He had heard some noises in the bathroom but wasn’t sure he was meant to have heard them. Really all he had heard was “What am I going to do” and a bump.
“Sorry hun, I’m fine.” His mother’s muffled reply came.
“Mom, I’m going to Louie’s house. I’ll see you later. Good luck job searching. I love you Mom; we’ll get through this.”
“Alright son”
“He’s so full of confidence. Too young and naïve to realize what a cold harsh world this is.” She thought.
She dragged herself up and pulled on some professional-looking clothes hanging up in the bathroom. Today marked a new beginning to her. She was starting over.
*Ring* *Vibrate* *Ring*; her cell phone was ringing. Who would be calling her? She picked it up after the 3rd ring.
“Hello?” she said into the speaker.
“Fran, it’s me George. Before you hang up, listen.”
“I’m listening, please be quick.”
“I need you to fly with me to Los Angeles; it’s about our divorce.”
“What? I don’t have the money to do that now. Why would I need to go anyway?!” She said; why was her soon to be ex-husband trying to get her to fly across the states?
“Don’t worry about the cost. I got it covered. Please, it’s really important. We wouldn’t be gone more than 3 days.”
“We better not.” She bit out. “Who’s going to stay with Matt and Rachel?”
“Well, we could take them with us or they could stay at their grandparents.”
“I don’t know George” was all she said as she hung up the phone.
Fran wasn’t sure if she was hurt or angry at what he had done with her. When she had first found out she just went to bed and cried for hours. She didn’t want to lose George as she loved him and still did to this day. Could you forgive someone who betrayed you? Even after she confronted him he still carried on with his affair. No one should blame her for leaving him but they still would. She was sure George would come up with an excuse and probably say she was insane. All her friends would probably listen to him and leave her too.
George hadn’t always been like this though. They had met in college and married after only 6 months of dating. They had really loved each other. Fran wanted to be a teacher and George was going for business. Fran dropped out of college after they married so they could save money. She also got pregnant with Rachel 6 months after they were married. George was always so thoughtful; he would bring her flowers when he knew she had a bad day. He would watch Rachel so she could go out with girlfriends and always let her choose what they watched. But then he began working at Polytech; the company he still worked for. He became obsessed with money and power. He was making lots of money now for the company and for himself. Matt had been 3 when he started acting this way and so he never really knew his father well. Rachel had always been his favorite.
If only she had convinced him not to work at Polytech. Maybe things would be different, but it was too late now.
“Maybe I should go with him…I guess it wouldn’t hurt anything…What do I have to lose anyway?” She thought.
Fran searched on her cell phone for George’s number. Soon the call went through and she heard his voice on the other end. Fran said just a two words. “I’ll come.”
Rachel woke up to the sun on her face.
“I just had a nightmare…weird. Mom and Dad were getting a divorce and then Mom took Matt and left…and Dad had multiple affairs…”
Rachel was disconcerted. Was it a dream or real life? To check, she ran from her room to Matt’s.
“Matty!” she called, using her childhood nickname for him.
She opened the door. The room was completely bare, save for some furniture. Matt usually had posters on the wall of his favorite bands…They were gone and so was the bed’s comforter and sheets.
“Maybe he just doesn’t like those bands anymore and Mom’s washing the sheets.” She thought, trying to persuade herself.
She went over to Matt’s dresser and pulled out a drawer. It was completely empty.
“No…no…NO! It couldn’t have been real! It couldn’t!” Rachel collapsed on her brother’s rug.
“Rachel! What’s wrong?” Her father burst in the room, having heard Rachel’s screams.
“Why did you do that to Mom? Why did you cheat on her?! Tell me!” Rachel was to the point of hysterics.
“Rachel, calm down. You have to keep yourself together!” He said, taking her gently by the shoulders.
Rachel sniffed and wiped her eyes. She glanced up at her father with tearful eyes.
“Why Daddy why?” She whispered, her lip quivering.
Her words were like a slap in the face to George. Slowly he got up and left the room.
Rachel’s words played in his head like a broken record.
“Why Daddy why?”
He pictured all the memories of Rachel and Matt growing up. He had failed them miserably. He didn’t deserve to be called their father. Why didn’t he stop himself? Why had he let himself give into temptation?
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