During the first year, Becky and Ted spent a lot of time together and went on trips together. Becky was the happiest she had ever been. By the end of the first year, however, things began to change. Ted mad more and more trips out of town, saying that he needed to do more selling. Although Becky had gnawing doubts about his truthfulness, she had no proof that he was lying, and the sales continued to soar. Still her frustration grew month by month.
Then Becky’s father died, and Becky was devastated. Ted took over the Thatcher business and ran it well, but his time at home was less and less. Becky began to hear rumors about Ted and his out of town trips. Then she began to hear things about him and workers at the company. She noticed that some of her female friends either very obviously changed the topic or else became strangely silent when she came into the room.
Although Becky loved Ted, he always assured her that people spread rumors because of jealousy. And it was true, the company continued to grow, and Ted had decided that Thatcher Manufacturing was no longer prestigious enough and, as CEO, had changed the name to Trident Industries Southeast. It was an easy change. Although the company had gone public, Mr. Thatcher had reserved 60% of the stock so as to maintain both control and the 60% quorum necessary under the company’s charter.
After one of Ted’s frequent trips, Becky was removing the soiled laundry from Ted’s suitcase and found a bra too small to have been hers. She remained silent. Over the next year, she found other incriminating signs of Ted’s infidelity. They ranged from lipstick on his shirt and shorts to an occasional bra or panties mixed in with Ted’s laundry.
Becky challenged Ted on the various items, but he always presented some excuse that would not have sounded plausible to most women, but Becky wasn’t most women. In spite of Ted’s philandering, she still loved him and thought that he would eventually be the husband he had promised to be.
Marriage was not what Becky had imagined. They had moved into her father’s huge home with all its grandeur and elaborate furnishings. They were members of the country club. Once a year, they went on a fabulous vacation to some exotic location, but except for that one annual vacation, Becky’s life had become a nightmare.
On a typical night, Ted would come home, and the maid would serve dinner. Although the dining table would seat twelve, she and Ted sat alone. Ted had not yet decided he wanted children, and Becky was wondering if he ever would. Becky beside him at a table for twelve, Ted would consume his food, talking only when a question was asked. Then he would go watch television while Becky got ready for bed. It didn’t matter what Becky wore to try to make herself more appealing, the bedroom routine was the same.
Ted always came upstairs whenever he was ready. He showered and came to bed nude. Sometimes he would just go to sleep. When he didn’t, he would reach over and kiss Becky lightly, usually only once. His breath smelled of scotch, and Becky endured the smell. Then with no further foreplay or tenderness, he would rise up and pull Becky’s panties down and raise her legs. If she was not adequately lubricated, he would frequently mutter “You’re not getting old and menopausal on me, are you?”