Page 2 of Broken Vows

Sometimes, not having much of a plan makes me feel like a failure. I don’t want to rely on my husband for income, but it seems to have fallen that way.

I look at the time on my phone and realize it’s already reaching 6 o’clock in the afternoon. “Hey, I’ve got to prepare dinner, talk later?”

“Yeah! Talk later!”

We hang up, and I place my phone down on the couch and walk into the kitchen. He’s been requesting tacos for a while now, but I haven’t been wanting to make them as it’s a lot of work. But tonight I want to impress him, and cooking what he wants may ease the tension a bit. Maybe making tacos tonight will mean we won’t argue when he gets home.

I understand he’s tired after working a physically demanding job, but he doesn’t say no to his siblings or friends when they want to hang out. Only for me does he hesitate to make plans.

I miss him. I miss us.

I hearthe front door knob click, and Jeremy walks in the house. I’ve already set our plates with a couple tacos.

“Hi baby, how was your day?”

“Good, have a slight headache though,” he says as he sits down to take off his shoes.

“I’m sorry. Have you had any medicine?”

“Yeah.” He slips off his shoes and puts them on the shoe rack.

“I made tacos and also got the granola bars today.”

“Sounds good baby. Hey, could you grab me some clothes? I’m going to take a bath.”

He’s been taking baths more often lately.

“Yeah, I’ll be right back.” I head toward our bedroom and grab him some fresh boxers, a shirt and some shorts, and place them on the toilet seat.

“Could you also run the bath?” he asks from the living room.

“Yeah!” I turn the knob and watch the water fill the tub as I add some muscle relaxing Epsom salt in as well, knowing it helps him relax even more after a long day at work. I head back to the living room, sit on the couch, and begin eating my tacos alone as he heads to the bathroom with his plate.

I guess making dinner didn’t help make a happier evening.

An hour later, the bathroom door opens, and he emerges wrapped in a towel, his skin flushed from the hot bath. I look up from my half-eaten taco on the couch.

“Feel better?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light.

He nods, running a hand through his damp hair. “Yeah, thanks. The bath helped.”

I watch as he moves to the kitchen, opening the fridge and peering inside. “Did you pick up any soda while you were out today?”

I feel a pang of guilt. “No, I’m sorry. I forgot.”

He sighs, closing the fridge door a bit harder than necessary. “It’s fine. I’ll pick some up tomorrow.”

The silence feels heavy. I want to say something to bridge the gap between us, but the words don’t come.

He places two more tacos on his plate. “I’m going to eat in bed and watch some TV.”

As the bedroom door closes behind him, I’m left alone in the living room.

The house is too quiet, despite Jeremy’s presence in the next room. I can hear the muffled sound of the TV through the wall.

My phone buzzes with a text from Lilly:

Lilly

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