Marriage is Easy - A ficlet
Title: Marriage is Easy
Author: nancygrew
Rating: G
Notes: Originally written for Fun Fic Fridays for the prompt Marriage on Lure_ATWT. Takes place early October 2013/
Warnings: None
Summary: Reid really doesn't want to chat with Holden
Reid was reviewing a scan while walk. He heard his father-in-law call his name. Reid made the decision to not look up. Perhaps if he managed not to speed up his pace, he could pretend not to have heard Holden. He only had about fifteen feet until he could reach the elevator and use it to make his escape.
Reid had just entered the elevator when he heard his name called again. He didn’t look up. He counted the seconds while waiting for the doors to close. The doors had almost closed completely when Holden’s hand reached between them in order to prevent them from closing completely. Unfortunately, the doors re-opened instead of cutting off Holden’s arm.
“Didn’t you hear me calling you?” huffed Holden while he entered and depressed the button for the first floor.
“Are you accusing me of ignoring you?” asked Reid in an indignant tone.
“I’d really like Ethan and Natalie to come with me this weekend when I go to Kentucky to look at foals,” said Holden while ignoring Reid’s comment.
“Ethan, Natalie and I had planned to go to the science museum this weekend,” said Reid. “But if they’d rather go with you, I’m fine with that.”
“I don’t want to force them to choose between us,” said Holden. “I was thinking that you could pretend to be working this weekend.”
“You want me to lie to Ethan and Natalie?” asked an aghast Reid. “I’m not evil. I’m not gonna lie to the kids.”
“Ever since Lily and I broke up, I don’t see the kids as much as I’d like,” complained Holden.
“You and Lily being idiots isn’t really enough of a reason for me to start lying to the kids,” sneered Reid. “They trust me and Luke. If you want the kids to go with you, you’re gonna have to give them the choice.”
“Lily and I really tried to make it work this time,” defended Holden who was stung by the accusation of idiocy.
Reid had just finished rolling his eyes when the elevator jolted to a halt.
“Damn it,” muttered Reid. He pulled out his cell-phone and was issuing orders to get the elevator moving before Holden had even realized that the elevator was stuck.
Reid hung up the phone. “They’re sending someone to look at the elevator now. We should be out soon.”
“I really don’t appreciate you judging me and Lily so harshly about the fact that we’ve decided that it’s better for everyone if we get divorced.”
“Another divorce,” snarked Reid. “And you didn’t decide that it would be better for everyone. The two of you decided that it would be better for the two of you. That’s always the reason behind your marriages and divorces.”
“You smug jerk,” hissed Holden. “You have no idea of how hard marriage can be. You and Luke have only been married a couple of years.”
“Marriage is easy,” advised Reid. “You get to share your life with your best friend. You have someone who’s always on your side and who enjoys being around you. Someone who loves sharing life’s triumphs and who helps ease life’s burdens. Someone who makes you laugh and makes you hard. Marriage is leaving the last donut for your spouse because it makes him smile. Marriage is your spouse always buying antibacterial wipes because he accepts that you’re a germaphobe and loves you anyway. Marriage is sleepily making out on Sunday mornings. Marriage is sharing the household chores. Marriage is reminding each other that you love each other. Marriage is having the opportunity to make someone happy. Marriage isn’t a hardship. It’s full of comfort and joy.”
Holden felt like he was seeing Reid for the first time. Finally seeing what his son saw in Reid. He was torn between defending himself by explaining that the most recent failure of his and Lily’s relationship was really Lily’s fault and thanking Reid for loving his son so much.
The elevator jolted and re-started it’s descent. Holden and Reid exited as the doors opened.
“I’m not lying to the kids. You can tell them that you’d rather them go with you to Kentucky. You can also tell them that if they want to go with you this weekend, then I’m willing to take them to the science museum next weekend. Luke’ll be back next weekend and we can drag him along.”
Reid didn’t wait around for Holden’s reply. Holden stared after Reid long after he had disappeared around a corner.