Four months after leaving me for another woman, my husband showed up with his suitcases, expecting me to take him back. He even asked what was for dinner. But one phone call to my neighbor was about to wipe that smug smile off his face.
“Debbie, is that Gary in your driveway?” my neighbor Linda called.
I looked out the window. There he was, holding two suitcases and his golf clubs.
Gary left me four months ago after twenty-two years of marriage. He said he needed “a fresh start.”
“My girlfriend kicked me out, so I’m back!”
I opened the door.
“My girlfriend kicked me out, so I’m back!” he announced.
I stared at him. “Was that supposed to be good news?”
“Come on, Debbie. We’ve been married forever.”
“Funny. You remembered that after she kicked you out.”
“She said I was selfish. Can you believe that?”
He looked past me. “What’s for dinner?”
“Whatever you cook at your next address.”
“Very funny. Help me with these bags.”
“Did your girlfriend pack them?”
“Yes.”
He nonchalantly rolled his suitcase closer to the door.
“That was nice of her. I would’ve charged you.”
Gary sighed. “She said I was selfish. Can you believe that?”
“Did she explain why?”
“She wouldn’t stop explaining!”
“Sounds difficult.”
“Gary, you left me for another woman.”
He nonchalantly rolled his suitcase closer to the door.
“Where should I put my things?”
“Gary, you left me for another woman.”
“And I’ve learned my lesson.”
“In four months?”
Four months ago, that would’ve made me cry, but now I had to keep from smiling.
“Three and a half, technically.”
Of course, he’d brought his golf clubs.
“Debbie, I just want things back to normal.”
Four months ago, that would’ve made me cry, but now I had to keep from smiling.
“You want a proper welcome home?” I asked.
“Remember what you offered to help me with if he ever came back?”
He brightened. “Now you’re talking.”
“Then give me five minutes.”
I stepped inside and called Linda.
“Remember what you offered to help me with if he ever came back?”
She laughed. “He’s actually there?”
Linda had seen him arrive, but until I called, she hadn’t realized he genuinely expected to move back in.
“With his golf clubs.”
“Oh, this I have to see.”
Linda had seen him arrive, but until I called, she hadn’t realized he genuinely expected to move back in.
When I opened the door again, Gary smiled.
“I knew you’d come around.”
“I packed the last of your things. They’re waiting in two boxes in the garage.”
“Of course,” I said. “But before that, I did something for you.”
His smile widened.
“What’s that?”
“I packed the last of your things. They’re waiting in two boxes in the garage.”
He blinked.
“I thought you were going to help me move in.”
“You packed my stuff?”
“The things you left behind. Linda offered to stand beside me when you came to collect them. I just called her.”
“I thought you were going to help me move in.”
“I never said that.”
His smile vanished.
He stared at me dumbfounded, blinking while trying to find something to say.
“You’re seriously going to make me take those boxes and leave?”
“You wanted a fresh start. I’m helping you finish it.”
He stared at me dumbfounded, blinking while trying to find something to say.
For twenty-two years, I’d been the one who made things easier for him. Apparently, he expected the arrangement to survive our separation.
“I’m serious. I made a mistake.”
“Debbie, can we not do this in front of the neighborhood?”
Linda had disappeared into her house, but I could see a curtain move across the street.
“Oh, is this a little embarrassing for you?”
He dragged his suitcase closer.
“I’m serious. I made a mistake.”
“Look, I know you’re upset. But we can work through this.”
“Really, that’s all you have to say about the chaos you caused?”
“Look, I know you’re upset. But we can work through this.”
“You haven’t asked whether I want to.”
“Come on, I know you love me.”
The gall of this man was honestly quite impressive, I must admit.
I hadn’t missed feeling like my wishes were an inconvenience.
I had missed him during those first weeks. His ridiculous commentary during crime shows. The way he warmed my car on freezing mornings. I’d even missed the sound of his keys hitting the kitchen counter.
But I hadn’t missed feeling like my wishes were an inconvenience.
He glanced through the doorway.
“You painted the kitchen?”
“Last Saturday.”
Then his eyes settled on the lock.
“Blue?”
“I like blue.”
He frowned. Gary had always hated blue.
Then his eyes settled on the lock.
“That’s new too.”
He looked offended, as though I’d changed something that still belonged to him.
“I had it changed.”
“Without telling me?”
“You weren’t living here.”
He looked offended, as though I’d changed something that still belonged to him.
“Can I at least have some water?” he asked.
Under the workbook was a folder from the attorney’s office.
“Sure.”
I closed the door and returned to the kitchen.
Beside the leftover pasta sat my accounting workbook. I’d started taking classes after Gary left, partly to keep busy and partly because I wanted something in my life that had nothing to do with him.
