Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid
Rated PG-13 for language and some violence.
Disclaimer ~ I don't own 'em.
Summery ~ Evelyn is suffering from postpartum depression while an old flame from Rick's past returns to haunt the present.
Ch 2
Evelyn sat reading in an empty bed. Well, she tried to make it look like reading, in the event that Rick finally decided to grace her with his presence, as she had not heard hide nor hair from him since early that evening when he went running after this so-called Marguerite. She stared at the page, trying to actually read the latest study on Tut and the accursed dig, to distract herself from her thoughts, but found the words to be nothing more than dark splotches on the page as she stared blankly at it, her mind wandering. Who was she? An old fling? She certainly hadn't acted like just an old fling...and why would she have tracked him down? That was the part bothering Evelyn the most. That, along with her words- "Then it's true." What was true? Evelyn didn't speak enough French to know what was said, but she knew enough to know it was not very nice. Either way, she wanted answers. First and foremost, why her husband was still gone after more than five hours, and not so much as a ring? And secondly, who in heaven's name was this mysterious woman he was with!
Her rambling thoughts were cut short by the slamming of the front door, followed by the heavy footfalls on the stairs. Evelyn concentrated, trying to focus on the words on the page, but found it nearly impossible as the door to the bedroom opened, her husband trudging in silently. She began to bite her tongue. No, she would not be the first to say anything. After all, she trusted him, and knew that if he had anything to admit to her, he would do so...wouldn't he? After all, he did storm out without a word, and as of late, he had been gone an awful lot... No! She bit her tongue so hard, she nearly yelped, but managed to stifle the cries of pain. She glanced up, realizing that Rick was silently undressing himself. Within another noiseless minute or two, he was climbing into bed and pulling the covers up to his chin. Evelyn stared at his back, almost unbelieving that he had nothing to admit to her...or nothing that he wasn't hiding...
"Go ahead," Rick said, tiredly.
"Go-go ahead?" Evelyn repeated, trying to act surprised.
"Go on. Ask," Rick said, flipping onto his back. "I know you're just dying to, so go on."
"Well, I guess you don't know me as well as you'd like to think," Evelyn said, turning back to her book. She pretended to read for a quiet moment, turning the page to make it seem as though she really was reading it.
"Oh, knock it off," Rick said, grabbing the book from her hands.
"Hey! I was reading that!" she said, having finally started to see the words on the page.
"Uh huh." He tossed the book to the foot of the bed, staring at his wife. "So go on. I know you're just being eaten alive inside." Evelyn bit back the remark about the scarabs, reaching for the book, throwing it back open to any page.
"I have nothing to say." Rick grabbed the book, this time throwing it across the room. Evelyn pursed her lips, folding her arms before her as she stared at her husband. "Now what on earth did you do that for?" She was not about to give in. Not without a fight. She would not be the one to break...not easily anyway. She threw the covers back, pushing herself to the edge of the bed. She did not make it far however, as Rick's hand wrapped around her wrist, holding her back.
"Evelyn," he said, his voice stern. "I know what you were thinking."
"Oh do you?" Evelyn stated irritated, shifting on the bed to resume facing him. "And what was I thinking?"
"You were wondering who this Marguerite woman was and whether she was a fling or something more." Evelyn stared back, trying vainly to keep her jaw from hitting the mattress. "Evy, listen to me. I would hope you trust me enough to know I would never do anything to hurt you."
"I know," Evelyn whispered, averting her eyes to the bed. She began to feel ashamed that she at let herself get so carried away. "It's just that...I'm not...and she was so...and you just left like that..." Evelyn controlled her tears, glancing back to her silent husband. "So who is she then?" This time, Rick turned away, averting his eyes.
"She's...an old flame," he replied quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think it mattered."
"Of course it mattered, Rick," Evelyn said, exasperated. "Especially since I had asked you once before and you told me you had never loved another."
"Now that wasn't a lie," Rick defended. "Not...entirely anyway..."
"Not entirely..." Evelyn repeated, pausing for a moment as she shook her head, disbelieving. "Even a little bit of a lie is still a lie."
"Evy, some things are better left unsaid. And believe me, Marguerite is much better
left unsaid and forgotten."
"Except now she's back."
"And not very happy either."
"Well, let me reassure you, she's not the only one." Rick glanced up at her words. He was afraid something he had said or done would come back to haunt him. He just hadn't imagined it to be Marguerite. He opened his mouth, trying to find the words he had never wanted to say to Evelyn, but found the sound of crying to be what came out. Evelyn closed her eyes, pushing herself up off the bed. She had heard enough anyway, her anger ready to boil over. She slipped silently out of the room, closing the door softly behind her as she made her way to the screaming child.