The accidental mistress

One of our managers in our department left last week for another job. I was quite sad to see him go as we regularly shared a laugh in the mornings and he played a significant role in making me feel a part of the team when I joined The Company. Walking past his empty cube I noticed that he had forgotten to take home his suit jackets that were hanging by the chair. On Friday someone from his team asked me if I could take them to him as I live nearby his house. I agreed to do it. He told me once that after work he usually spends some time outside in the front yard playing with his dog. I figured that if I headed for his house right after work I might catch him outside so I could just hand off the jackets directly to him. My biggest fear (I always think of the worst possible scenario) was that he would not be there and then I would have to ring the doorbell and his wife would answer and ask me what I was doing with her husband's clothes.

After a bit of trouble I found his house (Google satellite map told me his house was the 3rd one in, it was like the 5th--get on it Vince :P ). Much to my dismay he was not outside with his dog. This meant I would have to go ring the bell. As I walked up to the house I saw his kids were along the back of the couch watching me. I rang the bell and was promptly greeted by his dog...and his wife. Perfect.

"Hi, these are Paul's, he forgot them at work," I hold out the jackets, thinking she would quickly accept them, thank me, maybe mention that her husband had been wondering when he'd ever get around to picking them up, etc.

"Where from work?" she asked.

"The Company, he forgot to take them before he left, " I explained.

"Oh. And who are you?"

"Oh! I'm Jill, I used to work with him." I was still holding the jackets at this point wishing she would take them already and please let this favour be over with fpr crying out loud.

"Oh hi Jill," she said and then cocked her head. "What's my husband doing taking his clothes off at work?"

I was standing outside yet suddenly there was not quite enough oxygen for my liking. I then realised that I was standing there with my pink hat pulled low over my eyes, wearing large sunglasses and a black scarf. I looked the exact part of a very mysterious woman.

The wife laughed at her own very funny comment and then I did too (politely and out of sheer relief that this was all very hilarious to her) before rushing in "they just asked me to drop these off since I live nearby." She finally accepted the jackets and let me go without further questioning.

At lunch today I told the story to my co-workers who laughed. I laughed too until one of them pointed something out to me. Paul left The Company for a position with a dental office. I never told him but it is the same place I go to. It would be just my luck that one day I will be there when his wife is there to pick him up and then she'll say, "Oh, what are you doing at my husband's office?"