Chapter Sixty

Stephen

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. I reached for my phone to check the time. It was 7:30 in the morning.

I lay there for a bit, wondering if my wife had just gone to the bathroom. I was used to our morning routine—lying in bed together, talking, and preparing to face the day.

After ten more minutes of silence, I got up and peeked into the kids’ room. They weren’t there either. I pulled on my track pants and headed downstairs.

As I neared the bottom of the stairs, I heard my wife’s voice, followed by Clint’s. I paused when I heard something that didn’t sit right with me.

Trinity said, “Oh no, that was deliberate, Clint.”

Clint replied, “So you deliberately screamed the house down last night while getting a leg over?”

Trinity retorted, “Why not, right? My husband wants to treat me like some next whore in a restaurant. I figured he wouldn’t have any problem with his bros hearing us.”

Clint asked, “Do I even want to ask what happened?”

Trinity shot back, “Why ask when you clearly heard it?”

Clint tried to soothe her, “Trinity, what happened? You know you can talk to us, right babe?”

Trinity responded, “Actually, you know what, Clint? I don’t really feel like talking right now. I’m going to take my kids and go for a walk. I’ll be back, well, I don’t know when.”

I heard the front door shut. Looking out the window, I saw my wife walking down the driveway.

I walked into the kitchen and switched on the coffee machine. Clint looked at me and asked, “So, you going to tell me what the hell happened?”

I replied, “Can we just leave it at ‘I fucked up,’ okay?”

Clint said, “If you want to leave it at that with me, that’s fine, mate. But that’s not going to cut it with your wife. I don’t know how much of that conversation, if any, you heard, but she walked out of here in tears.”

I snapped, “Fuck, I can’t fucking do anything right lately, can I?”

In frustration, I picked up the coffee cup and threw it at the wall, shattering it.

I said, “I’ll make it real simple. You call her and tell her to give me half an hour. She can come back. I’ll be gone.”

Clint asked, “What the fuck do you mean you’ll be gone?”

I replied, “I mean, tell her I’m ending this. She can move on and be happy.”

Clint asked, “Ending what? What the fuck are you talking about?”

I said, “Clint, just get everyone together, get your shit, and head home.”

Clint demanded, “You need to stop and talk to me right fucking now before I swear to god you and I are going to have a problem.”

I retorted, “Have a problem. That’s on you, not me.”

Before I knew it, Mia came up to me and slapped me across the face.

Mia asked, “What did you do to her?”

I said, “Clint, you know I love you both, so I’m going to respectfully ask you to control your wife while I pack my stuff and get out of here.”

Mia asked, “And where the hell do you think you’re going?”

I replied, “I’m going to Phil’s on my own.”

Clint said, “Like hell you are.”

I shouted, “SHE’S MY FUCKING WIFE, CLINT, NOT YOURS! I’M SORTING THIS, NOT YOU!”

Clint laughed, “Sorting it! Sounds like you’re running again. You fuck up, so instead of fixing it, you run.”

I said, “Yeah, okay, mate, I’m running. Believe what you want.”

Clint challenged, “Prove me otherwise then.”

I retorted, “I don’t have to prove shit to you.”

Clint said, “Alright, bloke, if you say so. Good luck living with the fact you hurt the one woman you claimed you loved. Real fucking hero, that.”

That was the last straw. I stormed back towards Clint, ready to smack his head in when Dave walked in. Clint and I were standing toe to toe when Dave spoke up.

David asked, “What the fuck is going on with you two?”

I replied, “Apparently, this cunt here thinks I owe him an explanation on everything in my life.”

Mia said, “That cunt, as you just called him, is supposed to be like a brother to you.”

I retorted, “EXACTLY! So why can’t he listen when I’m telling him to mind his own business?”

David asked, “What are you talking about?”

Clint said, “Whatever he did last night, he’s forced Trinity to walk out this morn—”

I shouted, “STOP TALKING ABOUT MY WIFE!”

Clint continued, “HE FORCED HER TO WALK OUT THIS MORNING, FEELING LIKE SOME CHEAP SLUT, AS SHE PUT IT.”

Mia asked, “What did you do?”

I yelled, “AGHHH, FUCK! WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE?”

Mia shouted back, “WE FUCKING LOVE YOU, ASSHOLE! WAKE UP TO YOURSELF!”

I said, “FINE! You want it, here it is.”

I confessed, “I DID THE ONLY THING I COULD LAST NIGHT TO PUSH MY WIFE AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE IF WE RUN OUT OF OPTIONS AND CAN’T GET OUT OF THIS SHIT BACK HOME, I’M HANDING MYSELF IN. SHE IS NOT GOING TO JAIL FOR THIS.”

I continued, “I AM GOING HOME TO SAY I DID IT! I DON’T WANT MY CHILDREN TO GROW UP LIKE THIS. I DON’T WANT THE ONLY WOMAN I LOVE GROWING OLD TO REGRET ME FOR RUINING HER LIFE, SO I’M PROTECTING HER THE ONLY WAY I CAN AND I AM HANDING MYSELF IN FOR IT—TO PROTECT HER AND PROTECT ALL OF YOU.”

I added, “I WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT CHAD MIGHT BE THE KEY AND WE COULD CATCH THEM OUT, BUT WHAT IF WE CAN’T? I AM NOT LEAVING ANYTHING TO CHANCE. I ALREADY RUINED HER LIFE BY BEING A SELFISH CUNT THE NIGHT OF YOUR FUCKING WEDDING WHEN I BEGGED HER TO STAY WITH ME AND NOT LEAVE ME.”

I concluded, “NOW IT’S TIME FOR ME TO STEP UP AND BE THE MAN SHE DESERVED ALL ALONG BEFORE SHE GOT STUCK WITH ME! I LOVE HER TOO MUCH TO WATCH ANYMORE OF THIS PAIN, SO I’M HANDING MYSELF IN.”

I said, “THEY CAN HAVE ME, I’LL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT ALL. BECAUSE I LOVE HER AND I CAN’T KEEP HURTING HER AND LET THIS DRAG ON ANY LONGER, RELYING ON OTHER PEOPLE TO SORT IT. THIS IS MY MESS TO SORT.”

A deadly silence fell over the room. Clint and Dave dropped their heads as Mia covered her mouth with her hands. I started to turn around when I heard her.

Trinity said, “Mia, could I ask you guys to take my children for me today, please? And then could I respectfully ask you to take this?”

I watched as she walked over, handing Mia her credit card. Mia and all of us looked at her, confused.

Trinity’s voice rings out, clear and commanding. “I’d really appreciate it if everyone could clear out of the house for the day.”

Then, her gaze locks onto me, her finger pointing like a loaded gun. “Except you!” she adds, her voice echoing in the sudden silence.