Charity in Action

Author's Note: All characters are over the age of 18. This story is a work of fiction. Please do not republish on other platforms without my express permission.

Brevity is the wit of the soul so this chapter won't be witty. I'm always amazed at how much I want to include so fair warning that it is a slow burn, but hopefully it will be worth it!

Constructive criticism welcomed. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!!

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One of my favorite things about being in the hospital is that you get pampered by the nurses and people really pity you. That silent treatment that Ava gave me after we left her dad's? Gonezo! She was spoiling me rotten and we actually were communicating like we used to before all this madness. The worst part though were the unwelcomed visitors.

"Wow, Uncle Roger, Aunt Denise...I can't believe that you're here." I couldn't have been more unenthusiastic if I tried. They were currently both standing next to my bed with strange expressions.

"Where is Ava?" I ask, looking around the room as my stomach drops. They were the last people I wanted to talk with right now.

"We told her to get some rest. The poor girl must be sick of being cooped up in here," Aunt Denise says as she steps closer, her hand reaching towards me.

I jerk away instinctively, a flash of hurt crosses her face and I felt a bit bad. "Er, yeah. She's probably sick of the hospital food, but what are you guys doing here? Not that I don't appreciate it, of course."

Uncle Roger shakes his head. "Look Fin, I know we didn't part on the best of terms last time, but we do care for you. We're still family."

"Yes," Aunt Denise begins as she glances at her husband then returns her gaze to me. "We...we may have done it for years, but we've never really...shared this side of us...it was hard for us to really know how to help you. It must have been...a shock for you, but...we didn't mean for you to feel so uncomfortable."

I wasn't in the mood so I decide to stop dancing around the issue. I sit up in the bed and give them a stern look. "Do we really have to talk about...about that? I just want to put that all behind us."

Uncle Roger sits down on the chair beside my bed and crosses his legs as he finds the words to answer. "Look...we know that your marriage has been...well, is evolving in a sense."

"..."

"We just want to help, Fin," Aunt Denise says softly, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "We've been through some tough times in our marriage too and we've found the spark we needed to really...revitalize us, show us who we are."

"Plus," Uncle Roger starts, his voice lowering a notch as he leans over to grasp his wife's hand. "We want you to know that honesty is key in a successful marriage. In fact, that's what helped with our relationship."

I groan as I look away, not wanting to even look at them. Almost as if I did, it would be a silent assent to their perverted lifestyle. "Look, I told you. I don't want to talk about...that or anything related to it."

Aunt Denise smiles gently, sitting down on the edge of my bed. "You don't have to lie to us, Fin. We can see you and Ava have been through a lot. And we know that a little...variety can help."

The way she said 'variety' made my stomach flip. "Look, I appreciate your concern, but Ava and I are working through our issues. Our own way. We're not, no offense, like you guys."

Aunt Denise nods, her smile never faltering. "That's what we thought at first too. Society likes to make it out like we're some sort of freaks of nature, but the thing is, we're just honest with ourselves. The secret to a strong marriage is honesty and open communication. I wasn't honest with your uncle and..."

She looks at her husband for a second as a flicker of regret crosses her face. "...and it ended up causing more pain than it was worth."

Uncle Roger nods, his expression turning serious. "I was very angry at first, but seeing your aunt so raw and vulnerable as she opened up to me...it strengthened our marriage in ways we never could have predicted. It was like a huge burden had been lifted from our shoulders and we were finally free."

I swallow hard as I try to push down the dark part of me which was eating this up. "I'm...I'm not saying it's bad or anything, but I don't think Ava is ready for...that kind of...um...endeavor."

Uncle Roger nods. "Understood, but sometimes we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zones...for the sake of our relationships." He glances at his wife, who nods in agreement. "Why don't you talk to her about it? Just pitch the idea and see how she feels?"

I shook my head emphatically. Ava would never agree, much less, entertain the idea. "I've...thought about it before, but I'm pretty sure she's not into that kind of stuff."

"You'd be surprised, Fin," Aunt Denise says, her voice filled with a knowing tone. "Sometimes, people just need to be introduced to the idea gently, see it from a different perspective."

I stare at the bright white ceiling, my mind racing with the implications of their advice. I know they mean well, but the thought of bringing this up to Ava felt like purposely walking into a minefield. "I'll...consider it."

"That's all we ask," Uncle Roger says, patting my arm before standing up. "We're here for you, Fin. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

Aunt Denise gives me a warm smile as she rises from the bed. "Remember, honesty and communication are key, dear. Maybe it could be the spark that reignites the passion and lifts your marriage to new heights."

I nod as they leave, but inside I was thinking it could also be the spark that blows up our relationship. Plus, it was strange how little the whole Terry thing seemed to affect her. Had my wife changed after the Alvin incident? Or was it me that's changed? I closed my eyes while these troubling thoughts swirled in my head as I dozed off.

"Wake up, honey. It's time for you to eat your dinner."

I groan as I pull the blanket up to cover my face. Her voice felt like nails on the chalkboard.

"Come on, Fin. Don't be a baby. You'll have plenty of time to sleep later."

"Aw, come on, mom. Just a few more minutes."

"Fiiiiin! Hmph, you've forced my hand!"

I feel her yank away the covers and I hiss as I cover my eyes from the hospital light. "You've got to be kidding me, Ava! I'm a wounded man here! Besides, why bother me for more of that hospital slop?"

"Well, if you open your eyes, you'd see that I brought us some Chinese."

I take a sniff and sure enough, I could smell it. MSG and soy sauce, perfection. My eyes shoot open as I exclaim, "No way! Haha! You're a lifesaver, hun!"

It felt good to just sit there and finally eat some real food. Ava was animated as she told me about her volunteer work. I was listening on and off like usual, just happy she seemed back to normal. Apparently, that trip to her dad's helped more than expected. However, one thing did catch my attention.

"...and then James told me about the blue jay he saw near the park and the picture he drew was just incredible! You have to see it," Ava says excitedly as she shows me her phone.

"Oh, wow, that's pretty good. You said he's a novice? That could sell well on a t-shirt."

"Uh huh. It's a lot better than my doodles at least! Speaking of which," Ava pauses for a moment as she chews on her food thoughtfully. "I...invited James over for dinner next week since he's... Well, you know, since his divorce, he doesn't have many people to turn to."

"Um, ok? It would have been nice for you to let me know. I barely even know the guy! And what about the kids?"

My barrage of questions made Ava shrink back a little as she places her food down on the tray. "I'm sorry, honey. It just happened so fast. James was talking about how he has no one to celebrate his birthday with and I just opened my mouth without thinking about it."

I sigh as I rub my temples. "Aw, geez. Now, I feel like the asshole! I can't really say no to that. Plus, it'll give the kids something to celebrate, I guess."

She takes my hand and holds it as her thumb rubs the top affectionately. "Fin...I'm sorry. I know you're recovering and it was wrong of me to spring it on you like this..."

Ava was starting to lose her cool again and I could see the progress begin to crumble so I quickly placed my hand on her's as I looked into her eyes. "There's nothing to worry about. I was just...caught off guard is all. Of course, we can have James over. It'd be cruel if we just left him alone, especially on his birthday."

"Thank you, Fin! I'll make it up to you, I promise!" Ava says cheerfully as she hugs me tightly.

This was my chance, I felt like it was the time to test the waters. It was now or never. "Um, Ava...I've been thinking about some things..."

Her eyes met mine, a hint of curiosity mixed with concern. "Is something wrong?"

Taking in a deep breath, I began, "Ava, I know this might sound weird, but...have you...have you ever thought about...exploring...other possibilities in our relationship?"

Her eyebrows slowly rises as she looks me straight in the eyes. "Other possibilities? What do you mean?"

I exhale and decide to just dive in, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible. "Well, you know...like... maybe...we can try...something new."

Ava swallowed hard, her eyes wide as she blinks hard. "What...what are you...what are you talking about?"

"You know...like...letting us...letting us see other people," I explain awkwardly, my heart pounding in my chest. The crazy thing is that I wasn't even sure I wanted this. Yet, something inside was pushing me forward. "It's not like we're unhappy or anything...it's just...I want to try something new."

Ava stares at me with utter disbelief. "Fin, where is this coming from? Did you hit your head or something?" She tries to laugh it off, but I can hear her voice is tight.

"Ava-"

"Shhh. It's ok, Fin. Just rest. I'll leave you alone so you can rest and we can put that...that behind us."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks as she leaves abruptly. Suddenly, I felt like the biggest idiot in the world. What was I thinking? I should have kept it to myself. Uncle Roger and Aunt Denise's advice had backfired and now I had egg all over my face.

I try to distract myself by flipping through the TV channels, but everything seems to blur together. Nothing catches my interest and I keep glancing at the clock, with each second feeling like an eternity.

Days pass and yet, Ava gives me the cold shoulder. She's still here, taking care of me, but it's all mechanical now. The warmth and laughter from our hospital bonding sessions have been replaced with stiff smiles and forced pleasantries. This was awkward as hell and I wanted to kill Uncle Roger.

The nurses noticed the shift and their looks of pity made it even worse. They offered me food and extra blankets, but that did little to warm the chill that settled in my marriage. The TV became my best friend. At least it was good background noise to fill the silence.

Well, almost nothing. I checked my "work phone" and saw I received a message from one of my PIs. His message was short and sweet, listing out some countries, all of which were in Europe!

"Finally, some good news!" I mutter as my fingers fly over the screen to thank my guy and instruct him to narrow down the search. I could certainly use the distraction and I spent the next few days calling off some of the other fellas because I needed to save on costs. My little investigation was starting to hit the pocketbook.

As slow as it felt, the day came for me to get out of this dreary hospital and go home. The doctor drilled it into my head that I still needed to be careful and keep my movement to the minimum. Ava came to pick me up and help me get dressed. She was wearing a casual t-shirt and blue jeans combo, yet she still managed to look like a million bucks.

"Ready to blow this popsicle stand?" I joke with a smile as I try to play it cool.

Ava doesn't even smirk as she nods, her eyes avoiding mine as she helps me to the car. The silence is eerie as we make our way out of the hospital. As we reach the car, I take a deep breath and decide to break the ice. "Ava, about what I said the other night..."

"Let's not talk about it, Fin," she says curtly, her eyes focused in front of her.

"But Ava, we have to. It's been eating away at me," I insist, feeling a knot in my stomach. "Besides, aren't you the one who always says we need to always talk about our problems?"

"Fine," she says with a sigh. "But I don't even know where to start."

I take her hand, trying to reassure her. "Look, I know it's weird, but I just want you to know that I'm not unhappy with you or with us. It's just...I've seen some things in my job that have made me think differently about life and relationships. And I don't want us to get stuck in a rut, you know?"

Ava's eyes searched my face for any hint of deceit, but all she could find was genuine concern. "I just don't understand why you would bring this up now, especially after everything."

"Look," I begin, trying to find the right words. "I know it sounds weird, but sometimes... I just get this urge to... watch. It's like a curiosity, you know? I don't know, maybe we could give it a try?"

She stares at me, trying to process what I'm saying. "So, you want to watch other people have sex? You can just watch porn, can't you?"

"No, no, not like that," I stumble over my words. It was just an incoherent word salad at this point so I decide to be more direct. "I mean...I want to watch you...with someone else."

The silence is so thick I could cut it with a knife. Ava's face is a mix of shock, anger, and something else. Something I can't quite read. "You want to...what?!" she exclaims, her eyes wide with disbelief.

I take a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. "I know it sounds weird, but just hear me out, Ava. It's not about me not being satisfied with you. You're the only one I want, really. It's just...it could bring us closer."

Her face is a storm of emotions, but she doesn't pull away. "You want to watch me with someone else?" she repeats, her voice quieter this time. "And that would bring us closer?"

"Yeah," I reply, feeling like I'm treading on eggshells. "It's a...it's a thing, you know? Some couples do it. It's like a trust exercise, a way to explore new boundaries together."

Ava stares at me, her mouth slightly agape. "I...I don't know what to say, Fin. This is...this is not what I was expecting."

"Honey-"

"No," She starts as my wife shakes her head. "I won't...let...let's not talk about this, Fin. You've had...your wounds were bad. That's why you're spouting this...this nonsense." Her voice cracking and I knew I hit a nerve.

Her expression hardens and she starts the car without saying another word. The drive home is tense, the air thick with unspoken anger and confusion. When we pull into the driveway, she turns to me, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and anger as she points a finger at me. "Fin, not one more word about this, got it? The kids need their dad right now so get it together!"

The front door opens and the kids come rushing out, their laughter and excitement cutting through the tension like a knife. They're thrilled to see me, and for a moment, I forget about the bomb I've just dropped.

"Daddy's home!" they shout in unison, their little hands grabbing at my legs.

I force a smile, feeling the weight of my conversation with Ava still pressing down on me. "Hey, little rascals!" I manage to chuckle, reaching out to ruffle their hair. "Missed me?"

"Yep!" they both reply, their eyes shining with excitement. I take a deep breath and push the heavy thoughts aside, focusing on the joy in their faces.

The house is filled with the warm aroma of a homemade dinner and the kids are eager to show me their school projects plastered on the fridge. For a brief moment, everything feels almost normal again.

The days after my disastrous proposal are a mix of tension and forced normalcy. We go through the motions, but the unspoken tension was suffocating.

The dinner with James was fast approaching and it seemed to be the only thing Ava could focus on. She threw herself into the preparation, cooking up a storm and cleaning the house like it's an Olympic sport. It's clear she's using it as a distraction, a way to avoid talking about the elephant in the room. And frankly, I'm okay with that.

The day of the dinner, Ava is a blur of activity. She's wearing a dress that I've never seen before, something tight and navy that accentuates her curves. It's a stark contrast to her usual casual wear, and it sends a shiver down my spine. Was she trying to make a statement? Maybe she's trying to get my attention? Or was it just to impress James? The latter thought sends a stab of jealousy through me, but I push it aside.

"Fin, could you help me with the table settings?" Ava calls out from the kitchen, her voice strained.

I sigh and make my way over, trying to ignore the pit in my stomach. "Sure, babe," I reply, trying to keep my tone light.

James arrives precisely at 7 PM, the sound of the doorbell echoing through the house like a gunshot. He's dressed sharply in a blue button-up and khaki pants, his bald head gleaming under the porch light. He's a black man in his 40s, with a build that suggests he's a blue collared guy, with the wide shoulders and small belly that hangs over his belt. His smile is wide and friendly, his eyes sparkling with an easy charm that's hard to resist. He greets Ava with a warm hug.

"Thank you for inviting me over," James says, handing Ava a bottle of wine. "I wasn't sure what you guys would like so I played it safe with some white wine."

"It's perfect, James," Ava replies brightly. "Fin, this is James from the volunteer center. James, this is my husband, Fin."

I force a smile and extend my hand. "Nice to finally meet you, James and happy birthday! Come in. Ava's told me a lot about you."

James looks surprised for a moment then nods. "Thank you, Fin. It's good to meet you too. You're looking good for someone who's been stabbed!"

I laugh. "Ah, you know, stab wounds are like fine wine. They get better with time," I say, attempting to lighten the mood.

We sit down to dinner, the scent of garlic and rosemary from the roast chicken filling the room. Ava had outdone herself with the meal, and for a brief moment, it feels like we're back to our old selves, enjoying the company of an old friend. James starts talking about his job as a trucker, his stories about the road sounding like they're straight out of a movie script. He's got this way of speaking, a smooth rhythm that makes you hang onto every word. He tells us about the time he saw a UFO outside of Albuquerque and kids just bombarded him with questions.

After some cake, the conversation starts to wind down and I can see the exhaustion etched on Ava's face. She's been holding it together all evening, playing the perfect hostess. I offer to help clean up, but she waves me off. "I've got it," she says with a tight smile. "Why don't you go get the kids ready for bed?"

I nod and make my way to the living room where the kids have been playing. As I start the bedtime routine, I can't help but listen to the muffled tones of Ava and James' conversation from the kitchen. They're laughing, and for a second, it sounds like the good ol' days when Ava would laugh with me like that. I shake my head, focusing on the task at hand. The kids are too wound up from the excitement of the evening, so bedtime is a battle, but I manage to get them settled eventually.

When I return to the kitchen, Ava and James are deep in conversation, their voices low. My heart skips a beat as I see Ava leaning against the counter, her hand resting on James' arm. I clear my throat, and they both look up. "Everything okay?" I ask, trying to sound casual.