See You

Chapter 3

Paul parked the car and glanced over at Virginia.  Straight in front of them was a white picket fence.  On the other side of the fence were steps that led down to a row of large and different designs of beach houses.  In front of the beach houses was a white sand beach that stretched as far as they could see.  The moonlight seemed to have purposely lit the beach just for them.  Waves rolled in and back out.  The moonlight bouncing off the waves and the darkness behind made an eerie scene.  Paul thought it looked romantic. 

Paul seemed mesmerized by the show the water was putting on.  Virginia pursed her lips and tried to remain calm.  She silently exhaled.  This was not what she wanted.  Paul had to have known that.  They had been married for fifteen years.  He knew everything she liked and disliked.  Why would he plan an outing like this?  Once again his plans were not about her or for her.  They were about what he thought was right or good or exciting.  He really did not care about what she wanted, she thought. 

She had asked him before he parked why they were parking away from Josh’s house.  Paul had told her he had a surprise for her.  She was not in the mood for his surprise.  Because she felt his surprise was a deliberate attempt to make them miss the party.  They were already an hour late for Josh’s party.  He knew Josh always had a theme for his parties.  But he would only tell his guests what the theme was at the start of the party.  Those who were late were left out of the first round of the party’s theme.  The themes could be anything—murder mystery, scavenger hunt, twister, beach runs away from and back to the house while tied to someone other than your spouse or partner.  Paul, of course, thought things got too silly.  But he went to Josh’s annual parties because Virginia wanted to go.  And, many of their friends would be there.  Knowing that Paul was fully aware of this Virginia fumed at why he would make them even later to the party.

If he would just look at her.  Really look at her.  He would probably think outside of what he wanted and see the obvious.  She had not dressed for an outdoor surprise.  She thought about reminding him of that.  Wedge sandals with a white lightweight sleeveless dress that was above her knees was not ideal for walking on a beach at night with a temperature in the low sixties.  But she decided not to spoil his surprise.  She could tolerate whatever he had cooked up for her.  If it made him happy she would go along with it.

Paul got out of the car and went to her door and opened it.  He offered his hand to help her from the car.  This is unusual, she thought.  Normally he was not that much of a gentleman.  But she accepted it and he assisted her out of the car onto her feet.  A light breeze blew through her dress.  Goose bumps covered her legs and arms.  Her body shivered.  She told herself not to complain.  This will not last forever.  Just a little longer. 

Paul took her by the hand and pushed the fence’s gate open with his other hand to let her walk through.  He then led her down the steps. 

Chapter 4

“Where are we going?” Virginia asked.

“It’s a surprise,” Paul said. 

She wondered what crazy thing he had concocted.  For a brief moment she felt as if they had reached back in time.  They were a young married couple again.  He surprised her a lot back then.  But five years into their marriage and all the crazy things stopped.  Life got serious.  Suddenly she felt an overwhelming sadness about where they were now in their relationship. 

“We’re almost there,” he said.  They stepped off the step into the sand.  Her wedges sunk deep into the sand.  That surprised her.  She thought the sand should have been harder that time of year.  Sand covered her feet.  It was between her toes and under her arches.  Each grain seemed to dig into her feet.  Her feet were just more sensitive tonight.  That is what she tried to convince herself of.  Not that she was just mad about missing the party.  Anything that should have been a minor irritation would now be a major one.  “It’s just a little further.” 

He was leading her behind a beach house.  She knew of this house.  The last talk she heard was that the house was vacant.  No, she thought.  Not this.  She bit her lip to keep from saying what she was thinking.  He did not have to surprise her.  Nor could they afford it.  Surely he was smart enough not to have done anything stupid.  He was already complaining about the pressure on him.  Why add more?  He was not that stupid.  And the pressure that he felt to do bigger and bigger things was pressure he created for himself.  Why did he have the need to keep up with, or live up to, her family and friends?  That was part of what had caused their problems. 

He had tried too damn hard to impress her and the others.  They did not need all those things.  If she was only about buying more and more stuff she would have never left home.  Her family could have fulfilled that need.  She did not need a husband for that.  But she had never wanted that.  She wanted to make her own way in the world.  That is why she walked away from her family’s money.  It was their money.  Not hers.  And besides, the problems they were having had nothing to do with money.  Their relationship needed work.  Their marriage needed repairing—if it was repairable.

She was getting colder.  What an inconsiderate bastard, she thought.  Then she briefly felt guilty that the thought had pushed its way into her mind.  But then she allowed herself to feel that way.  He was wearing slacks and a long sleeve button down shirt.  She was in a lightweight dress.  Why make your wife endure the cold when you can see she is not dressed for it.  But you are.  He did not give a shit, she thought.  His actions were definitely making her see more clearly.  No matter how much he disguised them as caring and loving.  They spoke loudly on their own.

Thank you for joining us for Chapters 3 & 4.  Chapter 5 will be available next week.           

John Martin