Love and Marriage

Chapter Forty-Five

While Sam was talking to Leslie and taking care of the girls' sleepover, Martin and Danny were sitting in a bar nearby the office. They had come to the bar after work so that Martin could fill Danny in on everything that had been happening lately between him and Sam. He was hoping for some support and maybe some advice. "So that's what happened." Martin finished his story.

Danny had listened to Martin tell the whole story patiently, sipping the water that he had ordered and watching Martin down two beers before promptly ordering a third one. He couldn't believe that the situation with Martin and Sam had gotten so bad so quickly. Why did everything have to be so difficult between them? Why couldn't they just find happiness, grab onto it and never let go? "So she's really thinking about leaving?"

"I think so." Martin nodded, staring at the beer bottle. "She hasn't flat-out said that she's going to leave but I think that's what she's going to do."

"What about Claire?" Danny questioned. "I can't imagine her leaving Claire behind."

"I don't know." Martin answered. "I don't know many things anymore. I thought that everything was starting to get better between us. We were starting to communicate more, we were seeing a wonderful marriage councilor that was helping us acknowledge and solve our problems, and we were starting to have fun with each other instead of fighting. But then this job offer came up and everything went downhill from there."

"Why are you letting her go?" Danny asked, amazed that his friend would even suggest that to Sam. "Just the other day you were telling me that you weren't going to let her slip away! What happened to that guy and what have you done with the Martin Fitzgerald that we all know and tolerate?"

"Nothing's happened to me Danny." Martin sighed. He had hoped that Danny would be supportive of him but instead all he was doing was trying to get him to second-guess his decisions. "I just don't feel like fighting anymore. Sam and I have completely different views on so many of the major issues of married life. How do we reconcile that?"

"I'm not sure, but the solution isn't let her walk out of your life!" Danny exclaimed. "I know that this whole thing has got to be hard on both of you, but you can't just give up. You love her and she loves you."

"Love isn't always enough." Martin pointed out.

"I refuse to believe that." Danny simply rolled his eyes at Martin's comment because he didn't believe that. As long as people loved each other they could overcome anything. He had always believed that and nothing Martin said would convince him otherwise. "You share a child together. You should find a way to work this out."

"How Danny? Tell me!" Martin yelled. "How are we supposed to work things out when she wants to leave and I want to stay?"

"Ever hear of the word compromise?" Danny yelled back.

"What kind of compromise could we come up with?"

Danny thought about it for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know, but both of you are smart. I bet if you sat down and talked about it like rational people you could come up with a solution."

"It's too late for that." Martin shook his head, taking another drink of his beer.

"It's never too late for that. She hasn't left yet; therefore, it's not too late." Danny took a good look at his friend. "Unless…do you want her to leave?"

"No! Of course not." Martin exclaimed. "That's the last thing I want."

"Then why are you pushing her out the door?" Danny asked.

"She'll be happier with this new job." Martin answered. "She hates her job now and she'll only grow to resent me even more if I make her stay here."

"So she'll be happy in her professional life but not in her personal life." Danny commented. "And you won't be happy because Sam will be miles away. Not to mention the fact that Claire definitely won't be happy either." He started clapping his hands. "Congratulations Fitzy, your solution to this is great! Maybe we should get you to run for President. I bet you'd be wonderful at solving this nation's problems."

Martin could hear the sarcasm dripping from Danny's voice and rolled his eyes. "You don't understand…"

"No, I guess I don't understand. What were you thinking when you suggested this? Were you thinking at all?" Danny asked. "Because this is a horrible idea."

"Sam said that she thought it was the worst idea I've ever had." Martin reflected.

"And I agree with her." Danny shook his head, frustrated with this whole situation. "Look, if you don't want your marriage to die then you need to do something about it soon. Go home and tell her it was just an early April Fool's joke that was tacky and mean. Tell her that you don't want her to go. Tell her anything! Just don't let her go because you'll regret it for the rest of your life—and you know that I'm right."

"It's not that easy." Martin sighed.

Danny sighed. "Quit being so stubborn about this! Do you want to end up alone and miserable?"

"No." Martin slowly shook his head.

"Then go home to your wife and admit that you were wrong to suggest that she leave without you. Talk things through." Danny suggested. He was going to continue on and give more advice but his cell phone rang. Seeing it was Michelle, he excused himself to answer the phone outside where it was quieter.

Martin watched his friend leave and thought about what Danny had said. Maybe he was right and he should go home and tell Sam he was wrong. He didn't want her to leave; that's the last thing he's ever wanted. But what other choice did they have? His leg was still bothering him so he pulled out the bottle of pain medication and quickly washed down another pill with his beer, completely ignoring the fact that he wasn't supposed to drink alcohol while taking pain medication.

Bethany watched Martin from the bar and, seeing that Danny had left the bar, realized that this was her chance. She ordered two beers from the bartender and then sauntered over to Martin's booth, giving him a flirtatious smile. "Hey there. What are you doing here alone on a Friday night?"

He inwardly groaned when he heard Bethany's voice. She was the last person he wanted to encounter right now but gave her a smile anyway. "I came with Danny. He's on the phone right now."

"Guys night out?" She guessed.

"Something like that." Martin nodded.

She sat down next to him and placed one of the beers in front of him. "Well I guess I'll just keep you company until he comes back, ok?"

He wanted to scream 'no, get away from me because I don't like you the way you like me', but he wasn't feeling very good all of a sudden.

Bethany took the fact that Martin hadn't objected to her staying as a good sign. "You don't look too happy tonight. Is something wrong?" She hoped that he was still having problems with his wife.

"Nothing that hopefully can't be fixed." He replied, not wanting to get into details with her. He took another big gulp of his beer and found that he was feeling worse. He was getting dizzy and he didn't like that.

When Danny re-entered the bar, he inwardly cursed as he saw who was now sitting with Martin. Geez, he couldn't leave Martin alone for five minutes without Bethany jumping all over him. Sam wasn't going to like this one bit. He approached the table. "Martin, look I have to go. Kyle's throwing up and Michelle wants to take him to get checked out at the hospital."

"I hope it's nothing serious." Despite the fact that he was feeling like he was run over by a truck, Martin was genuinely concerned.

"It's probably just a stomach virus or something, but Michelle wants to make sure that he's ok." Danny explained. "So I have to go, but I don't think you should be driving home."

"I'll drive him home." Bethany volunteered enthusiastically.

I bet you will. Danny thought sarcastically. He didn't want to leave Martin alone with Bethany, especially since Martin wasn't looking too great right now. "Martin, are you gonna be ok?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine." Martin shrugged off Danny's concern. Truth was that he was feeling worse and worse with each passing minute. Maybe drinking wasn't the smartest thing to do while taking pain medication.

"I'll make sure he gets home safely." Bethany promised Danny. "Go take care of your son and I'll take care of Martin."

Danny debated with himself about whether or not to leave Martin in the evil clutches of Bethany. Normally he would just take Martin home himself and politely tell Bethany to go to hell, but he had to get home to take care of Kyle and keep Michelle calm because she was already freaking out. "Ok." He finally relented. "Remember what I said Martin."

"Ok." Martin nodded. "I will, and thanks."

"No problem." Danny grinned. "Someone has to be there to tell you when you're being an idiot."

Martin rolled his eyes at Danny's sarcasm. "Go take care of Kyle."

"Ok." Danny replied, giving Bethany one last look before leaving. He really had a bad feeling about this.

"Do you think you could take me home now please?" Martin asked, looking over at Bethany. "I'm not feeling too great. I'm a little dizzy."

"Sure." She smiled, helping him get out of the booth. The crisp, evening air hit them as soon as they exited the bar and she continued to make small talk as they headed to her car. On the way to his house, she looked over and saw that he was either passed out or asleep. When his cell phone rang, she debated about whether or not to pick it up. But, seeing on the caller id that it was his wife calling him, she couldn't resist answering. "Hello?" She answered in the most innocent voice she could muster.

Sam was beyond surprised to hear a woman pick up Martin's phone but soon became angered when she realized that the voice belonged to Bethany. "Bethany? What are you doing answering my husband's phone?"

"Well…" she looked over at where Martin was passed out in the passenger seat and smiled. "Martin's not really available to talk right now."

"Oh really?" Sam questioned. If he wasn't available to talk but he was with Bethany, then what was he doing? Horrible mental images filled up in her mind and she became even angrier.

"Would you like me to have him call you back?" Bethany asked politely, knowing that she was succeeding in playing mind games with Samantha.

She thought about it for a moment and quickly decided that she didn't want to talk to him anymore. Everything finally made sense. He didn't want her to stay because he was going to replace her with Bethany. "Don't bother." She hung up, tossing the phone onto the kitchen counter.

Bethany hung up Martin's phone and placed it back in his pocket, grinning and laughing softly at the situation she had created. It was only a matter of time before Martin would be free from his wife and able to pursue her. Now it was time for phase two of her plan.