VI
Sitting in my office I smile at the text message. I'd spent all morning waiting for him to message, despite a busy morning of meetings and work.
"Tell me about your day -E"
It's Wednesday. Tomorrow he's all mine.
I begin to type out a reply but a knock at my door halts me. Glancing up I almost throw the phone when I see my husband standing there. A bouquet of flowers in his hands, a cheesy grin. Is this a fever dream?
"Baby," he greets me, "school is out. You ready to go home?"
"The bell rang an hour ago," I stand and move towards him, "I'm just looking over some budget things for improving kindergarten."
Awkwardly he hands me the flowers. I breathe them in before moving into his arms for a tight thank you hug.
"Will you be much longer with work?" He asks.
"Why is that?" I tilt my head.
I'm confused. Why did he even care all of a sudden?
I didn't even know that he knew I worked here. He's only been here to see me twice. Once because I lost my wallet and a second time for our anniversary. The schoolboy fantasy he begged me for finally became his reality. The one he never thanked me for. That was back when he actually saw me.
"We have some reservations," he smiles, "I spoke to your secretary and she's going to push your meetings to Monday."
"Huh? Monday? We're eating dinner until Monday?" I look up at him shocked.
"It's not that type of reservation. I booked us four nights away like I said I would. In Sequim at this lodge thing," he takes my hand, "I wanted to spend time with you and make up for all the shit I've been doing lately. I've been awful to you and you don't deserve it."
But tomorrow is Thursday.
He notices the disappointment I don't mean to show. Confusion crosses his face as I give him a response he wasn't anticipating.
"But you don't want to go?" he guesses.
"Baby," I start placing the flowers down, "that's not it at all. I just have so much work. I'm trying to figure out in my head how it can be done."
Moving into him, I cup his face. Allowing him to wrap me in his arms.
"Thank you," I say, "this is a really kind gesture and I love that you'd want to treat me. It's just unexpected."
"I thought you'd be excited, baby. Time alone together." his eyes search mine looking for more than my reason.
So I cut it short before he finds it.
"I am excited," I smile brightly, "I'll just write a few emails and I can be out of work mode."
"Great," he grins, skimming his hands down to my ass, "I've packed some of your things already into the car. We can leave from here tonight and be there by dinner time."
At least it wasn't that stupid cabin. A few days away could definitely do me some good. I so rarely get to leave this stupid small town.
Leaning up I press a kiss to his lips. But he deepens it. Excited by this small shiny glimpse of my old husband I let him. His hands cover familiar territory, squeezing and cupping his favourite curves. When he pulls away grinning at me, walks to the door and shuts it with a swift flick of his foot I don't find myself objecting.
I don't object when he bends me over my desk and lets me finally remember some of the reasons I fell in love with him. But throughout the rushed moans and the lackluster sex one thing is on my mind.
Thursday.
"I'm sorry. I can't come tomorrow night. He took me away. - B"
He doesn't reply. Our first Thursday in over a month without even a whisper of contact.
The trip is unceremoniously boring. We get along for the first few days. I claim to be tired Thursday night. It sounds weird, but I've built that up in my mind to be Edward's day. How weird it is to be more worried about betraying the man I'm cheating with rather than the one I am cheating on.
Friday night I let Jacob in. I let him strip me and I try my best to make the effort to cry out only his name and not Edward's.
By Saturday he picks a fight about how I burnt his toast. He picks another fight about how I'm only ever on my phone - I was checking for an Edward reply. He thinks it's because of work. He claims I'm not attentive. That I don't care about his needs.
So I straddle him at the dining table and ride him until he is telling me he loves me again. This is what we do. It's what we've done for most of our marriage and it's running out of steam. I'm running out of steam. I don't even know if I'm in love with him anymore.
"Bella," Jacob steps into the bedroom as I paint my toenails.
Tomorrow is a school day. I'm restless and feeling sorrow in the pit of my stomach. He still hasn't replied.
Do I text him again?
"Are you listening?" Jacob asks.
"What?" I ask.
"Did you see the coffee table has a crack in it?" He asks.
Shit.
"No," I look at him confused, "is it big?"
"Not really. It's in one of the legs," he sits on our bed, connecting his phone to the charger on his nightstand.
"Perhaps the grain in the wood," I innocently suggest.
It must be enough because he lets it go.
When he's asleep I tiptoe downstairs to the table. I find the crack he means and run my fingers over it. The imagery is bright in my mind.
My phone vibrates in my hand.
"Sorry, there was an incident. I meant to reply to you but I couldn't. We need to be more careful. Can you sneak away this week? Before Thursday? E"
The number is new. It's not from his phone.
"Is this you? - B"
"It's safer. She saw your text and she flipped out. I think we're good now. A new pair of shoes and she dropped it. But I need to see you. E"
"I can sneak away, B"
"There's a motel just outside Port Angeles. Tomorrow after school? - E"
"Can't wait - B"
I glance back to the table, place my hand on it and grin.
Thanks for reading
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