Tribulations of Honesty – Part 2

Sticks and stones are hard on bones
Aimed with angry art;
Words can sting like anything
But silence breaks the heart.
Suzanne Nichols


The next morning Lexie was downstairs making Melanie's lunch for school while her daughter sat at the table eating breakfast- well relocating her breakfast around the plate so it looked like she had eaten it.
Archie walked in dressed for work and planted a kiss on Mel's head before stealing a piece of toast from her plate, which unfortunately for her laid open her hiding spot for the other food she had been concealing.
" I hope your going to eat that missy" Lexie ordered, placing her Winnie the Pooh lunchbox into her oversized back pack which when ladled on her back was almost the same height as her. .
" Awwww" Mel whined, " But Mum, I'm full"
" Don't complain to me later that you're hungry" Lexie warned
" I won't" Melanie promised, jumping from the chair and running into the lounge room.
Lexie was all of a sudden very aware that she was alone with Archie. After all these years she was unaccustomed to being on guard or awkward around him, but now she was.
Not a lot had been said last night after her admission that he had left her. It was like he didn't want to fight about it, didn't want to talk…about anything. Instead he had rolled away from her and closed his eyes to drown out all that was happening.
She glanced at him through her eyelashes while carrying Mel's cup and plate to the sink. He saw it but tried to ignore it, Lexie knew all too well that he found that look not just adorable but also discreet enough to temp him over.
Instead he busied himself collecting up his keys and sunglasses
" Are you hungry?" Lexie asked
" No" Archie answered, " I had something earlier"
" Okay" Lexie echoed
He glanced up at her for the first time " I take it I'm dropping Mel at school"
Lexie nodded, " If you could"
Archie rolled his eyes, " Yeah why not, I'm late as it is."
Lexie bit her lip at his bitterness. He saw it and cringed
" Are you coming down later in the day?"
Lexie raised her eyes to his, trying to gauge his feelings " Yeh, about lunchtime." She answered, " I have a check up at the doctor's before that."
Archie nodded, hiding the stinging guilt that found it's way into his chest. But he just couldn't do more then he was right now, he couldn't be more then cool and unemotional or he would lose it and make things worse.
He walked towards her and she felt a glimmer of hope that he was going to embrace her, but instead he reached past her to unplug his mobile phone from its charger and place it in his pocket. He gave her a terse peck on the cheek before turning, picking up Mel's school bag with his spare hand and walking from the room.
" Melanie MacDonald" She heard him yell, " We're leaving, go and give your mother a kiss."
The little 6 year old burst of energy appeared in the doorway and flung herself at Lexie
" Goodbye Mummy" Melanie exclaimed, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Lexie hugged her tight, hoping that he daughter didn't pick up on her insecurity right now and her unwillingness to let go.
Finally she willed herself to release her, and stood back to straighten her uniform and pull her ponytail tighter. Trying not to stare into her signature brown eyes that reflected Archie's and giving her a quick pat on the bottom to get her going.
" Bye Lex" Archie called heartbreakingly distant
" Bye my darlings" Lexie whispered as she heard the door shut and a minute later the car engine start up as Archie reversed it out of the driveway.

Part 3

Pity all newlyweds. She cooks something nice for him, and he brings her flowers, and they kiss and think: How easy marriage is. Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

Lexie walked into the restaurant Archie and she owned at around 12:30pm. The first face she saw was one of their waitresses, Teena, who smiled and waved discreetly while explaining the various wine choices to the elderly couple she was serving.
Lexie waved back and made her way to the counter, slipping behind it and heading out to the kitchen. She spotted Archie straight off as he always seemed to be in the middle of everything. At the moment he was helping one of their new chefs make a second course meal.
" Hi Lexie" Stevie called, walking past her to the fridge, " Hows buggerlugs going?"
" He/ she is doing fine thanks Steve" Lexie smiled, placing her hand on her stomach
" Still don't want to know the sex?" Stevie asked
" Well it's still a bit early to be sure, but yeah I think we'll keep it a surprise."
" Fair enough" Stevie announced, running the words together in his Australian accent
Lexie had gotten used to it by now, as there seemed to be quite a few Australian's in the restaurant business, enough to close down half of the diners in the United Kingdom if they ever left on masse anyway.
" Hows Melly?"
" She's good" Lexie beamed. All the restaurant staff doted on their daughter and we're constantly spoiling her whenever she was there.
" How's Jack coping?" Lexie asked, motioning to the chef Archie was with
" Yeah, alright. Arch is good with him"
" Hmmm" Lexie murmured, watching him now as he imparted his skills on the younger man
" Anyway Hun, duty calls" Stevie commented with his trademark larrikin grin
Lexie laughed and waved as he walked back out into the restaurant, before picking up her handbag and walking into the side office to sit down and go through some of the designs for the new menu's they had been planning on getting for months now.
Archie walked in a few minutes later, and the awkward silence of the morning returned
" Hi"
" Hi"
" What are you doing?"
"The menus. How's Jack going?"
" Yeah, he's doing good."
Archie sat down on the desk in front of her " Are you hungry?"
" Starving" Lexie, declared, looking up at him pleadingly
" I'll cook you something" Archie answered, all business. Then he's voice softened and she thought she caught a shimmer of affection in his eyes as he inquired
" What did the doctor say?"
" He said that everything's well, and that both bub and me are fine"
Archie smiled regardless of himself, " That's great darling."
It was then that he felt the ache in his heart, which reminded him of what had happened last night, and the smile dropped in the same instant that the light left his eyes. Quickly he stood up
" I'll get you something to eat"