Tribulations of Honesty – Part 13
Lexie sat watching the TV but knowing subconsciously that the only thing her attention was really focused on was the mobile phone that sat beside her. She had messaged Archie a while ago asking if he wanted to do anything special while Melanie was at a sleepover party on Friday night. But so far there had been no reply.
She tried to dismiss it, knowing that there were times when she hadn't checked her phone that regularly either, and plus he was at work and could be having a busy day.
However as the hours progressed and there was still no reply her hopes started to diminish. 'Maybe' she thought 'It was the day. Maybe he already had something planned with his mates for Friday.'
So with anxious fingers she found herself typing another message saying, 'If your busy Friday already that's okay. Would Saturday be better?' then after waiting for a bit and not getting a reply she locked the phone and tucked it away into her bedside drawer, willing herself to put it out of her mind as she got ready to pick Melanie up from school. She didn't know whether to pick anything up on the way, because she didn't even know if Archie would be home that night.
After packing Melanie an overnight bag, and putting it in the car she decided she was probably reading too much into it. He couldn't be purposely not answering her messages; surely her own husband wouldn't do that. Surely she was worth a message, they didn't cost that much after all. Nevertheless when she got back home from dropping off Mel at her friends house and dug out her mobile from her bedside drawer, the screen was still blank.
Anger and despair filled up inside her. Dammit, she knew he had credit; he should have been finished work by now. If he didn't want to do anything with her the least he could do was at least message back and tell her so. At least then she might still have time to see what some of her friends were doing and organise something with them instead.
Finally in desperation she sent the last message, 'Okay then, I guess if you feel like doing anything with me you can organise it.' Lexie slammed the phone down on the couch next to her and tried to calm her anger. Sometimes Archie could be so selfish, couldn't he even acknowledge that she was making an effort here? She was trying her hardest to rebuild their relationship and she was getting nothing in return.
It was 11pm when Archie ultimately returned home and found Lexie in bed with a book.
" Hi sweetie" He announced
Lexie glanced up at him in disgust, but decided that it was probably better to make sure then just assume from her own assumptions.
" Did you get my messages?" She asked coolly
" Yeah" Archie confirmed, hanging up his jacket in the wardrobe
" Why didn't you reply to them?" she asked dejectedly
" I had nothing to say" He answered
" What the hell does that mean Archie? You couldn't have answered one message, so I at least knew where I stood?"
" I can't answer all of your messages" Archie replied, " I'd run out of money."
Lexie fumed, but tried to keep her composure
" I wouldn't have had to send so many messages if you'd just replied to the first one."
Archie shrugged
" Am I not worth a message?" Lexie finally cried, " Is that what this all boils down to? That you can't take the time out of your busy schedule to write back to your wife and answer a simple question."
Archie looked at his wife, but didn't answer
" Oh that's it, just shut down then Archie. That's what you normally do isn't it? For once I wish you'd think about my feelings, how something affects me. We are meant to be in a relationship here after all."
" Did you think about how kissing Paul would have an effect on me when you did it?"
" Did you think about how going to Nepal would effect me?" Lexie shot back, finally she broke down in abandoned tears.
" You couldn't just answer a simple message? I'd answer yours. You know I bloody would Archie. Am I the only one trying here?"
Archie didn't answer
" Fine" Lexie yelled, gathering up some clothing
" Where are you going?" Archie finally asked
" I'm going over to Stevie and Teena's. You can ring me when you feel like making the effort to pick up the phone."
And with that Archie watched her walk out the door
