This is my first submission into the Loving Wives category. It is not a quick read, but rather a deep look into the minds of a struggling couple dealing with an event that could end their relationship. There is no sex involved, so if you're looking for that, you might want to move on.
As always, my stories are complete works of fiction, and all persons are of legal age. Your votes and comments are important to me, so after you read it, please share with me!
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This wasn't the way it was supposed to be.
As he sat alone, the last light of the fading sunset being swallowed up by the impending darkness, Shawn searched back through the last eight years, looking for evidence that could have led to what had transpired earlier today. What had he missed? What could have been done to prevent it? Why hadn't he seen this coming?
He slowly sipped on his beer, now warm after having been out in the heat of the evening for over 30 minutes. He still didn't know where she was, or even if she was coming home. He had been texting her since 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, reminding her of the special anniversary evening he had planned. He had told her the night before that he wanted to take her to the café across the street from her office. It wasn't their wedding anniversary, but instead the anniversary of the first time they had met. She liked that he remembered the special dates in their relationship. Normally this would have been a great evening, spent with the woman he loves.
But she hadn't responded to any of his texts, and his repeated calls went straight to voice mail, indicating her phone was either shut off, or with a dead battery. The latter likely wasn't true, because he knew she had a charger in her office. Of course, that assumed she was in her office, and at this point, he didn't know if that was true either.
He had called the office once, and got a curt reply from the receptionist that she was not available at the time, but a message would be left. In the message, he spelled out his plans once again – the café across from her office at 6:00 p.m. It was where they had first met, and it would always be a romantic place in their relationship.
When it was time to go, he started to get a little angry with himself that he hadn't given her earlier reminders. His purpose with the afternoon texts was to build her anticipation, so that when they finally got together at the café, all of her focus would have been on their special evening.
On his way to the café, he had driven through the parking lot behind the office building, the one where she still worked as an accountant across the street from the café. Her car was still there, so maybe she had just been too busy to acknowledge her afternoon texts and calls. However, it wasn't like her to not even respond at all, even if she was busy. She always found a way to make time for him.
The hostess greeted him as he stepped into the café at 5:45, and led him to a table for two near the back. As luck would have it, it was the exact same table where they had first met each other, a purely chance happening.
******
The memories of their first meeting that afternoon poured out of his heart. It was lunch time, and the café was busy. He was sitting by himself at a table, when he saw the hostess that day come back and ask him if he wouldn't mind sharing the table with a stranger. Shawn agreed, and when she returned with his table partner, he was glad he had said yes.
The girl was a vision of beauty. Tall, thin – but with curves in the right places – and long, sandy blond hair. She didn't so much walk back to the table, but instead glided, as if it were no effort at all. She had a captivating smile, and her eyes were the bluest he had ever seen. Immediately he began to feel nervous. This gorgeous creature was way out of his league. After all, he was just a private contract handyman, his own boss, doing carpentry and small repair work for households and businesses. He was very successful at it, but it meant he dressed in blue jeans and long sleeve work shirts. He would certainly be underdressed at this table.
The hostess introduced her as Erin, and she sat down. They immediately made small talk, starting with Shawn apologizing for his attire and explaining his work. Erin immediately waved him off, saying it wasn't a big deal with her, and that she just appreciated him being willing to share a table. As the meal wore on, they shared a little more about each other, and by the time lunch was completed, they had shared phone numbers and set up a date for the weekend.
Their relationship progressed, and eventually Shawn asked Erin to marry him, even though he always had that thought in the back of his mind that one day she was going to realize he wasn't good enough for her. Erin accepted, and after a year of dating and six months of engagement, they married. The wedding took place in the spring and was a big affair, although Shawn would have been happier with a smaller wedding. But he also knew that on the day of her wedding, Erin was the most beautiful bride there had ever been. Her smile that day was enough for Shawn to know that having a big wedding was the right thing to do.
As their relationship progressed into marriage, so too did their work lives. Erin was able to land an accounting job straight out of college – the same job she still had today, in the same location, the accounting office right across the street from the café where they first met. It wasn't uncommon for Shawn to join her there for a mid-week lunch date. They always tried to sit at the same table, but with the size of the noon-time crowds that ate there, it wasn't always possible. Still, they treasured their time together at the café. It would always be a special place.
Shawn's handyman business took off as well. He built his reputation on excellent work, usually coming in at or below his estimate, and always finishing a job on time. Soon, the word-of-mouth advertising he got for free meant that when one job was finished, another was always waiting, to the point that he was scheduled for six months ahead of time. There were others who were doing the same job as Shawn, but not as well, so people didn't seem to mind the wait for his services.
Shawn and Erin had decided early in their relationship that they wouldn't rush right into parenthood. They both wanted kids, but felt it would be better to wait until they had established their careers. Since things had been going so well, Shawn was starting to think that the idea of being a father might be coming closer and closer. But he deferred to his beautiful wife – whenever she was ready, he would be ready as well.
In fact, that deferral pretty much described much of Shawn and Erin's relationship. Shawn worshipped the ground on which Erin walked. He loved how she took charge of their finances, made decisions on what car to buy or where to shop or dine out. As long as she was happy, Shawn was happy as well.
******
By this time, it was 6:30 – she was 30 minutes late. He dug his phone out of his pocket and tried to call again – both her cell, and the office phone. The cell went straight to voice mail, as it had all afternoon, and the office phone was answered by a machine. He knew that the door to the office building across the street was locked at 5:30, so trying to get in would be a waste of time.
By 6:45, his emotions had started working on him. He was feeling concern – perhaps something was wrong with her, and he felt helpless not knowing what to do to contact her. Maybe she had never gotten any of the messages and calls he sent, but he had created these plans with her last night, so it wasn't like she didn't know, and he didn't think she'd forget something as important to them as the anniversary of their first meeting.
