The Bigamist (Short Story)

I was seven years practicing a double life. There was a simulation loved it as Berta. And it showed when they were together. Also loved Susanna and also sought to make her happy.

He defined himself as a familiar, homey, even conservative. He had extramarital affairs and who was married to two women. And none of them knew of the other.

The only gap in his emotional life was the absence of children. Berta had been pregnant once, near the beginning of their marriage, but had aborted more than five months, when he was out of Madrid, just with Susana. He had returned just for the birth and found the drama. His wife, still delicate and tender after the unfortunate fact is not raised, however, no reproach. It was a wonderful companion, even at a distance, and John had thanked him by being more affectionate since, if that were possible.

His other wife was perhaps sweeter, but less expressive in his affections. John, without quite knowing why, he attributed his condition to Catalonia. Or maybe it was because of his constant and long trips as a stewardess. So, too, had had no children, but talked about that possibility at the beginning of their relationship. It has long ceased to do so.

John had to fire Susan on El Prat airport. He did it regularly. It was just a small detail, almost banal, but I liked the repetition of this ritual. Now he was alone at home, drinking a whiskey and staring absently framed photo of his wife with her friend Greta placed on a table in the living room when the phone rang.

He was the CEO of your company. I had to immediately return to Madrid, because there had been a thousand noses computer problem to be solved he, personally.

He did not like sudden changes in routine or improvisation. He was a methodical approach that was based on the strict rigor of their habits: half a year in central Barcelona, ​​with offices episodic travel east and south of the peninsula, and another half in the delegation of Madrid, with corresponding trips to the sites north and west of Spain. That is, six months in the home of Susan and six in the Berta.

Not called to Madrid to explain this change of plans. I was not sure, not even whether to go see it. Berta was so organized and so precisely like him, with his guards at the hospital, fixed schedule of care for patients and their long-term planning of surgical interventions. Any change in their behavior patterns, he knew, disturbed her.

They had met when John had to undergo a simple operation for appendicitis and fell in love devotedly, immediately. He smiled at the memory. He did not cheat then the paperwork for that was his first marriage. The second, Susanna, was almost as fast as the other. With so little time between the two weddings, which might use the same roles. As he did not forge the documents, strictly speaking, he told himself that his was not a fraud, that he had committed no crime.

Susana met her in an unusual ocean crossing. They spoke at length during the journey and upon arrival to Bogota, where exceptionally had sent a company to make concrete steps, they married. "You're exactly the man they were looking for?, Said Susana, for explanation. Logically, he would not tell who was already married. So I omitted the detail.

He arrived in Madrid plunged in these pleasant memories and going to take a taxi saw his wife, or Berta, get into a car with a guy I looked at all syrupy. Full of wonder, only had time to tell the taxi driver, like in the movies: "Follow that car?.

After the initial amazement, and not surprised that both vehicles parasen before which was his home in Madrid. While descending the taxi was seen by the horrified Berta who instantly replied, and after muttering something into the ear of his companion, quickly and decisively turned toward him.

Gave him two loud kisses on the cheeks and before he could recover he said, "Do not mount any scenes. And less in front of my husband and my children?. "Your husband??. "Do your children? He shot to make the sentences with difficulty, while above her shoulder out of the car saw a boy about five years and a girl of two. Paled to see, despite the distance, the likeness of those children himself.

"No armes no fuss?, Was telling a stranger Berta, cold as an iceberg:" Roberto believes are his children?. "Or ... or stammered John, that this time there was no such abortion ...? "You see, his wife replied with a grin-evil: your long absences have given of themselves so that I could give birth to several children without you realizing it?. "Pe ... but, does your husband say?. "What do you think? He laughed outright and the other-What are the unique in having a double life with two parents and two families? "So you know what Susan!?. "Of course I know what Susan and who you kidding?.

Minutes later, collapsed and bigamist ravaged old knocked on the door of room 112 of the Hotel Wellington, at the beginning of Velasquez Street, as just told Berta. Susana A splendid, radiant with love and sex, which he believed flying to New York, opened the door before they become petrified with astonishment. For his part, John, stunned, was in bed at the back of the room, barely covered by a sheet, Greta, the inseparable friend of his wife, with whom he was supposed to be entertained during their absences, but, yes , a very different way.