My love is unconditional; my trust and respect are not -- Late Summer 2016

I had overheard the kids speaking about Addison having an affair... with Malfoy of all people.  The kids did not know how bad it was between me and their mother; we were already separated... we were basically just roommates now.  I stayed on third shift and she worked first/second.  It was nice because we really did not have to spend too much time together.  We kept it decent towards each other when the kids were around... they could tell something was going on, though.  Addie and I stopped arguing.  That was a red flag for the kids, really.  I did not blame Addison for seeking companionship elsewhere, but why even try the separation then?  If she was truly not thinking of ever going back to what we were -- which is what we were trying to do, I thought -- then why bother?  She had to know that this was not going to end well for her. 

The kids were off doing their own thing before having to go back to Hogwarts and Addison was home and so was I -- which was odd in itself.  She was busy in the kitchen -- really, the only place I found her when she was home.  "So I found out a couple of things," I said to her, keeping my voice steady and calm.  I had found a Muggle pregnancy test in the garbage in the bathroom as well.  And I knew that it definitely was not mine.

I finished putting the chicken into the oven and turned around to look at Dean, a little anxious.  "Oh?" I asked, expecting an argument.  We had barely been talking to each other.  I was not sure how I felt towards Dean anymore, but I was just tired of everything.

I sighed.  "There's no point in even going through the motions, Addie.  You're clearly not into the mere separation to possibly get things to work again," I explained to her simply.  I knew she would go through the motions of arguing that fact.  "You're having an affair with Malfoy... so don't argue.  Please, have some pride."

I had no idea how he knew about that. But there was Dorian who had seen me there at one point and he had to have told Constantine. I took a deep breath and shook my head. "Dean, that was a mistake," I said to him. "I ended things with Draco." We both had come to our senses with what was going on with our own personal lives.

I looked at her. "Are you expecting me to applaud you?" I questioned sarcastically. She still cheated. That was the end of discussion. As much as we drifted apart and the fact that we were technically separated... I still loved her. How could I not? It was Addison. My first love. The mother of my children. But that did not make me feel any less betrayed by this or heartbroken.

I took a deep breath, shaking my head.  "Of course not," I said to Dean quietly.  "I was going to tell you -- well, try to.  There is more to the story, though."  I was dreading this conversation.  I had gotten pregnant somehow... even though we were careful.  I had no idea how to tell either one of them, actually.

"Does it have to do what was found while taking out the trash?" I questioned, not wanting to be coy about a bloody thing.  I was so tired of the way things had been... but there was still no reason to cheat.  If she had wanted to, she should never had agreed to merely a separation or anything like that.  We should have just gotten a divorce.