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It uses you at whim and drives you to despair and forces you to feel more joy than you can bear.
Joe was away for the next few days. He didn't even grace her with an explanation or a business related excuse.
The day after Joe left, she did a small investigation on her end. She called into Joe's work inquiring about something insignificant. She spoke with his secretary and managed to work his busy schedule into the conversation. She found out that he actually was away on business during the weeks he told her, but apparently his stay was extended. When he told Elsie he would be gone for 7 days, his work only scheduled him for 6. The pattern continued the farther back she went. That extra unaccounted day told her all she needed to know.
She couldn't say she was surprised and she couldn't claim to be enraged, else she would be a hypocrite. But it still hurt.
She stopped by Beryl's one afternoon for tea and vented. Beryl was absolutely outraged and ready to begin divorcing him herself.
She paced the living room waving her hands like a mad woman. "Elsie! How on God's green earth did he have the audacity to do that to you? To his wife? My God! You know what I would like to say to him, I would like to…"
"Beryl!" Elsie cut her off. "It's no use calling him names. It's done and now I must move on." She laid back on their sofa.
"Elsie how can you be so calm about this? Your husband is cheating on you, for God's sake!"
"Beryl, please!" She sat up and waited for Beryl to look at her before she continued. "I told you what I know, and now I am asking you to just let it lie."
Beryl let out an exasperated sigh and fell into the nearest chair. She tried to let it lie, but mumbled a few more choice words. "How anyone has the nerve to even start a dalliance with a tart… Bastard."
Elsie felt like she was going to be sick. Her eyes were growing cloudy and a pain shot through her temples. She took short panicked breaths and closed her eyes tight.
The phone ring closed Beryl's sharp tongue for the time begin. She picked it up from the coffee table and began to pace again.
"Hello… I've been better, thank you… None of your quips, I'm not in the mood…"
"Who is it?" Elsie asked from her spot.
Beryl spoke to Elsie. "It's Charles, though Lord knows what he wants."
Elsie sat up further and then sank back down.
"What did you say, Charles… I'm not ignoring you, I was talking to Elsie… Yes, Elsie is here… Why! Does she need a reason to come visit her friend?… As a matter of fact, it is Joe who put me in this mood!… Never you mind, now what were you calling for? "
Their conversation went on for a few minutes before Beryl handed the phone to Elsie. "Apparently Alice wants to talk to you."
Elsie grabbed the phone. "Hello, Alice."
Charles's voice answered. "Els, keep talking like I'm Alice. I'm sorry, but I need to know what's going on. Are you alright?"
"Yes, Alice I'm fine." Elsie was sure Charles's booming voice would still be able to reach Beryl's ears. She put her hand over the receiver and addressed Beryl. "I think I need some air."
Beryl also stood. "Go on, love. I'll make us some tea and put out a plate of biscuits."
With Beryl off to the kitchen, Elsie went to the patio to talk in private.
"Charles, I'm outside now. Oh God, it feels so good to hear your voice again."
"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Does it have something to do with Joe?"
Elsie felt her heart rate speed up again. "It does. I'm not sure this is the best way to tell you, but I see no other alternative… I found evidence that Joe has been having an affair."
She heard Charles exhale on the other end. "I'm sorry, Els."
She didn't want to hear that from him. "Don't be. I feel a fool for not recognizing it sooner, but what's done is done."
"I can tell you're still upset." He recognized the agitation in her voice.
"It's just that… Beryl has been going on about him forsaking his spouse and calling him a bastard for even considering an affair and… I'm having a tough time convincing myself that her words aren't reflected back on me." She felt her emotions welling up to the surface.
Charles took a moment before answering. "Els, listen to me. You are not like him in any regard. He is the one who has cast you aside all these years. You were the one mistreated. And as soon as you discovered another way to your own happiness, you took steps to make it right." He paused while his words sunk in.
She dried her eyes before the tears fell. Her shoulders felt much lighter and she could see clearly again. "Thank you, my darling. I needed that."
"And I need you, love." Charles also felt lighter after taking off her burden.
Elsie was able to smile again. "Soon, love. And now I must get back to Beryl before she comes looking for me." Elsie looked to the door to make sure she hadn't already.
"You're coming this week right?"
"Yes. I still have a bit of packing, but I'll let you know."
"I'll be waiting, Els."
Elsie took her time packing up her things. She made sure to take only what was hers, else she knew Joe's fist would come down when the divorce proceedings began. She packed her car late one night and took a last look at her home of 18 years. It was a melancholy moment as she recalled all the memories she had in this house, in her old life. At the same time, she looked forward to moving on to better things. She climbed in her car and drove off.
Charles moved out over a week prior and into his new apartment. It was on the upper floor of a small town house. There was a full kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom. He admitted that it was nothing fancy, but it would suffice in their short term planning. He looked over his finances and savings. He figured that they could afford to put money down on a house somewhere. That is something they would have to talk about after both divorces were finalized.
Elsie pulled up at their new apartment and parked on the street. Charles must have been awaiting her arrival because he was on the door step as soon as she exited the car. He came over to greet her and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance.
"Charles." She looked around.
"Els, nobody knows us out here. Besides, we're both separated now. The status quo has shifted." She smiled at him as he lead her inside, just as the rains began. He showed her around the flat. The furniture it rented with was minimal, but functional. The only real piece of furniture either of them cared about was the double bed.
"I had to buy new sheets and everything," Charles told her.
She giggled at his enthusiasm.
Elsie glanced over every appliance and corner of their new home. It was functional and she saw potential, but it was hidden beneath a pile of dust and dirt. The previous renters did not take good care of cleaning it regularly, she could see that. Still it was nothing a little scrubbing wouldn't fix.
The rain turned into a downright pour. The sound of the rain on the roof was exceptionally loud. Elsie turned to Charles.
He turned up his lip with a hopeful look. "What do you think?"
She chose her words carefully. "It is nice. It could use a bit of cleaning and some personal touches. Well, actually it could use more than a bit of cleaning…"
Charles walked around to the kitchen. "I think you are exaggerating, Els. It will be suitable for us."
"Charles, I can assure you I am not exaggerating. Look at these corners. And the edges of the stove burners. Not up to my standards of cleanliness."
They heard a plink sound coming from the kitchen table. A small water puddle was just beginning.
"Drat," Charles muttered taking a pot from a cupboard and collecting the water. He saw the leak in the ceiling.
"Well, another fix to add to the list." Elsie stared up at the ceiling, expecting more leaks before the evening was through.
"It's not so bad, Els. Every house has it's problems." He spotted another leak behind her, but refused to acknowledge it.
"Yes, darling. I'm sure they do," she said patting his cheek. She turned into the living area and noticed the marks on the walls. "And these marks are another one of the problems every house has?"
He quickly brought out another pot to collect the second leak while her back was turned. "What marks, sweetheart?"
She gestured the walls. "These marks, darling. Didn't you notice them when you decided to rent the place?"
He turned to her. "Actually I didn't. I saw functional accommodations that would fill our needs for a short amount of time."
Elsie was not sure what he meant by a short amount of time, but she didn't want to enter that conversation now.
"Did you even look around at other places? I'm sure you could have found something better." She was getting frustrated and a bit uncomfortable.
"Yes, Els. I looked around at a number of flats, but this one was the best I could find for a decent price." He can't say he was surprised at her frankness, but he was hurt at her accusations.
"Oh, I highly doubt that!" she admonished.
"Els, what are you trying to say? That I am incapable? That I am lying? That I…
"Charles stop with all the bloody questions!" She turned to him with her hands on her hips.
"Only when you stop saying 'bloody' every other phrase!" He squared off with her.
"I do not say it every other phrase."
"Oh yes you do."
"Charles, I have had enough…" She felt another leak pool on her head.
Charles grumbled as he pulled out another pot to place under it.
"You see! This place is falling apart!"
"Well I'm sorry! Next time I will be sure and inspect the roof before I place any money down on a building! Now I am asking you to stop your nagging!"
Now she was really on a roll. "I will nag if I have reason to Charles Carson!"
His face was red with fury. "Well I won't have it in my house so why don't you just find another place!"
She was taken aback by that statement. "Is that what you really want Charles?"
"No!" he shouted, still in battle form. He quieted down after realizing what he said. "I'm sorry. That was a stupid thing to say."
She knew in her heart he didn't mean it, but the anger in her head lead her on in their war. "Maybe I should just leave if that's what you want!" she fumed.
He rushed towards her. "No you will not! You will stay right here!"
"And how are you going to stop me? You have no hold over me. You're not my husband."
"And you're not my wife!"
They reached a stalemate. They were toe to toe and their eyes locked on the other.
She was getting tired. She didn't need this. "I gave up my whole life for you, Charles. Everything!"
"And I gave up everything for you!"
"Well why did you?" she spat.
"I thought that was obvious Elsie. Because I love you!"
"And I love you!"
As soon as she finished, his lips crashed down on hers. He drew her possessively towards him and ran his hands over her body. Elsie was just as responsive as she moved her hands to his chest and forcefully opened his shirt. She ran her hands over his bare chest and up over his shoulders. Their tongues continued their war, silently.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her to his level. She automatically wrapped her legs fast around his middle. He walked them over to the marked wall and leaned her against it, freeing his hands to snake up her sides. His hands eventually moved to her face and pulled their heads apart slightly. They met in a silent moment of understanding and forgiveness before returning to each other's bodies.
They took turns placing kisses to the other's skin and whispering apologies.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"I'm sorry to, my darling."
"It really does need some work, but I'm sure you and I can fix it up together."
"I will be perfect, Charles."
They both calmed and their kisses turned into soft, loving caresses. She slid down his body and wrapped her arms around him.
"Charles, what did you mean when you said earlier about our accommodations only serving us for a short amount of time?"
He spoke into her hair. "I mean that once our divorces are finalized and we know where we stand financially, I hoped to buy a house. That brings me to why I chose this place. It has quite a low monthly rent and I though we should start saving now."
She rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him. "Oh Charles, how did I ever doubt you?"
"Far too easily, I'm afraid." He pulled her to him. This road would not be easy for either of them. There was still so much to learn about one another, yet he knew that in the end they would endure together.
"Charles," she sighed rubbing her hands down his chest again.
"Hum." He held his breath trying to keep himself in check.
She scratched his skin under his shirt. "Show me our bed."
"Thank God!" He lifted her in his arms again and continued his kisses and caresses.
They forgot all about the leaking roof, the mess around the flat, and even Elsie's bags that were still in her car. But they soon remembered how perfect their stripped bodies felt when they were pressed against each other in the closest way imaginable.