Chapter II

Amy stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes.  She watched the gentle snow fall outside.  In a few short hours, the house would be filled with family gathering for Christmas Eve dinner and there was plenty that still needed to be done.  But she couldn’t bring herself to work on the meal.  Somehow, she had managed to get the turkey in the oven but that was all her energy level allowed.  It was all she could do to hold back tears as she thought of her conversation with her husband last night.

The kids were all in bed and the house was quiet.  They were alone in the bedroom.  She was just finishing brushing her teeth when he approached her.  “Amy,” he said quietly.  “We need to talk.”

“You change your mind about the family dinner tomorrow?  I told you it was a bad idea to invite everyone.” She smiled because she knew he would eventually tell her she was right.

“No, it’s not that,” he said without a hint of a smile.  “You better sit down.”

They had known each other since they were 14 so she knew his moods. Whatever was about to come was serious.  She took his advice and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Look,” he said and held her hands in his, “there is no easy way to tell you this but…” he looked her in the eyes and she could see the pain behind his.

“What is it, Stewart?” she asked suddenly feeling a pit in her stomach.

He swallowed hard.  “I’ve met someone.”

She processed his words.  “You met someone?” she said slowly.

“It wasn’t planned,” his words rushed out.  “It just sort of happened.”

“What happened?”

He stood up and started pacing.  His words came in rhythm with his step.  “We met at work.  We were working on that Bunderson merger.  You remember the one?  That big one?”

“What?” Amy asked.

“Anyway,” he said shaking his head at the unimportant detail. “We worked a lot of hours together and we just clicked.”

Amy looked at him.  He bobbed his head for courage. “Anyway, I think I’m in love.”

She was waiting for the punchline to this sick, unfunny joke.

“We married so young, you and I, that I don’t know if we knew what love actually is.  We just took for granted that we were in love but were we really?” he walked to the window and looked out.

“Why are you using past tense?” Amy forced the words.  “I still am in love with you.  You are my best friend. We may not have known what love was then but I certainly know now.”

He turned and looked at her.  “You are my best friend and I do love you.  You are the mother to my children.  I have known you since I was fourteen.”

No words came to her.

“But,” he continued, “I don’t know that I am still in love with you.  Not romantically, I mean.  I think we’ve become boring.  Common place.  Just another old married couple with no spark.”

If he was intentionally trying to hurt her he was doing a good job.

“I sacrificed so much by marrying young.”  He continued.  “We both did, really.”

“I don’t understand.” 

“It’s time I do right by me.”

“Please,” she could feel the tears falling off her cheeks.

“I’m going to give this relationship a chance.”

“What are you saying?” she asked attempting some semblance of composure.

“I’m leaving you.”

Nothing more needed to be said.  She had made him say the specific words. 

He slept on the couch that night and left quietly to work.  To her.

Now here Amy stood, in her kitchen, preparing a Christmas dinner for both of their families and she wasn’t even sure he was going to be there.  She just couldn’t cancel dinner though.

A knock on the door broke her chain of thoughts and she opened it to see her friend Sarah.  The mere sight of her friend is all it took to break her and she started sobbing uncontrollably.

“Oh, hey there,” her friend said and gave her the biggest, warmest bear hug.  “What’s wrong?”

They sat down at the kitchen table and Amy shared the whole story

“Stewart’s leaving me.  He’s leaving us.” Amy surmised.  “I feel so…”

“Hurt?” Sarah asked and Amy nodded. “Angry?” Sarah continued and Amy nodded again. “Betrayed?”

“Yes, yes, and yes!” Amy said.  “All of that.”  She thought for a moment.  “Mostly hurt though.  He’s my best friend.  How could he leave me?  How could he leave the kids?”

Sarah looked around.  “Why are you still doing Christmas dinner?  I think you should cancel.”

“Can’t cancel,” Amy said slowly.  “The kids are looking forward to the dinner.  I can’t do this to them.”

Sarah nodded her head slowly.  “This Christmas is sure going to leave a mark that is going to haunt you.  Let me finish preparing the dinner and you go lie down.”

“No,” Amy said.  “I can’t do that to you.”

“I insist,” Sarah said tying an apron on.

Amy finally nodded and walked to the doorway.  “Do you ever get déjà vu?” she asked.

Sarah shrugged her shoulders.  “Maybe sometimes.”
“I just had the biggest sense of déjà vu,” Amy said looking around.

Her friend just shrugged her shoulders again and shooed Amy out.  “Go lie down. Don’t you worry, I got this.”

Amy nodded her head again and walked down the hall.

Thanks to Sarah, the meal was ready by the time the other guests started to arrive.  Due to the rest Amy had she was able to wipe away her tears and receive everyone graciously.  Even though almost everyone asked about Stewart, she replied he would be home shortly and she hoped it would be true. 

Stewart’s brother brought an extra guest by the name of Perkins. He didn’t say much and he stood with his arms folded watching Amy.  His stare made her a little nervous but she thought she was just being paranoid.  Besides, she had other things to worry about other than her brother-in-law’s weird friend.

At 4:30, there was still no sign of Stewart. 

Sarah suggested they sit down to dinner and Amy did her best to hold it together.  But it became apparent, not only did Stewart hurt her he was also gone.

Next: Chapter III

Previous Chapter: I