I began to obsess over my plan to kill that conniving homewrecker as there was do doubt in my mind that she had been working on this for some time.

A year before Dom walked out on our marriage, we were invited to a lavish welcome home party for the daughter of one of Dom's new business associates, Gene.  Social occasions such as these weren't uncommon in our life and although, then I'd have rather spent my time alone with my husband, I felt that I was an attractive and charming complement to him so I was always happy to accompany him.  The party was well attended. The guest of honor was young and stunningly beautiful.  She didn't seem to want to waste much time talking to me, but it looked as though she couldn't get enough of Dom. At one point the crowd was so thick I completely lost sight of him, but I wasn't worried.  I thought that was what made our marriage work.  We could go our separate ways at a party and later on when it was just the two of us, we would discuss the people we met and the things we talked about.

That night, though, our drive home was strangely quiet.  When I would bring up something that I'd found interesting, he would barely mumble half-hearted replies, if anything at all.  I told myself it was just the new business venture on his mind and nothing more.  After all, we loved each other, right?

In the next few weeks, things seemed to be back on track, but I just had an uneasy feeling.  Dom came home one day and told me that he would be going on a short trip with Gene.  Gene's marriage was on the rocks, according to Dom, and he wanted to get away with a friend and do some fly fishing.  

"Fly fishing?  I didn't know you liked to fish," I said, feeling that hot rush of suspicion choke me.  I didn't know the reason for the uncommon feeling, but I didn't like it.

"Just because I've never fished before doesn't mean I don't like it.  Besides, it's Gene's treat and he needs someone to talk to.  I think he sees what a strong marriage we have and would like some pointers," Dom explained patiently.  "He's embarrassed about this, so be a sweetheart and don't mention it to anyone."

If I only knew then what I know now.  How could I have been such an idiot?  Watching his sweet, innocent face then I would not let myself believe the deception forming in his brain.  We vowed "til death do us part".  I would never be unfaithful and neither would he.  We loved each other, right?

The three days he was gone seemed to stretch on forever.  I tried to keep myself occupied with my writing and yoga classes.  The day he was to arrive back home, I had worked all day making everything special, from his favorite dinner to a romantic evening complete with an excellent champagne and scented sheets.  Everything should have been perfect but it wasn't.  He barely touched his dinner and said the champagne wasn't agreeing with him.  He said that he must have caught a virus on the fishing trip and needed to rest.  I cleared away the dinner dishes trying not to think the worst.  When I went to bed that night, he was lying as close to his edge of the bed as possible, feigning sleep.

After that night, I could see the distance forming in our relationship.  A feeling of dread began to overtake my subconscious.  What could I do?  I had no hard proof of anything wrong.  How could I approach him with my fears without putting him on the defensive?  "I'm just being paranoid," I told myself over and over.

A few days later, he called to tell me he'd be working late and not to wait up for him.  I put as much cheer in my voice as I could, told him I loved him and hung up, still not being able to shake the feeling that something was wrong.  That night as I slept, my dreams were vivid and troubling.  All through the dream I followed Dom around this huge house filled with strangers, trying to get him to acknowledge me.  Then he was standing beside a strange woman, turning his back to me, nuzzling her neck and whispering in her ear, then turning back to look at me while they laughed.  I woke up drenched in sweat.