Mine, Yours & Ours - Chapter 3
Intro | 1 | 2
"Hey, what are you ordering today?"
"Um, let's see... I'm kind of in a mood... so tea's not gonna do it... maybe some coffee... oh, but, you see, I'm so stressed about my kids and my job and just everything so..."
"So coffee?" the boy said, a little exasperated. Gabrielle had not noticed that she'd begun ranting.
"Gabrielle?" She heard that voice that brought butterflies to her stomach.
"Uh, ye...yes?" she mustered.
"It's me, Peter Hulbert. I catered your event, remember?"
"Oh, right, right. How are you doing?"
"Fine, I'm fine. Thank you very much."
Gabrielle could've sworn that when their hands touched, she felt a tiny little spark.
"Listen, this is kinda awkward, but figuring your event was such a huge success, and I kinda overheard you there, I think you could use an ear. And me too. You're kind of the only person I know in this town, so..."
"Is it okay if I buy you a coffee?"
Gabrielle was shocked. Was that feeling nauseas, or...?
"Ah, yes, that would be fine!" Gabrielle said, a little too enthusiastic.
So they talked...
And talked, for hours...
It was pure trivial stuff, nothing underneath, but they both loved every second.
"Thank you so much for the coffee, Mr. Hulbert."
"Please, I just bought you coffee, you can call me Peter. And not at all."
"Listen, would it be okay if I take you out, some time? Don't worry, strictly platonic, but... with you, it's the first time I feel like I don't have to pretend, in this town."
Gabrielle blushed. Really? Oh but he has a wife, she thought, but he said merely platonic. With a feeling of mixed dissappointment and relief, Gabrielle accepted.
And so they met.
One time, two times, three times, too many to count.
Over and over again.
And they ate, and talked. Again, mostly trivial stuff. But there were many hours spent in each other's company.
It's fair to say they spent almost all their free time together.
A few weeks later...
"Guys? I'm home!"
"The girls are already asleep, Peter. It's almost two in the morning."
"Sandra? You nearly gave me a heart attack! And, is it really?"
"What's her name, Peter?"
"What?"
"What's the name of the other woman, Peter?"
" 'The hell are you talking about?"
"You know, the woman you're sleeping with. Are you... in love?"
"Am I... am I... what the fuck? You are insane!"
"How fucking dare you, Sandra?!"
"Oh, please, how do you think you're fooling?"
"After twenty years, twenty years of marriage, two daughters and a life we built together, the thing you owe me the least, Peter, is the freaking truth! So tell me her fucking name!"
"Where do you get this from, Sandra?! I'm not sleeping with any woman, I'm not sleeping with anyone, for that matter."
"Oh please! You've been staying out late every night for weeks! You're barely here during the day! The girls wonder where the fuck their dad is! You haven't touched me, haven't made love to me!"
"A...are they really?"
"What?!"
"Are the girls wondering where I'm at?"
"Is that all you care about, Peter? Your daughters?! What about ME?!"
"Sandra..."
"No, save it. Don't bother coming to bed tonight, and don't bother talking to me again until you're ready to give some major explanations."