IAIN KELLY

MY HUSBAND AND HIS LOVER

‘That’s the trouble with these old stone houses. They’re built like forts, to keep the enemy out. But once the enemy is within, it means it’s difficult to escape. Little slits instead of windows, only one door. You know, they used to tax homeowners based on the number of windows in their house, so everyone started bricking them up.’

She smiled, the flame from the lighter flickering on her face. ‘And you thought it would be romantic.’

She dropped the lighter into the pool of petrol and closed the door.

‘Don’t worry, the smoke will kill you before you burn.’


stone-house
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

114 responses to “MY HUSBAND AND HIS LOVER”

  1. Lisa Lancaster Avatar

    Wow!!! Loved this, so twisted.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Lisa 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    Hell hath no fury …..

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Someone should have told him that.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Anita Avatar

    Interesting to learn about the “taxes”.
    Chilling twist.
    Revenge for sure. Romantic plan burnt away…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Anita. On older buildings even in the city here you can still see where newer bricks have been used to block up windows. I do like that people decided to get round paying tax in such a cynical way! 🙂

      Like

  4. ceayr Avatar

    Revenge, like your tale, is sweet.
    My sort of woman!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks CE 🙂

      Like

  5. jillyfunnell Avatar

    Coldhearted revenge. I like it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jilly – remind me never to get on the wrong side of you!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Dale Avatar

    Well, she is having none of that… Poor bugger…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s not a good way to go.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar

        No, definitely not.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Kelley Farrell Avatar

    Oh my, these old buildings are just not faring well this week. Wonderful twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Kelley

      Liked by 1 person

  8. quiall Avatar

    Whew! Did not see that coming. Loved it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Edith M. Field Avatar

    No chance that he’s going to mess anyone else around! He seriously underestimated her ability to get even! A great tale, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Edith, I think his underestimating her is what led him into the affair in the first place.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    As I said to Neil, this prompt may indeed give us horrors, and you did not let me down. Well done

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael, happy to oblige.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. trentpmcd Avatar

    But the joke is on her – the height of romanticism is to die together 😉 Nice, if somewhat twisted, take on the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s a hell of a silver lining you’ve managed to find there! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. trentpmcd Avatar

        Yeah, not much of a silver lining in this one… even the wife is most likely going to jail

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Reena Saxena Avatar

    I like the bit about windows being a basis of taxation 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Reena, true here in the UK, but along time ago now.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Sue Avatar
    Sue

    Well played!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  14. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Not a nice lady Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      But a determined one, and assertive! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  15. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Or then perhaps their fate was well deserved!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Sandra Avatar

    She doesn’t, as the saying goes, ‘take any prisoners’, does she? Chilling.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      No, no messing about!

      Like

  17. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS Avatar

    Everyone needs to pay his or or her taxes. A very taxing story and very masterfully written. Loved the twist, every bit of it, Kelly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  18. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    That last line is a cracker. In this story, revenge is a dish best served flambe, Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rochelle

      Like

  19. Prior... Avatar

    so is that really true about the number of windows? I see a lo of old homes in a certain area in our town and many windows are bricked up…

    and the way you wrote this looped the title into the flow – and the title was lingering int he back as you seemed to just relax us into the chat about the old structure – and then led us into the serious revenge –
    well built (pun intended)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much. Certainly true here in Scotland, not sure about elsewhere in the world.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Prior... Avatar

        I heard that in some of our buildings the windows were merely covered to make the larger house into smaller apartments

        Liked by 1 person

      2. BarbCT Avatar

        What county in Scotland? Just curious.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Iain Kelly Avatar

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_tax The whole country, and England and Wales too.

        Like

      4. BarbCT Avatar

        Thanks for the link, but I meant what county do you live in. 😼

        Liked by 1 person

  20. granonine Avatar

    Oy. She’s one cool customer. Good one, Lain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  21. aheartforafrica641064503 Avatar
    aheartforafrica641064503

    Chilling, Iain. Poor man. What a way to go.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  22. larry trasciatti Avatar

    She couldn’t just try marriage counselling?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Well, some might, but she choose to be more definitive.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. pennygadd51 Avatar

    A proper chiller that one, Iain (if indeed a barbecue can ever be a chiller!) His wife certainly had things well planned.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Perhaps she’s been planning it for a while.

      Like

  24. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Well, you could say that he almost deserved it… ashes to ashes…

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Joe Owens Avatar

    Oh my, his indiscretions have caught up with him.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Joe Owens Avatar

        …and for the last time!

        Liked by 1 person

  26. notestowomen Avatar

    He didn’t see that coming, did he? She had it well planned out.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think he was completely unsuspecting.

      Like

  27. JS Brand Avatar

    This story really packed a punch Iain. Good one.
    I remember the days when a cheated wife felt better after slashing a few designer suits to shreds (I’m not speaking from experience, by the way).

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Times change, we all have to move with them 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  28. StuHN Avatar

    Romantic gestures gone wrong. If there had been a next time, he should have let her choose.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe he shouted that just as the door closed…

      Like

  29. deborahsdeliberations Avatar
    deborahsdeliberations

    That’s one extreme way of dealing with a cheating husband. I guess this her way of making sure that he doesn’t do it anymore.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It would certainly put a stop to it! Thanks Deborah

      Like

  30. Alice Audrey Avatar

    Ah, yes. Sweet – or maybe acrid – revenge.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Russell Avatar

    I’ve always heard that you’ve got to pay to play. Such a high price though!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You have to live – or die – with the consequences.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. plaridel Avatar

    yes, i thought it would be romantic along the line of johnny cash’s burning ring of fire. i was mistaken.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  33. Abhijit Ray Avatar
    Abhijit Ray

    She is cruel and devius. What happened to his lover? Was she killing both of them in one fire?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The title suggests the lover may have been a victim of the fire too, yes.

      Like

  34. draliman Avatar

    Yikes, I like the rather cold and dispassionate explanation before the deed!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – never too late to be learning!

      Liked by 1 person

  35. 4963andypop Avatar

    Sending him off with a tidbit from history is a nice touch. You surprised us, switching from laid back touristy romance to last rites!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It may be that she is not entirely in control of her senses at this point.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 4963andypop Avatar

        I did not mean to cast blame on her but only to congratulate you on portraying how the situation and his manipulation forces her to make decisions which make her situation even worse.

        Liked by 1 person

  36. Priya Avatar

    I liked the trivia so cleverly used here.
    what a revenge story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Priya

      Like

  37. subroto Avatar

    Urp! Now that takes roasting someone to a whole new level. Wicked!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A literal roasting 🙂

      Like

  38. JoHawkTheWriter Avatar

    Ha. I am sure whatever he did he deserved it. At least in her mind. Nice story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m not sure anyone deserves this, even for a bit of infidelity!

      Liked by 1 person

  39. Woman walking Max Avatar

    What a chilling tale – she is so cold blooded ! Really like the opener – stone buildings keep the enemy out and hard to escape from within. Ramps up the horror for the victim. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  40. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Ooooo brutal. Great piece. Revenge for what, she certainly seems to think he deserves it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She does seem to be very sure of herself 🙂

      Like

  41. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Christ that was hard core! Brilliant stuff Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you. She is taking no prisoners for sure.

      Like

  42. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Well wow. Watch out for the woman scorned or betrayed, especially if she’s the vengeful type!
    Very well done, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sascha

      Like

  43. anuragbakhshi Avatar

    Ha ha ha, love her ghoulish glee!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  44. liz young Avatar

    Ooh! That’s revenge indeed!

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Anshu Bhojnagarwala Avatar

    Wow…Lady Macbeth!! I liked it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe that was her inspiration!

      Like

  46. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    A very sinister story, I can imagine the jilted wife’s face in the light of the flame as she drops it and closes the door. Enjoyed it so much! =)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Brenda 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  47. Jelli Avatar
    Jelli

    History can be so viciously twisted int o a good tale. Well done! Love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  48. lisarey1990 Avatar

    So chilling! Great job.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lisa

      Liked by 1 person

  49. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    Wow Lain!
    Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dawn!

      Liked by 1 person

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