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."
