.  Elynne decided that last night was not a big deal, and that she had been over reacting.  Gussie was such a good husband and father.  Surely whatever was going on was work related.

…Until his phone rang.

Gussie leapt up from the table, and walked hastily to the bedroom.

Elynne rolled her eyes, and looked at Turner.

“What are we ever going to do with your daddy?  He’s working so hard that he can’t even spend your birthday without taking a call.”

“Hey hun,” Gussie was beeming, “there’s a situation at work tonight.  Someone called off, and they need me to come in.”

“They work you to death,” Elynne snipped, “you shouldn’t be so excited to go work.  You’ve already worked your fair share of overtime this week.”

Gussie’s face fell, but he didn’t respond, and sure enough, when six o’clock rolled around, he was out the door.  What he didn’t tell Elynne, was that he was headed to a party at Hailey’s.

When Gussie pulled up to Hailey’s house, he was in shock.  She had a beautiful modern home with a two car garage.  Gussie couldn’t wait to make that much money… Of course, he’d never have a place this nice if Elynne kept getting pregnant.  Inside, there were plenty of good looking women, and Gussie was ready to party.

“Hey gorgeous,” Hailey purred.  Just hearing her voice gave Gussie goosebumps.  “I take it your wifie finally let you get out and have a good time.”

Gussie gulped and nodded.  Several women came up to him that night, but he never took his eyes off Hailey

After he got up enough courage, he invited her upstairs…

But someone overheard.

Hailey grabbed Gussie’s hand, and the headed for her room.

“Are you sure?” Hailey asked tentatively, “I kind of feel bad… isn’t your wife pregnant?”  Hailey sat down on the bed.  The tone in her voice made her sound worried, but she looked like she had done this before.

“I don’t know anything anymore…” Gussie sighed.  He had drank a ton of nectar tonight, and had been so excited to get out of the house that he hadn’t eaten.  He was a mess.

“It’s alright, Gussie,” Hailey whispered, “I won’t tell… you deserve some fun.”

The next thing Gussie knew, it was 9:00AM, and he was in Hailey’s bed.  What happened?

Hailey woke up when she heard Gussie getting dressed, and grabbed his hand.

“Did you have fun sweetheart?” She asked.

“Hailey, this is a mistake.  I have to go.”

“But you said—“

“I know what I said, but Elynne needs me right now.  I love you.  I always have since I first met you in grade school, but I can’t do this to Elynne.”  Gussie shouted. 

“Then you shouldn’t have started this.” Hailey hissed.  “Mark my words.  You will regret this.”

                Gussie glanced at his phone.  Elynne had called him several times, and was probably worried sick… Unless she knew what had happened.  Gussie had to tell her…

                …but someone else already had.