The Ultimatum

It was silent in the Jeep.But the silence was only camouflaging the vulcano which was going to explode in the next moment.

You could smell the hot lava flowing with the street.

Neil was driving and Summer's mum was starring out the window.

Neil was disappointed of his wife. He still could not believe,that it had been her,who wanted to slap Summer.

"You know what, it is unbelivable that our own daughter has to tell us what to do. Are we that far already?

What happened to us?"

Neil tried to be kind,even if he was upset inside that his own wife had wanted to slap his little Angel.

" You mean what happened to you? I don't see any mistakes at my place,the only mistake was you.You only care about your job."

"Right and you only care about Summer ? And not about your nails ? " Neil was near going off now.

"I had to raise our Summer,I was there for here all the time,so I can take some time off ,too.

Sometime for myself too. But you don't think about me."Summer's mother was so short-sighted.

For Neil it was so inapprehensible. " You could have given me some time with our daughter , why didn't you go work and earn our money?"

"You are the man, I am the housewife ! Got a problem with it ?"

Neil was rolling his eyes. His wife was now totally not herself anymore.

He was pushing the gas pedal,driving fast. He wanted to get out of this smallroomed hell.

" I am not discussing about this topic anymore,we discussed it about 34350 times now. It is enough!"Neil was raising his voice.

The Volcano had begun to explode.

"Won't you start yelling at me Neil!"

"Why? Maybe because you are the only person who is allowed to yell? You yell at me for now about 1 Month ! Now it is my time to yell!

I am not your slave, I am your husband. Or at least I was until you started fighting . Now I don't see any positive aspects in our marriage anymore. I don't know what happened to you,you changed for about 180°. Enough..." Neil said in a loud and clear voice.

He drifted round the corner with much speed into their street and finished his sentence by stepping on the brakes" is ENOUGH!"

The Jeep stopped,and Neil looked angrily at Summer's mother,who looked some kind of a little scared because of their drive at him.

Neil never had thought he would yell at his own wife. But now he had the strentgh to defend himself and protect Summer.

A new Ara had begun when he had kissed her before.

As Summer's mum had catch her breath again,she started to take the fight on her side again.

She got off the car and started yelling at the front porch.

"You complain about that I don't give you time with your daughter right? Is that what you want?"

Neil got off the car immediately ,too. "Stop screaming outside our house,the neighbours.."But he was interrupted again,like he was always.

"I don't give a damn about the damn neighbours. I don't give a damn about what they think about us. But they should now what you are like.A miserable father.And some sort of what some woman would call husband."

Neil walked suddenly over to the door opened it and pushed his wife inside. He tried to be soft.

" You were the man I swore to stay with until death and in good and bad times. Now there are bad times.

I can't stand staying with you in those times!" Summer's mother seemed to be in despair. Maybe that was the Moment for Neil .

" I swore to stay with you,and I would. But you make it so hard for both of us. For the three of us."

"Right,but you know what. Right now..." She said,looking at him ." Right now I won't stay with you. I will go,leave this house,this hell,this ma:.." She didn't want to finish the word marriage. Maybe there was still a chance,to rescue that what she loved once.

Neil felt some kind of relieved. Of course it was not what he wanted,but it was the best. The best for him and for Summer.Even if she was staying at the Coopers now.

"Now you're talking sense." Neil said without any emotion. He could not get his thoughts and feelings in order,the only thing he knew that she should leave now.

"Okay then, I'll back off."She went up into their room,opening the closet,pulling out the bag and some close.

Neil followed her.

While she packed her things she explained her future plans.

But for Neil,it was an Ultimatum.

"I will stay in the Mermaid Inn. Don't try to contact me in any way.

If there is a chance for us to move on and our marriage, I will contact you. "

Neil felt how he was shivering inside. This was it. The Ultimatum. The maybe End.

"Anything else you need to know ? I will take the Jeep,you can keep the Mercedes."

Neil shook his head.

"Well okay then. Goodbye Neil " She said without any expression on her face . It seemed like they would be buisnesspartners.

"Goodbye, Julia." By naming her,he tried to be personal,he wanted to reach her,he wanted to rescue,what still could be rescued.

He whispered " I loved you, and maybe I will always do. Please think of us and our daughter..."

Julia stood at the stairs,looking back at him .She saw him with tears in his eyes.

"Goodbye darling"She whispered.But she wouldn't cry.

She went downstairs,straight out to the jeep.Neil looked out the window,watching the Jeep passing down the street.

The last time,for at least now.