I smiled and walked towards him, but his face
changed, and he started looking behind me.
Even when he was swamped with work, John
would always make time to come home with
- me.
If only for the sake of his General image, to
play the part.
The crowd thinned out, and Mike kept looking
around before finally giving up, a flash of
disappointment in his eyes.
He turned back to me and forced a smile.
We both knew better than to ask.
We walked to the parking lot, one in front of the other. He opened the back door for me, and I smiled, got in.
The cat sleeping on the seat next to me woke
up when the door slammed, squinted at me.
After a moment, she seemed to recognize
me, leaped into my arms.
I’d been gone for a year, but she still
remembered me, still loved me most.
I stroked her head, a sudden wave of sadness
washing over me.
Years ago, John used to cling to me like this.
Every time I got home from work, he’d bury
his face in my neck and whisper, “Wendy, I
missed you so much.”
For a moment, it felt like I was back in the honeymoon phase with John.
Like the last ten years together had all been a
dream.
But now, the dream was over.
I settled in Seaside and opened the coffee
shop I’d always dreamed of owning.
Away from John, I was finally free to do what
I loved.
No one would tell me running a coffee shop
was ‘beneath‘ a General’s wife
I wouldn’t have to try to impress John,
studying those dry, boring military facts.
Half a year flew by.
I got through the days without John, got used
to living alone.
I didn’t have to worry about him running off in
the middle of the night to help Elle out with
some ‘emergency‘.
Didn’t have to worry about being locked in
that freezing, damp basement because Elle’s
daughter, Lily, said she hated me.
The days turned into weeks, the weeks into
months.
Then, six months later, John called me for the
first time.
I stared at the word “Husband” flashing on my screen, stunned.
It wasn’t until my brother nudged me that I snapped out of it and answered.
John sounded like he was at the end of his
rope, his voice cold as a glacier. “You win, Wendy. Happy now?”
I was lost, totally confused.
John cleared his throat and let out a harsh
laugh. “You’ve had your fun. Now get your ass
back here.”
“I’m busy. I have to take care of Elle and her
daughter.”
“I already lost my own son. I can’t let anything
happen to them.”
“Wendy, I don’t have time for your childish
games!”
I just laughed bitterly.
Every time I was upset, he acted like I was just being difficult, like I was deliberately
trying to compete with Elle and her daughter.
Like the time Lily started screaming and
demanding that I imitate Peppa Pig splashing
in puddles for her.
L
John didn’t even think twice before kicking
me out of the car. “Wendy, kids can get brain damage if they cry too long. A little rain won’t
kill you.”
It was late at night, on the highway, during a
torrential downpour.
I walked alone, for hours, until I collapsed in
the freezing mud.
Later, some good Samaritan took me to the
hospital.
The doctor said I had pneumonia from being
out in the rain, and that I needed family to
take care of me.
Meanwhile, John was busy making Elle some
ginger tea for her cramps, ignoring my calls.
“Wendy!”
John’s shout snapped me back to reality.
I swallowed hard and said calmly, “I made myself pretty clear when I left.”
John was clearly stunned. “You actually want a divorce?”
“Then at least come back and sign the damn
papers, will you?”
“When are you going to stop acting like a
spoiled brat?”
My heart sank. “I already signed the divorce
papers and gave them to Mr. Cooper.”
L
“He said he’s already contacted you.”
“If you have nothing else to say, please don’t
bother me again.”
“Wendy, you…” John sounded like he was
about to say something else.
But I’d made up my mind. I hung up.
I thought that would be the end of it. That
John and I could separate amicably.
But then, he drove to Seaside that very night.
His SUV screeched to a halt right in front of
- me.
