Amethyst was face first onto her sofa back home. After an earful from her boss, she was ultimately fired. What was worse was that it was right in front of a customer!
She let the events stew inside her for a moment before grabbing a throw pillow and burying her muzzle into it and letting out a frustrated scream. "This fucking sucks!"
Though it's just a retail store, it still hurts the fact you spent six years faithfully working there only to be fired.
Amethyst sat up, still clenching to the throw pillow, crossing her legs together. She reached into her pants pocket and pulled out her phone. Sighing softly, knowingly that she'll have to break the news to her husband.
She calls him up - it was normal for her to call her husband once between breaks. Just the usual checking in on him, asking how his day was going so far.
After a few rings it went to voicemail. "You have reached Duke Whistle from Dodge City Advertise Rally, please leave your name and number after the beep."
After the beep, Amethyst hung up. "He's probably busy, being an editor does take a lot of time… maybe when he gets home?" She muttered, twisting her rings on her finger.
She sat in silence for a moment before dialing him again. This time after two rings, he picked up.
"Hah-hey Ames." Duke greeted by using her pet name, sounding very breathy like he was losing his breath. "Sorry I didn't realize you called the first time, what's up?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, just checking to say how's it going." Amethyst responded with a soft smile. "You okay? You sounded like you just ran a marathon."
"I was using the company treadmill, just completed a marathon-like run on it." He said, followed by some scuffling creaking noises from his side of the call before it stopped. "Nothing much new, what's up with you?"
Amethyst sighed and then just told him. "I should've waited until you got back home, but I just want to let you know what happened."
"Damn, sorry honey, are you okay? Are you hurt or anything?"
"Got some bruises already showing up but other than that I'm fine. I offered to pay for the damages but the boss was not having it."
"That asshole should've watched where he's going." Duke grunted.
"Is everything okay?" a mare's voice came up from the other side.
One of Amethyst's brows arched upward when she heard this unfamiliar voice. "Who was that?" Amethyst asked her husband.
"That would be my assistant Shooting Star. " Duke quickly responded. "The new one that was hired a month ago, remember?"
Amethyst thought for a moment, trying to recall him getting a new assistant. His usual assistant was an old mare named Floral Rain, she always sends her husband home with cookies for the two to munch on. "Right, right I forgot, she retired. Sorry."
She sighed deeply, sinking deeply into the couch. "God this day just sucked." She groaned. "When are you coming home?" she asked him.
"Hopefully around six. The boss dumped an eighty page advertisement of a carnival, painfully detailing each performer and why anypony should come and see them."
"Eighty pages?" Amethyst gawked. "Who submitted that? Princess Twilight and Pinkie Pie?"
She heard the assistant giggling at that.
"Okay honey, I gotta get back to work, I'll see you at home." Duke said.
"See you soon, love you." Amethyst said. And he clicked off before responding.
She lowered the phone back on her lap, but her ears were dropping down and still clutching the pillow to her chest.
With a soft sigh, she set the pillow to the side and stood up. "Can't just sit around and mope. Gotta do something." she muttered.
She went up the stairs to the second level where the bedrooms and bathroom were. The boards creaked with each step her hooves made, she walked past what was supposed to be a nursery but it wasn't finished due to the fact she was unable to have a foal. She went into the master bedroom and changed out of her work clothes, changing into a simple t-shirt and leggings before heading back down to the living room.
So Amethyst then spent an hour straightening up the couple's home, some light dusting, vacuuming the rugs and carpet, making sure things look nice for when her husband gets home.
As she dusted the fireplace mantle, she saw the wedding photo there. She quickly dusted the glass before picking it up and looking at it.
A light smile came to her face when she stared at her and her husband. Married just a week after she turned twenty, to save money they had a small wedding with just their parents and Mare of honor and Best Colt. She wore a simple white dress while he wore a suit he borrowed from one of his entourage. Duke was a light gray earth pony with pale green streak on his muzzle and his mane was two tone green with green eyes. He was as attractive as Amethyst was beautiful on her wedding day.
It was a good day.
And now she thinks about it, their fifth anniversary was tomorrow. And tomorrow was a Saturday so her husband would be home too.
"Since today was totally crap, tomorrow especially should be a good one, right?" Amethyst asked no one in particular as she set the picture back up on the mantle. She twists the rings on her finger before she proceeds to finish cleaning up.
She then heads into their kitchen and starts making dinner, keeping track of the time, trying to time it just right so when Duke comes home, he'll appreciate some hot food waiting for him.
So Amethyst makes cheesy enchiladas with beans and rice, spending a moment making them up before putting them in the oven.
As soon as she put dinner in the oven, her phone rang. She picks the phone up from the countertop. She sees her husband's name on the caller ID and answers. "Hi honey, I just put dinner in the oven, should be all ready for you when you get home." She said.
"Hi, yeah I'm sorry hon, but I have to work late. This carnival advertisement has so many errors and trying to figure out how to even shorten the damn thing is taking longer than I thought." Duke responded.
Amethyst's ears drooped and she frowned. "Oh?"
"Yeah I'm sorry, I'll be home as soon as I can. What did you make?"
"Enchiladas." Amethyst said softly. "Duke, it seems you've been working more overtime lately. I do understand editing takes a time, but it would be nice to eat dinner with you and not be alone."
"I know hon, but all this overtime is going to pay off, I promise. Just put my plate in the fridge and I'll eat it when I get home. I promise I'll make it up to you."
"If you say so." She muttered. Before she could say something else, he hung up on her again.
She placed the phone down and proceeded to twist her rings again. Though they've been trying to have a foal for two years, it has been six months since her and Duke time for each other.
Six months since the last time he actually touched her intimately. Six months of him working overtime and work travel kinda prevented that. She wanted to say that he's dedicated to his job and since it does pay well.
But it would be nice to have some time together with him.
Maybe tomorrow could be their time together?
Only one way to find out.
Morning came and when Amethyst got up, she saw her darling husband sleeping deeply next to her with his back turned to her. Probably snuck into bed after she went to bed.
Amethyst crawled out of bed as quietly as she could without disturbing him. She uses the bathroom, washes up before going downstairs. She starts a pot of coffee before heading outside for a moment. Walking over to the mailbox and checked to see what was in the mail.
She pulled the lid down and saw a stack of envelopes resting inside. She took them out, closed the lid and headed inside. As she walked she went through the mail to see what was what.
"Bills, bills, a copy of Clovenhut, junk, junk and more junk." Amethyst said as she went through the mail.
When she got to the final letter as she got to the door she stopped. "Huh?"
It was from some traveling agency that was addressed to their address, didn't say it was from her nor her husband.
She opened the door and went inside, then closed the door and walked back to the kitchen. Amethyst sets the rest of the mail on the counter and proceeds to open the one from the agency. Carefully ripping one end of the envelope and pulling out the letter.
She then unfolds the letter and begins reading it.
Dear Duke Whistle.
We in The Happy Happy Fun Time Travel Agency, would like to say that your application for a three week getaway to Las Pegasus has been accepted!
After spending many adventures with us at The Happy Happy Fun Time Travel Agency, you have earned travel points to book at the lavish Ravishing Sun Hotel with all your personal touches waiting with absolutely no charge whatsoever!
If you have any questions, please call our help center and have an excellent adventure!
Carefully stapled at the bottom were not only two tickets to have a hot air balloon ride up to the floating party city but information needed to be checked into the hotel and the dates to go. They had to leave tomorrow at the earliest.
Amethyst let out a loud gasp. "Las Pegasus?" Her heart fluttered and soared.
Was this when he said he'll make it up to her? She knew he occasionally had to work out of town, but she didn't realize he traveled enough to have them go on vacation!
And what made it better was finding out on her anniversary! "Oh Duke, I can't believe this!" She squealed in delight, hugging the letter to her chest.
She then quickly got to work on making their anniversary breakfast. Already, she knew that this was going to be a great day.
Or so she thought.