I go about my day feeling more and more bored. I used to be a CNA in Indiana, but since I married and moved to Texas, I need to apply for licensure here. Although Tony has made it clear he’d prefer I didn’t work. He wants me to live like a princess and I can’t blame him. Working as a CNA isn’t a piece of cake. It’s hard and a labor of love that doesn’t pay that much. Perhaps, I’ll just get my RN degree instead. Prior to meeting Tony that had been my plan. Now I don’t have to work and go to school.
I spend the rest of the day looking into nursing programs in the area. Everything is going to take years to finish, but nothing worth having is easy. I make dinner and Tony’s still not home. As if he hears me mentally cursing him out, my phone rings. “Hello.”
“Hey, babe. I’m sorry. Things are shit again. I’m going to be working late. I swear I’ll try to get out of here in the next hour.”
“Okay. I’ll put away your dinner. See you later.” I end the call because even though we married on a passionate whim and I’m madly in love with him, Tony and I haven’t said those words to each other. I know lust and alcohol got us this far, but I’m not sure if it will work in the end. I need more.
I clean up the kitchen, feeling too tense to eat, so I pack up dinner and head to bed. By the time he comes home, I refuse to wake more than to acknowledge his presence. A part of me wants to scream at him and the other wants to cry. I choose neither and remain asleep.
****
Day number six in a row. He’s working late and I’ve fallen asleep before he’s gotten home. I stopped calling his office two days ago because his assistant doesn’t like me and it’s clear she finds my calls unprofessional. I hate the bitch.
As soon as he’s gone from work, I give my mother a call. “Mom, how are you doing?”
“I’m good, but I miss my little girl. How is married life with that handsome man of yours?”
“Okay. The thing is…I don’t know.”
“Uh-oh. Don’t make your father hire someone to kick his ass. What happened?”
“Nothing really. He says he has to work late every night. He only calls me once a day and usually he’s in a rush. If he doesn’t want to be married to me he can easily get a divorce. I don’t have grounds for taking much since we’re just going on one month.”
“Sweetie, calm down. Has he been neglecting you in the bedroom?”
“Mom. Really? This conversation?”
“Please. I’m not asking for details, but if you’re busy making love often then he’s probably just working hard. If he smells like he showered before coming home or if he smells like another woman then you have something to worry about and then you can call your father.”
“I’m sure it’s just work, but everything is so new for us.”
“Yes. I wish you would have waited, but what’s done is done. We just want you two to be happy.”
“Thank you. I need to get my jealousy under control. I’m just at home all the time.”
“Have you made any friends?”
“So far only his sister.”
“Then maybe hang out with her and go from there. Do you talk to your neighbors?”
“Just the woman next door.”
“Well, it’s a start. Have you given any thought to getting your degree?”
“I’m not sure. It all depends on how things go with Tony. I love him, but…”
“Talk to him.”
“I will.”
Chapter Three
Tony
My hands find their way into my hair for the twentieth time today. I’ve never been so frustrated in my life. I know it isn’t just the job pissing me off. I miss my wife to the point of insanity. The day can’t be over fast enough so that I can go home and hold her. I ache to run my hands through her long dark hair as I pull her in for a deep, soul penetrating kiss. The feel of Rosalyn’s skin along mine keeps me so damn distracted.
Rapid knocks on my door pull me out of my thoughts. My assistant “Sir, you have the Old Hill site on the line.”
“No calls from my wife?” I ask with too much weakness in my voice. She’s probably thinking I’m pathetic over my wife which I sure as fuck am. There’s nothing I won’t do to keep Rosalyn.
She shakes her head and taps her pen on her pad of paper. “None, sir. You told me to put them through if she calls.” Yes, I snapped when I learned she sent my wife to voicemail several times. I didn’t know until I overheard her when I came out of a meeting. Since then, Rosalyn hasn’t called the office. Fuck, I miss her so much.