Angie had promised to get out of town and leave Hank and me alone forever. I wondered if it could really be that easy. Knowing my mother as I did, it all seemed too good to be true.

Maybe our anniversary won’t be ruined after all?

After parking in the lot beside the motel, I approached the door of Angie’s room.

It can’t be this easy... I just know there’s going to be some hideous catch!

I tapped on the door and Angie answered in an ill-fitting black lingerie set. Rolls of her newfound weight were hanging over the extra tight bra and panty combo.

“And here is the hideous catch,” I said under my breath.

“Austin, what are you doing here?” she asked in a phony tone.

“What are you talking about?” I asked acidly. “You invited me here. In fact, you insisted!”

“Well, now ain’t the best time,” she continued, a salacious grin coming over her round face. “I’m entertaining a gentleman friend who is close to the both of us.”

I gave her a scathing look and pushed past her into the motel room. There, I saw him. Hank was in the motel bed. My husband wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing and his eyes were closed as if he were asleep. Frozen, I stood there with my lips trembling and tears building in my eyes.

“I told ya that I was entertaining!” Angie declared from behind me.

I said nothing at first. I stood there gaping at the sight before me. Eventually, I turned to Angie.

“Me and Hank have gotten back together,” she bragged. “He couldn’t stop himself from wanting the real thang! He even put his salty buttermilk up in my biscuit and everything!” She paused. “See, he wanted a real woman. He didn’t want some faggot boy substitute like you!” I wanted to knock the smarmy look off her face. “I hate to be the one to tell ya, but that man is still mine! When he saw what a real woman could offer him, you didn’t make the cut, Austin!”

I still didn’t reply. Instead, I continued to watch Hank seemingly asleep on the motel bed.

“Hank,” I muttered, controlling my emotions. “Hank, get up!”

He didn’t stir.

My own fears and insecurities began to cascade within me. Could this have happened? Could Hank have wanted Angie over me?

For a moment, it felt as if my world were coming to an end. My body trembled and tears welled in my eyes. Just before the floodgate of emotions poured from me, I noticed something. There was a single beer which was half empty next to him on the nightstand.

“What happened here?” I asked.

“What are ya deaf, dumb, and blind?” Angie frowned. “Me and my man got drunk and made love!”

“How much beer did Hank drink?” I asked keenly.

“Oh, we killed a twelve pack.”

“So why in the hell do I see just one beer?”

“Uh,” she stammered. “I... uh... I cleaned them all up and threw the bottles away.”