Love and Marriage

Jack was at a restaurant with his girlfriend. After their food was served, he lifted his glass, “To our one-month anniversary.”

They spend the night eating and talking. After dinner, they walked out to the parking lot.

He said goodnight to her, waited until she drove off, then he got in his car; and went home.

The next day, while walking in the kitchen, his wife Erin was sitting at the table, “We need to talk.”

“What’s the problem?”

“You’ve been coming home late, every night this last month, and I can’t take it any longer. You need to tell your boss to stop making you work so late. I know it’s only been two months since we got married, but I was hoping we would be trying for a baby by now.”

“First thing on Monday, I will see what I can do.”

Once she left the room, he got on his phone and texted his girlfriend. Told her that he wants to slow things down, take a break, and spend more time with his wife for a while.

***

Later in the day, while Jack was out of the house, the doorbell rang. Erin answered and a woman was standing there, “Tell your husband I am breaking up with him. I am not wasting my time waiting for him. He wants a break, then fine. Here are the things that he left at my place.”

“Who are you!?”

“His girlfriend. Or was, until he told me that he wanted to take a break. Over a text! I am not going to just wait for him.”

After the woman left, Erin continued to process the whole situation. About five minutes later, she tossed her husband’s things in the trash, and walked back inside; then went upstairs.

She walked into the bedroom and grabbed a couple of suitcases. While packing she heard Jack come home. He called her name, while she continued packing. When she was finished, he walked into the room, “What’s going on?”

“Your girlfriend stopped by and dropped off some stuff of yours. It’s in the trash bin.”

The faint sound of a garbage truck coming from the window grabbed his attention, while she went downstairs with the two suitcases.

She put them by the front door, then walked to the kitchen for her car keys; by now he is downstairs.

“Let me explain-”

“Explain what!? You cheated on me, end of story!”

Erin walked out, put the suitcase in the car, and left.

***

Erin arrived at her friend’s house and walked up to the door. Her friend, Maggie, was waiting for her, “Sorry that he cheated on you. Come in and make yourself at home.”

“Did you just come home from work?”

“No. Not too long after you text me, I got an emergency call from work. I will be at the restaurant for the whole night. But, feel free to make anything you want and you don’t have to wait up for me.”

After Maggie left, Erin sat on the couch, and turned on the TV. An hour went by and Erin was bored. She turned off the TV, got up, and went out for a drive.

After about 15 minutes of driving, she noticed a bar, and thought why not. Once inside, she looked around for an empty seat. She found one at the bar and sat down. The waitress showed up, “What can I get you?”

She ordered a beer and a guy sitting next to her offered to buy.

“Oh, thanks but I am fine.”

“Well, can I get the next one?”

She twisted her wedding ring under the bar, “You know what, yes you can.”

She took her ring off and put in her pocket. They spend the night talking about anything, but her marriage. After last call, he asked if she would like to go over to his place. She said yes.

The next day, she went back to her friend’s house and walked quietly up the stairs. Before she was all the way up, her friend at the bottom of the stairs, “So, where were you last night?”

“A..bar.”

“And then what? Did you meet someone?”

“Maybe?”

“What’s his name?

“Rex.”

“So, does this mean you are not going to take Jack back?”

“I don’t know. But I did get Rex’s number, just in case.”

Later that day, Jack called her, asked if she could stop by, and she agreed.

***

When she arrived at the house, she noticed a note on the hall table. All it said was ‘bedroom’. She went upstairs and walked into the room. The lights were off and the only lighting was from a bunch of candles.

“Honey, I am sorry. I know what I did was inexcusable. I know you are upset. But, please forgive me. Please…don’t leave me. Give me one more chance. I promise I will make it up to you.”

Still angry, she tried to tell him about her affair, hoping to hurt him; but turned her head to the bed.

“You like? It was not easy finding lotus flowers around here. I had to drive an hour to find them.”

“Is that-?” she said referring to the music she just realized was playing.

“Yep, I got their new CD. I knew you were looking forward to it.”

She began to have second thoughts about her plan. He re-created the night they celebrated their engagement.

“So, what do you say? Will you take me back?”

“There is something I got to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I…I…I forgive you.”

“So, this means you will give me another chance?”

“For now, so don’t blow it. With that said, help me clean up these petals. Don’t want to ruin them while we make up.”

***

A few days later, while Erin was out, Jack heard someone at the door, “Maggie? Erin’s not home right now.”

“I know, I am just dropping off some things she forgot back at my place.”

“Ok, thanks. You can put them in the living room for her to see. So, how are things, it’s been a while since I last saw you.”

“Yes, it has been. I am doing fine. How are you?”

“Doing fine.”

“So, I still can’t believe you two got back together. I mean, you cheated on her and she cheated on you for revenge.”

“What!?”

At that moment Erin was standing at the front door. Maggie continued, “I’m so sorry. I thought you knew.”

Jack turned his head to his wife.

“Is this true!?”

“…yes.”

After her reply, he noticed something on her wrist and she realized it.

“There’s something I need to tell you. I went to the hospital. I’m pregnant. I told the doctor about my affair and he said that since I had it without protection, there’s a possibility that the other guy might be the father.”

At that moment, Maggie quietly walked out the door, while he just stood there unsure what to say. She continued, “So, we both slept with someone-”

“But I never slept with her. I know what I did was still wrong, but I never slept with her.”

“What!?”

“I never slept with her. We made out a few times, but it was still early in the relationship.”

Jack sat on the couch, “I think we should get a divorce.”

“What!? No! We can move past this. I took you back. You owe me! We both made poor choices. Let’s just call this a clean slate.”

“I mean come on, this marriage is a joke now. Do you really want to continue it? I think the best thing for both of us is to go our separate ways.”

“What about the baby? What if it’s yours? There’s a chance you could be the father. Shouldn’t we wait and see first?”

“You honestly want to wait? Can you really tell me that things can get better? If you weren’t pregnant, would you have said anything about your own affair? Were you going to keep it a secret? Do you really want to continue a marriage like this? Honestly, taking me back was probably a mistake. We’re clearly not meant for each other.”

She began to cry and he got up hugged her, “I am sorry. I am sorry I cheated. And I forgive you for cheating. But this is clearly a sign that we are not meant to be. It is for the best. And, if the baby is mine, I will help as much as I can.”

He went upstairs to pack, while she continued to cry.

***

One month later; Jack moved out, their divorce was finalized, and the house was put on the market.

One day, while Erin was packing, Jack came over to pick up a few things. Before he left, she told him, “I have something to tell you. The baby…was yours.”

“Was?”

“Yes, was. I had a miscarriage.”

She held back some tears. He leaned in and hugged her for about a few minutes.

“So, I was wondering if you were not busy, would you like to stay for dinner? We can order out or I can pick up something from the store. Still not too late.”

“I…ah…have plans. I met a woman a few days ago. We are going out for the first time. But I could try to reschedule.”

“No! No…that’s not necessary.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, go. Have a good time. I’ll…I will be fine. Maggie invited me to her place, so I will most likely do that.”

The two of them hugged one more time, then Jack left. She went into the living room and sat on the couch.

She took her phone out slowly. She pulled up Rex’s number and stared at it for about a minute, sighed, then called him.

“Hello?”

“Yes…I mean, hi. It’s me, the woman from the bar.”

His tone changed, “What do you want.”

“I am calling to tell you about the baby. It was yours, but I had a miscarriage. You have nothing to worry about.”

She heard him tell his friends about the news, in the background. There was excitement. She hung up the phone and placed it on the coffee table, then laid down on the couch; on her back.

Her eyes were watery. She rolled over to her right side, buried her face in the couch, and cried.