"I'll have a double gin," Jack said sombrely.
"What's up with you Dawson?" Old Jim, the barman asked. "Another tiff with the missus? Don't worry pal, you know what women are like, that's why I never married. Get a few drinks inside ya and you'll forget that you're married," he chuckled. Jack didn't laugh; his problems with Rose were beyond joking about.
"Come on pal, whatever problems you and Rose are having, you'll sort them out. You guys are strong," Old Jim said, trying to deliver well meaning but pointless words of comfort.
"Hey Jack my man!" Seamus grinned, giving Jack an almighty slap on the back.
"Jack's in a sulk," Old Jim said. "Another fight with Rose."
"Don't ye worry about her, we're gonna get so drunk tonight we won't know what's hit us," Seamus said, putting his heavy arm around Jack. Jack grinned; his friends always made him feel better. Getting very drunk seemed like a good idea. Rose hated it when Jack went out drinking with his friends; she thought that Seamus especially was a bad influence. Seamus could drink the whole bar dry, yet still be thirsty. He was a confident and outgoing Irish man with enough charm to sedate the whole of Chippewa Falls, mainly the female population. Only Rose wasn't fooled by Seamus' cheeky charm and loathed him. Jack wished that Rose could like his friends more. After all he had put up with all of Rose's pretentious and snobby theatre friends who looked their pointed noses down at him.
"You know what, I'm sick of her acting like a stuck up bitch. She always wants to impress those stuck up theatre friends of hers," Jack ranted after his sixth drink. "I give her everything; my love, my support, my money, even though I haven't got much. Do you think that my wife is a stuck up little bitch?" he slurred.
"That's what happens when you marry a rich girl, like they say ye can take the girl out of the riches, but ye can't take the riches out of the girl," Seamus said.
"Wives are nothing but trouble," Old Jim said.
"They just nag at ye all day," Seamus said, lighting a cigarette. "It's bad enough when you're not even married to them. This girl I was going out with, said she wanted me to marry her. I told her she could feck off and do one, I said I'm more likely to marry me pint of Guinness than I am you." All men roared with laughter at Seamus' anecdote.
"You should get yourself a girl on the side Jack," Seamus beamed. Being unfaithful had never crossed Jack's mind, not even once. He had never cheated on Rose in the ten years they had been together. However the more distant they grew the more he found himself growing to Seamus' suggestion. Rose and Jack hadn't had sex for a long time, when was the last time? It wasn't because the children were in the way; the grandparents loved to take care of the children and even in the evenings the children slept like logs, even Evie, so there was ample opportunity. Every time Jack had initiated sex, Rose pushed him away, as if she couldn't even bare for him to touch her. The few times they had sex, it was cold, lifeless and devoid of passion.
...
There was a tap on the door. Rose prayed that it wouldn't be Jack again. She could barely contain her excitement when she saw who it was.
"James!"
"I hope I'm not disturbing," James Calvert drawled in his Southern twang. Although James Calvert lived in New York, he was originally from a wealthy family in Louisiana.
"No not at all," Rose said sweetly. "Do come in and make yourself at home."
"These are for you," James said, handing Rose a bunch of lemon yellow roses.
"Oh James, they're beautiful, thank you ever so much."
"I just wanted to say that I think that you were spectacular tonight. You captivated me. You should be on Broadway." Rose felt as though her heart was in her mouth.
"Oh I'm so pleased that you liked it."
"You should come to New York. Before I go back to New York, I'm thinking of sticking around in Chippewa Falls for a bit and directing the next big production. I hope I don't sound too forward, but would you like to have dinner with me sometime? I understand if you say no, I heard you're married. Personally I'm as jealous as hell of that lucky son of a bitch you're married too. Sorry that's inappropriate of me."
"No, not at all. I'd love to go to dinner with you!" Rose said excitedly. Rose felt that her life was finally going to look up! She had been invited to go to New York and she was having dinner with a gorgeous man who she fancied the pants off. She no longer gave two hoots about Jack. She was going to live her life for herself and Jack wasn't going to be part of it.
