The Island
She ignored the jab and pulled her chair up to the bed, sat facing him, and took his hands in hers. She kissed his fingers, then squeezed his hands.
โWhat is it? Tell me whatโs on your mind.โ
Tears filled his eyes. โYou know I love you.โ
โOf course I do.โ Her spine straightened.
โI canโt do the vow renewal.โ His gaze met hers, his deep brown eyes full of sadness.
โWhy not? We wrote new vowsโtheyโre not the traditional ones. Itโll be fun.โ She didnโt understand. Why was he backing out now after all their work on lighthearted, even teasing vows in which they promised to do things like always replace the toilet paper and never eat the last Tim Tam without asking the other person first? The vows were cute. Everyone there would love them. It made no sense to back out now.
โIโve met someone else.โ
The words hit her like a slap to the face. โWhat do you mean, someone else?โ
โAnother woman. Weโre in love.โ
โNo, you canโt beโฆ Weโre in love. You and me.โ
He sighed. โIโm sorry, Bea. I know this comes as a shock. Itโs something of a shock to me as well. I didnโt see it coming. I didnโt go looking for it, but here I am.โ
โThis canโt be happening.โ She pulled her hands free of his and stood to pace the room. โWeโve got a hundred people coming to celebrate our marriage in less than an hour.โ
โI know itโs bad timing, we can still have the party. No one else has to know. But I thought it would be in bad taste to renew our vows whenโฆ Well, you know.โ
She wrung her hands together. โHow long has this been going on?โ
His cheeks coloured. โDoes that matter?โ
โYes, of course it does!โ she shouted.
He cringed. โDonโt get emotional.โ
โHow dare you tell me not to get emotional? Youโre always saying that. But if this isnโt the time to get emotional, Iโd love you to please tell me when is!โ
He shook his head and walked to the closet. โI canโt talk to you when you get like this.โ
She followed him. โYou have to talk to me, Preston. This time, you canโt walk away and hope the conflict disappears. You have to face it. Tell me what it is youโre trying to say.โ
โItโs been going on for a year.โ
Beatriceโs stomach roiled like sheโd been sucker punched. She lurched backwards away from her husband. No, no, no!
โWe love each other. Sheโs been there for me when I went through a hard time at work. She understands me. Weโve made plans for the future.โ
Beaโs eyes filled with tears. This couldnโt be happening. Theyโd planned to travel once the children left home. They were going to enjoy their golden years together. After all their hard work, this was the time to enjoy each otherโs company. Theyโd had children together, they were a family. He couldnโt build another life without them in it. How could he walk away?
โBut what about our plans? Our family?โ She stifled a sob.
โI want a divorce.โ