All characters in this story are over the age of 18. It is a work of fiction, any names or similarities to reality are purely coincidence.
This is my first standalone story. It has some build up, and the action picks up towards the end. Please enjoy!
******************************************************
"Honey, I'm off to work! Please please please don't forget to get some work done on the attic. We have to clear it out before winter so the new insulation can be installed"
Todd's ears perked up as he heard his wife Sandra's farewell, and her instructions. "You got it babe! Love you!"
"Love you too!!" She replied just before hustling out the door.
The attic was a recent cause of some derision in the household. Most of the stuff up there was Todd's, so it seemed only fair that he be the one to go through it. It didn't need to be emptied completely, just thinned out enough so that the square footage could be sectioned off and insulated in chunks. While he had bemoaned to Sandra about having to do manual labor on his day off, he mostly whined in jest. He knew it to be unwise to capitulate to his wife's demands without at least a little pushback. Otherwise, he would never have a moment of free time...
The house they shared was modest, if not quaint. It was a standalone rancher on the edge of the suburbs. Nothing flashy, but they did their best to maintain it. The decor was suited to their tastes, as one would expect. The quality both appreciated most of all was to lean towards minimalism. Less is more. Early in their relationship, they had spent a few years living with Sandra's parents, in order to save for their own property. That house had been overloaded with clutter, and once out, they both vowed to never end up like that.
Now into their late 30's, Todd and Sandra had entered a comfortable groove in their marriage. Communication was practiced and easy. Romance was still alive and well, as routine had not robbed them of mutual interest. They knew each other well, and seemed to bask in the familiarity rather than fester resent. Their marriage was the quiet envy of more than a few disgruntled singles among the social circle.
A good partnership needs patience, respect, and compassion, among other things. Todd was happy to oblige his wife's reasonable request. His acquiescence typically came easily and without coercion, which similarly contributed to their steady longevity.
"Well, nothing to it but to do it" Todd huffed to himself as he geared up to tackle the project. With flashlight in hand, he braved the flimsy pull-down ladder and prepared for a few hours of hunched over deliberation.
As the late morning went on, hunger pangs began to dissuade Todd from his progress. He had managed to sort a few piles of keepers, trash, donations, and TBD. One such box which had piqued his interest was small enough to carry down the ladder himself. He didn't want to fully slow his endeavor, so he decided to peruse the mystery while he ate at the table. Little did he know what treasures were contained therein...
******
Sandra sat at her office, idly sipping her sparkling water and tossing back a few handfuls of trail mix. Her job did not give her a paid lunch, so instead of taking time out of her day, she typically would eat something quick and easy in order to get back to task asap. Her productivity determined her workday, and she would rather leave early than enjoy a luxurious mid-day meal.
Todd would usually text her throughout the day, understanding that she may or may not be able to respond depending on her workload. For that matter, she might not even have time to read messages at all. If it was important, he would call. That way she could excuse herself and return the call. A text was almost always a throwaway message of love. 'Missing you! can't wait to shower together and watch our show!' --that sort of thing. Usually accompanied by, or exclusively featuring, silly heart themed emojis. She never failed to crack a smile upon seeing his messages, as she knew it meant he was thinking of her. Momentary distractions are precious ripples in the otherwise monotonous sludge of one's modern serfdom. For those she was grateful.
So she thought nothing of it when her phone's screen lit up and quickly displayed the symbol for 'messaging'. She knew it was most likely Todd sending a careless whisper.
"What the fuck..." Sandra breathed to herself as she squinted at the image Todd had sent her. 'What's this all about then?' he captioned the image, which was a cellphone camera picture of a small booklet on their dining room table.
'Not sure hon. Why, is it important? I'm about to get back to work' she typed in reply.
'Not urgent! We can discuss when you're home. Seeya later bb (kissy face emoji)'
Sandra stared once more at the image, and the wheels in her head started to unravel the mystery. She remembered that Todd was going through the attic today...she remembered some of the things she had stored away up there...she remembered forgetting how personal and private some of those things were, and how she maybe should have done a preliminary run through before setting Todd to task...
She replied to his text in the affirmative and spent the rest of her shift scatterbrained and slightly anxious. She was concerned about the nature of their upcoming discussion, and wanted nothing more than to settle up at work and rip the Band-Aid off, so to speak.
*******
Todd looked up and smirked when he heard the door unlock from the outside. Sandra had wiggled her way out of work earlier than usual. She must have been in a hurry, and he had a pretty good idea why.
"Hey sweety! You made it! Cmere hon" he said as he got up and strode over to her, giving her a moment to take off her shoes and ditch her tote before cradling her head in his chest and rubbing her back. Sandra melted into his chest, both relieved at Todd's immediate embrace, and also grateful for the comfort of his most familiar affection. She moaned her dismay and world weariness into his chest and let the day's frustrations begin to recede, as she always did. Todd had that effect on her.
"Baby! Today was rough. I was anxious to see you. That text you sent kinda put me on edge, I won't lie. I thought you would be mad. You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?" Todd chuckled. "That book is decades old. At least it seems to be, from what I can tell. I never knew you were such a naughty girl! I thought I married a decent woman!" he said playfully, enjoying her embarrassment, maybe just a little too much. Sandra had turned a dramatic shade of blush.
"Honestly I forgot about that sweety. I'm so sorry you had to find it like that, I should have thrown it away. I don't know why I kept it with my old high school stuff. Yes, I made those coupons. Yes, I planned to give them to my boyfriend, back in, good lord, 2002? 2003??! When did we get so old...
"Anyways, he broke up with me before I had the chance. I thought I was so edgy and sexy, giving him risquΓ© coupons. He broke my heart, and of course I never recovered " she remarked sarcastically, rolling her eyes for emphasis.