Nick walked into the ballroom with Brian, Leighanne, Kevin, Kristin, Howie, Leigh, AJ, and Rachel. They were attending a charity event where single guys would bid on single girls for a date for one night.  The guys were intent on making Nick bid on one of the girls. Nick was married to a woman named Hayley. They aren’t officially divorced since she disappeared before any papers could be filed.

        “Guys, this is not a good idea, no one is going to go out with me, I’m still married,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, but your wife has disappeared, remember,” Brian said. Nick sighed.

        “Still, I’m married,” Nick said.

        “It’s just for one night and it’s a good cause,” Brian said.

        “I know, okay,” Nick said. They mingled with the crowd. Nick stood there looking around. He heard applause and someone speaking and turned towards the stage and his eyes widened as he saw his wife, Hayley, standing there smiling.

        “Thank you all for coming tonight to help benefit the children’s hospital, now there are some ladies up for bid for a date for one night only, and of course, I’m the first one up for bid,” Hayley said. The auction began.

        “One thousand dollars going once, going twice,” the auctioneer said.

        “One hundred thousand dollars,” Nick called out. He came up to the front of the crowd and Hayley froze as she stared at him. The auctioneer looked around the room.

        “Sold to the gentlemen for one hundred thousand dollars,” he said. He held out his hand and she took it and he pulled her to another room and closed the door and stood there glaring at her.

        “I suppose you planned this event,” Nick said.

        “Yes,” Hayley said quietly.

        “Didn’t expect to see me, did you,” Nick said.

        “I didn’t know you guys were coming,” Hayley said quietly.

        “I paid one hundred thousand dollars to go on a date with my wife, how funny is that,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Hayley said.

        “I don’t want to hear any excuses, Hayley, I want the truth, why did you leave me?” Nick asked.

        “I came home one night and saw Willa in your bed,” Hayley said.

        “Was I there?” Nick asked.

        “No, you were on tour,” Hayley said.

        “Exactly, you played her game, she has been trying to get me back for a long time, but I wouldn’t take her back because of you, I was married to you, for better for worse, til death do us part, remember, but you hightailed it out of my life as soon as you got the chance, before you heard my side of the story,” Nick said. Hayley turned away.

        “It doesn’t matter anymore, it was five years ago, I’ve moved on,” Hayley said.

        “So that’s it, huh, nothing else matters, like our marriage, I’d be damned if I even give you a divorce,” Nick said.

        “It’s for the best,” Hayley said.

        “Why, is there another guy?” Nick asked.

        “No,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, why did you leave like that, you knew I would never cheat on you, remember, it happened before, you found someone in our bed and thought I cheated, you confronted me and the guys and found out it wasn’t true, you didn’t run then but you find Willa in our bed and you take off, what was the difference, huh,” Nick said.

        “I thought it really happened that time, because it was Willa in bed this time, I thought she came to get you back and thought she would just wait on the bed for you,” Hayley said.

        “I told you a hundred times that I never wanted to see Willa ever again,” Nick said.

        “It doesn’t matter now, it’s over with, I’ve moved on,” Hayley said.

        “So you don’t love me anymore, is that it,” Nick said.

        “I will go to my grave loving you,” Hayley said. Nick came up behind her.

        “Why can’t we work this out, we are married, Hayley, I haven’t been with anyone else, I couldn’t, the guys have been trying to set me up and get me to move on, but I can’t, I can’t stop loving you or wanting you, you were my wife, I vowed on our wedding day to always be faithful to you and love you, and that’s what I’ve done, but the first chance you get, you leave,” Nick said. Hayley covered her face.

        “I’m sorry, okay, I can’t!” Hayley said. She ran from the room. Nick stood there.

Chapter 2

Brian and Leighanne were talking with Kevin and Kristin when they saw Hayley run by crying. Leighanne and Kristin went after her while Kevin and Brian went to the room where Nick was. They saw him sitting there staring at the floor.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “She has moved on, she said she can’t be with me anymore, what did I do, I was faithful to her, I was always honest with her, I could never cheat on her,” Nick said. Brian and Kevin sat down and put their hands on his shoulders.

Hayley ran out of the building and ran into Willa. She glared at her and started past her.

        “Hayley, wait,” Willa said.

        “I have nothing to say to you, you ruined my marriage!” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, nothing happened between me and Nick, I was in the bed to make you think that because I wanted him back, he was and has always been completely faithful to you, he and I are just friends now, that’s all, nothing more, you are his wife, the love of his life, I swear to you, nothing has happened between me and Nick, Nick and I haven’t been together since before we broke up, I swear, I have a new man in my life and he is my soulmate, my true love, his name is Jack, he is amazing and I can’t imagine my life without him,” Willa said.

        “Oh god,” Hayley said crying.

        “It’s not too late, Hayley,” Leighanne said.

        “Go back to him, Hayley, he needs you and you need him,” Kristin said.

        “I better go, I wanted you to know the truth, don’t give up your marriage, Hayley, you’ll regret it, don’t break his heart like I did,” Willa said before walking away.

        “It’s been so long, I don’t think I can go back,” Hayley said. Kristin and Leighanne looked at each other.

        “Hayley, are you saying that you no longer love Nick?” Leighanne asked.

        “I will always love him but I can’t bring myself to be with him again,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, you are his wife, he is your husband, you two belong together,” Kristin said.

        “I have to go!” Hayley said. She got into her car and went home. Leighanne and Kristin walked back inside and found Brian and Kevin with Nick.

        “She left,” Leighanne said.

        “She bumped into Willa outside and Willa told her the truth but Hayley left anyways, she thinks she can’t go back, she said she can’t go back, that she can’t bring herself to be with him again,” Kristin said.

        “I have a plan, and she will be with me again, she will be begging to come back,” Nick said. He left. Leighanne and Kristin looked at their husbands and wondered what Nick had planned.

Chapter 3

Nick stood in his kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner that he cooked. He contacted Hayley for the date he paid for and settled for dinner at his house. He smiled at the thought of the surprise he had for her. He was wearing an apron and he closed up all the windows and doors and covered all the windows. He was wearing a wifebeater under the apron but that was all he was wearing. He was going to make her want him again. He heard the front door open and close.

        “Nick,” Hayley called.

        “In the kitchen,” Nick said. Hayley came in and saw him. The bottom half of his body was blocked by the island in the kitchen.

        “Hi,” Hayley said.

        “Hey, made your favorite, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy and corn,” Nick said.

        “You remembered,” Hayley said.

        “Yup,” Nick said.

        “We need to talk,” Hayley said.

        “Yes we do,” Nick said.

        “Can we go into the living room?” Hayley asked. Nick came around the counter and smiled at her. She looked at him.

        “Nick, you aren’t wearing any pants!” Hayley said.

        “I know that, I forgot to put them on,” Nick said. Hayley turned away. Nick removed the apron and his shirt and came up behind her and pulled her against him.

        “Care to join me?” Nick asked.

        “Nick,” Hayley said. He moved her hair from her neck and kissed her neck softly.

        “We were always good together, so hot, passionate, erotic,” Nick said nibbling her shoulder. He slid his hands under her shirt and cupped her breasts.

        “Nick, please,” Hayley said.

        “Please what?” Nick said unhooking her bra and sliding his hands underneath her bra. Her head fell back against him. He smiled and slid her shirt over her head. He removed her bra and her pants and underwear and she stood there naked. He pulled her to him and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he gently pushed her against the wall and pushed inside her. He went fast and hard. He took a breast in his mouth and sucked deep. She held onto him and kissed him deeply. He came inside her spilling his love for her. She came around him and cried out his name. He held her there for awhile and rested his forehead against her shoulder. He let her down and kissed her forehead. She pulled away and got dressed.

        “Nick, that shouldn’t of happened,” Hayley said.

        “Why, we are married, Hayley,” Nick said.

        “I want a divorce,” Hayley said. Nick went upstairs and got dressed and came back downstairs and stared at her.

        “Why, Hayley, why are you doing this to me!” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Hayley said.

        “No, Hayley, dammit, you listen to me, I never once was unfaithful to you, I love you more than anything in the world, I would die for you, I would do anything for you, I kept my part of our vows, did you ever love me, did you!” Nick said.

        “Yes, I did, I do love you,” Hayley said.

        “If you love me, why a divorce, huh,” Nick said.

        “Nick, I have been on my own for five years now, I finally made peace with it,” Hayley said.

        “So you rather be alone than with me, huh,” Nick said.

        “Nick, things have changed,” Hayley said.

        “Why do you want to break my heart,” Nick said.

        “I don’t,” Hayley said.

        “You are, Hayley, you are breaking my heart in a million pieces, I gave you everything you wanted, my heart, my love, everything, and you are throwing it away, for what, there is another guy, isn’t there,” Nick said.

        “No, there isn’t, Nick,” Hayley said.

        “Then why are you doing this to me!” Nick cried.

        “I have to,” Hayley said.

        “Why!” Nick cried.

        “It’s the right thing to do, we have been apart for five years,” Hayley said.

        “Because you left me!” Nick said.

        “Nick, please, let’s just end everything and move on with our lives, it’s the right thing to do, everything has changed, I have changed, I’m a better person now,” Hayley said.

        “You have always been a better person, you haven’t changed in my eyes, you are the same woman I married,” Nick said. Hayley looked at him and shook her head.

        “No I’m not, not anymore, I’m more independent now,” Hayley said.

        “So that’s it, our marriage means nothing to you,” Nick said. Hayley looked at him.

        “Nick,” Hayley said. He kissed her deeply.

        “I refuse to give up on you, on us,” Nick said. He went upstairs. Hayley looked around and went out the door.

Chapter 4

Nick sat in his bedroom, staring at the floor. He was thinking of all that had happened. He heard the front door open and close. He knew she left. A few minutes later, he heard the front door open and close and heard footsteps.  He looked up and saw Brian and Leighanne at the doorway. They came in and sat down beside him.

        “What happened?” Brian asked.

        “I seduced her, we had sex, after getting dressed, she tells me she wants a divorce, going on and on about how she’s changed and became more independent, that it’s the right thing to do, I give her everything and she throws it back in my face,” Nick said. Leighanne hugged him.

        “I’m sorry, Nick, Kris and I tried talking to her,” Leighanne said. Nick nodded.

        “I know,” Nick said.

        “I’m taking care of this,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Leighanne said.

        “No, she can’t do this to him,” Brian said. He went out the door. He called Kevin, Howie, and AJ and they met him at Hayley’s apartment building. They went up and knocked on the door. She opened the door and saw them.

        “Hi guys,” Hayley said. They went in and she closed the door. They looked at her.

        “Okay, Hayley, enough is enough, we are not going to let you break our little brother’s heart here, so tell us why are you intent on divorcing him,” Kevin said. They heard a child crying. They looked at each other and went to one of the bedrooms and looked in and saw a little boy in the bed. The boy was sitting up and he had blond hair and blue eyes.

        “Oh god,” AJ said. They looked at Hayley.

        “You have a son,” Howie said.

        “Yes,” Hayley said.

        “Nick’s son,” Brian said.

        “He does look like Nick,” Kevin said.

        “Is this why you want a divorce, you don’t want Nick knowing that he’s a father,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Hayley said.

        “I can’t believe you, Nick deserves to know that he’s a father, you know how much he wanted kids, he practically helped raise his younger brother and sisters, and you keep his son from him,” Brian said.

        “How heartless can you be,” AJ said. They went out the door and Kevin called Kristin to meet them over at Nick’s. They arrived at Nick’s and went in just as Kristin met them at the door and they all went in and saw Leighanne and Nick on the couch. Nick had his head in his hands and Leighanne was rubbing his back. They looked up and saw them.

        “Guys,” Nick said.

        “She’s divorcing you because she has a son, she had your kid, Nick, you have a son, she kept him from you,” Brian said.

        “What!” Nick said.

        “Yeah, we were talking to her and we heard a kid cry and we went to the bedroom and saw a little boy sitting up in bed, he’s a carbon copy of you,” Kevin said.

        “She’s divorcing me to keep me from my kid, how could she do this!” Nick said. He ran out the door and went to Hayley’s. The guys and girls followed him. He went to her apartment and knocked on the door. Hayley opened the door and saw him.

        “Nick,” Hayley said. He went in and looked around and went to the bedroom and saw his son asleep in bed. He knelt down beside the bed and stroked his forehead. He woke up and saw Nick and smiled. He got up and jumped into Nick’s arms.

        “Daddy!” he said.

        “You know about me,” Nick said.

        “Yes, Mommy said you were busy with work,” he said. Nick looked at Hayley.

        “What’s your name?” Nick asked.

        “Josh, Mommy said you knew about me,” Josh said.

        “Actually, I didn’t, your mom didn’t tell me, my friends found out about you and told me,” Nick said.

        “Mommy, you said Daddy knew about me,” Josh said.

        “Josh,” Hayley said.

        “Mommy!” Josh said hugging Nick.

        “Hayley,” Leighanne said.

        “I thought Nick cheated on me so I didn’t think he needed to know,” Hayley said.  Nick put Josh back on the bed.

        “Josh, why don’t you go back to bed, your mother and I need to talk,” Nick said. Josh nodded and got back into bed. Nick went out and turned around and looked at Hayley.

Epilogue

Brian, Leighanne, Kristin, Kevin, AJ, and Howie stood behind Nick as he glared at Hayley.

        “Were you ever going to tell me?” Nick asked.

        “I don’t know,” Hayley said.

        “You don’t know, he is my son!” Nick said.

        “Hayley, he has never lied to you, why did you lie to him,” Kevin said.

        “I can’t believe you!” Nick said angrily.

        “I’m sorry, okay, I’m sorry, I was stupid, an idiot, I don’t deserve anything anymore,” Hayley said crying. She sat down and covered her face with her hands.

        “Hayley,” Kevin said.

        “Go ahead, take him, I don’t deserve to be in his life anymore,” Hayley said. The guys looked at each other.

        “Hayley, what are you talking about,” Brian said.

        “I’m sick, really sick, I never told you all about Josh because I wanted as much time alone with him as possible,” Hayley said.

        “What,” Nick said sitting next to her.

        “I have leukemia, I’ve been doing chemo, but my doctor said yesterday that it’s not getting better, I was diagnosed after Josh was born, the doctor said I would have like over four years to live, I could go anytime,” Hayley said.

        “Oh god,” Nick said.

        “I wanted to tell you so badly about Josh, but I wanted time alone with him, as much time as possible, no interruptions or anything, just me and him, I made out a will, I was going to leave everything to you, Nick, I wrote a letter explaining that Josh is your son and explained why I never told you,” Hayley said. Nick looked at the guys. He took Hayley in his arms.

        “Come live with me, let me take care of you,” Nick said. Hayley nodded and they all packed up everything and moved it to Nick’s house. Nick put Hayley in his bed and kissed her forehead.

        “I never stopped loving you, Nick,” Hayley said. He kissed her deeply.

        “Me either, I’ve never stopped loving you,” Nick said.

        “I never filed for a divorce,” Hayley said.

        “Good,” Nick said. Josh came in and got on the bed and hugged Hayley.

        “I love you, Mommy, thank you for getting us back with Daddy,” Josh said.

        “I love you, honey, all I did was tell the truth,” Hayley said.

        “I’m glad you two are together, I’m glad to have my Mommy and Daddy together,” Josh said hugging them both.

Three weeks later, Nick stood there at the cemetery holding Josh’s hand as the casket was lowered into the ground. He picked up Josh and held him as they cried. Nick knew he lost the love of his life and vowed to be the best father to Josh and he knew Hayley was watching over them.

The End!