The Right Reasons

They did not fight often.They learned long ago to talk to each other instead. But they were far from perfect. So she knew that arguments are just part of the territory. Just like any other healthy relationship.This fact did little to comfort her, however. In fact, it most likely made the arguments worse because of the infrequency of them.

In an effort to calm herself down from the big fight she just had with him. Susan decided to escape to the calmness of a nice long hot shower. Even though it was the middle of summer. Where the night air was thick and heavy. Where even the soft mild breeze that came off the lake offered little relief. In truth, she thought it felt hotter here in the remote countryside than it did in the big city. She did not let this fact deter her. Susan knew she needed to bring herself back to an even keel. This was the quickest and easiest way to accomplish her goal she concluded.

So she made her way up the stairs into the pitch black of the upstairs. The countryside hardly offered no light to seep in at this midnight hour. Even with the windows wide open the moonlight fought to get in. Her eyes could not adjust that quickly to the lack of light. So she made her way through the upstairs on muscle memory alone. She walked so fast Susan bypassed the light switch as she entered the master bedroom. Instead, she opted to head straight to the master bath that only access came through their bedroom.

Upon her arrival to the master bath, she immediately turned on the main light and mildly slammed shut the door behind her. Just hard enough so he could hear it downstairs. An exclamation on their argument and a final notice of her displeasure with him. Not that one was needed of course.

After she quickly shredded her clothes and tossed them into the hamper on the other side of the bathroom. When she had no more clothes to remove she opened the glass door to shower and reached in and turned the water on. She quickly adjusted the temperature of the water to her liking. Before hopping in the shower she walked back over to the light switches and turned off the harsh hard bright light and turned on the soft night light. The one that mimicked a warm candle but only offered enough light to make your way in the dark. Then she went back to the entrance of the shower and hopped in after testing the water temperature one last time.

The hot water running through her hair and down her back felt good against her skin. It was definitely having the desired effect. It was bringing her back to an even keel she wanted to achieve. Even as she replayed the argument they just had in her head. She particularly noticed the sound of water falling off her skin and hitting the ceramic tiles below. She tried to concentrate on this as she found this quite soothing for some reason. It was like it was the sound of all the negativity being washed from her body.

Time seemed to fly by and after thirty minutes in the shower, she definitely felt better. She had stopped fixating on the argument and a part of her wished he would join her in the shower. However, it was only a small part. She was still mad. Just no longer mildly homicidal. Which meant sadly that it was time to get out. Otherwise, she risked turning into a prune. So reluctantly she turned off the water and climbed out of the shower.

Once out of the shower she grabbed a towel from the bathroom rack that hung over the toilet and immediately started to dry her long wet hair that climbed all the way down to the middle of her back. Once it was as dry as she could get by the hand she reached for the brush on the sink and started to brush it all back in proper order. It only took her a few seconds to accomplish this as she only needed to get it orderly enough to put in a bun. From there she proceeded to wrap a fresh towel from the rack around her wet hair and then expertly tied it off. Not a strand of hair could be seen after that.

Satisfied with her hair she reached for the robe that hung on the hook of the bathroom door. It was a comfy thin robe that went to the bottom of her kneecaps. It was made of an extremely light fabric and was definitely a summer only robe. Which was evident by being short sleeved. She liked the feel of it against her soft skin. Just not as much as her long thick winter robe which was a hundred percent made of cotton and nowhere as revealing. This one although it was a tad big on here did not leave much to the imagination. Which she blamed on her large breasts. There was no doubt which one her husband favored. If was not so hot she might have considered wearing the other one.

With her shower now complete she only needed one more thing to completely calm herself back down. A nice glass of wine. Perhaps two. Definitely three if he was still going to be an asshole. Although that was highly unlikely. She knew her husband. He would be content to be bruting in the den in the dark watching television.

With this in mind, she exited the bathroom but left the soft light on and made her way downstairs. With her eyes now adjusted to the light, she noticed the moonlight now creeping in through the open windows. Along with a nice soft breeze that blew through them. The breeze cooled her skin that was warm from her thirty-minute shower.

She walked quickly down the stairs so her footsteps could be heard over the sound of the TV in the den where he was. Her assumption was correct. There he was watching TV in the dark. The only light to found was emulating from the TV. The only exception would be the night light in the kitchen that was over the sink.

As she passed the den on her way to the kitchen their eyes meet but nothing was said. She instead gave him death stare of displeasure. One that clearly sad yes I am still mad and you better just leave me alone.

She entered the kitchen and took a wine glass from the cupboard and set it on the counter next to wine rack. She took a few moments to ponder her selection and opted for a Cabernet Sauvignon. A fruity light red wine. She poured her selection into the glass she had fetched from the cupboard and filled it to almost the top. From there she only need decide where she was going to drink it.

She concluded that the ideal spot would be the back porch. There she could fully enjoy the soft breeze she felt upstairs from the open windows.

To get to the back porch she would need to pass him in the den once again. This time when she passed she offered him no look at all. She only walked past swiftly but she could feel him stare at her when she walked by. He was still trying to sum up her mood. Wisely he opted for silence at this point.

She pushed through the screen door that was the only obstacle between her the back porch. The wood door clanked behind her as she stepped out onto the porch.There was a swing to her right or a table and some chairs to her left. She decided on neither. She walked to the six stairs that led down to the backyard lawn. It was there on the very top step where she decided to sit down and enjoy her wine.It was there she could enjoy the view of the moonlight shine off the lake. .Which was now possible to clearing skies. The thunderstorm from an hour or two ago was almost a distant memory,

As she sat there drinking her wine and looking at the lake, ironically she could not help but think of the city. Which she left years ago and moved out here with him. Which she did not regret. In fact she knew it was the best move she ever made. Still, she longed for the city at times. Which she often referred to as her past life. Which she missed sometimes but she knew that she was only remembering the things she loved. Purposely omitting the things she hated about the city.

Her wine was already half gone and she had only just sat down. It was definitely not going to be her last one. The question was how motivated was she to go pour herself another glass? She decided not to think about it and put this trivial thought out of her head.

As the moonlight sprung of the stillness of the calm lake she returned to thinking about her past life in the big city. Going out every weekend and doing what she wanted when she wanted to do it. Life was so much simpler then. Should could not recall one single time when she went out with her friends that she had to pay for her own drink. There was always a man around to buy her one. The benefit of being a good looking woman she mused. Of course, they only being nice because they only wanted one thing. Which had nothing to who she was. It was false flattery and void of any real sincerity. Still, back then it still felt good regardless of their intentions. So what if the only did it for the wrong reasons.It felt good to receive such attention. She just knew better now. She wondered if this was a case of ignorance being bliss.

She finished off her wine in short order and set the empty glass beside her. She contemplated going back in for another glass but her mind was still entrenched in thinking about her younger days. How she loved her life back then. How her younger self would laugh at and be in disbelief of where she ended up. She never intended to get married. Ever!

She would often be so smug and defiant back then. Often lecturing her friends about how marriage was an outdated institution. How they should be more like her and not focus on finding someone. It was quite embarrassing now that she was older and wiser. Looking back she realized it was just a defense mechanism. She was just scared she would never find someone. Having friends in the same boat meant she would never be alone.

She reached for her wine glass and lifted to her mouth forgetting she already finished it off. She let out a gasp of annoyance and made a sour face. She set the glass back down beside her and went back to her thoughts once again.

She could not help not think of the night he announced his attention. They had been dating for a few weeks and had just recently started having a relationship of a sexual nature and things were going really well. Too well for her liking. He was not part of her plan. She was confident that he would prove to be another snake living in the city.

She just had made him dinner at her apartment and he was helping her do the dishes. Which she was uncomfortable with at the time. She remembered she tried to get him stop but he insisted. He said she should enjoy it and quipped that someday when they are married he promised she could always do the dishes alone.

He, of course, was just trying to be funny. She, however, thought she was going to have a panic attack in that moment. She did not remember exactly what she said. Basically launching into a tirade that she was only into to the short-term and how she was never getting married and that he should leave if he had any other plans.

She could see that from his body language that he was clearly disappointed after hearing this declaration from her. She remembered how he composed himself and said “I better go then” Which is not the response she expected. He picked up his coat that she laid on the top of the couch and put it on. He then approached her and thanked her for a nice dinner and kissed her on her cheek and told her it was an honor to get to know her. Then proceeded promptly to the door.

She remembered how mad this made her. He was actually leaving. It was the first time she raised her voice to him. Asking him incredulously “Are you really fucking leaving? What kind of man are you? He just walked back to her from the door slowly and got face to face with her and softly but sternly said “ One that knows bullshit when he hears it” Then he just walked back to the door and opened it. He did not get a chance to walk out before she told him he was an “Asshole” He kept his composure surprisingly and turned and softly just said “Maybe. But at least I am not a coward” Then he walked out before she could respond thinking that was the last time he would see her.

She recalled how she fumed for several days. Who was he to imply she was a coward? She grew madder by the day. She did not know what made her madder? The balls he had to call her or shit or that deep down she knew he was right. However, at this point, she had yet to realize that little fact. She was to focused on how he walked out and never gave her a chance to respond to his accusation. As the days passed she often found herself talking to herself. Blurting out things if there was somebody there to respond to them.

Finally, after five days of stewing, she could not take it anymore. It was nine pm on a Saturday night and she decided to confront him. A full week from when she last saw him walk out her door. So without really thinking it through she grabbed her car keys a raced out her apartment to have her say. She was such a hurry she forgot her purse and her coat.

Who the hell was he to judge her? She laid out her argument thoroughly and effectively as drove furiously across town to his apartment. She could not wait to tell him off. Call me a coward? He was the one who ran out the door she thought. She got more and more pissed as she sped across town.

When she finally arrived at his apartment she was as bent as she could possibly be. She would have her satisfaction. Nothing was going to save him now she murmured to herself as made her way up to his third-floor apartment. When she reached the top floor she was as primed as she ever was. She almost pitied him for the coming onslaught he was about to incur.

His apartment was on the opposite side of the stairs. She could see the door to his apartment now. Only forty feet more and she would have her vindication. She walked slowly to enjoy the moment and then apartment door opened and out walked as short haired blond hair woman appeared who was dressed to impress. She wore a tight skinny white tank top that made her breasts appear larger than they actually were. Tight jeans so tight that it probably took her twenty minutes just to get into them. Her outfitted punctuated by trashy red heels she was wearing.

Upon seeing this woman leaving his apartment Susan got this jolt of sudden sadness come over her. This had completely caught her off guard. She had gone from being mad as hell to feel the need to cry in an instant. It was a shock to her system. If anything this should have incensed her even more. Already seeing somebody else after stating so emphatically he had intended to marry her someday.

However before even having to process this new information a man quickly followed the trashy dressed women out the door. Susan arriving at the door of them the moment the man emerged completely out of the apartment. Susan just stopped and stared at the two them. The woman clearly annoyed by this fact asked snarkily “Can I help you?” Which Susan did not answer. Still trying to process all of this. She was about to reply when the man stated “You must be Susan. Jake said you are quite beautiful. If I must say he does have a talent for understating things” Susan who would usually have quick retort for such blatant flattery only managed a soft “Thank you”

A moment of silence passed as Susan still little stunned by events. Finally, Pete who name she only found later was, said “ He is in there. “Cheer him up will you. He has been in a funk all week” Then he lead the woman down the hall and they disappeared from sight.

Susan slowly entered the apartment and quietly closed the door behind her. She turned and leaned back into the door coming to rest her butt against it. She did not notice but she softly said “fuck” out loud. One hand involuntary came to rest against her chest in an effort to comfort her beating heart. The other hand still clinched the door.

She took a moment to collect herself and then started to walk down the small hallway inside the apartment. A big walk-in closet with mostly sports-related items in it was directly to her right. Further down the hall on the same side was an arch to one room and to the left an arch to another.

It was on left the only light in the apartment could be seen.It was obviously the light from a large TV set. Stealthily and slowly she walked to the light on the left. As she got closer she noticed the music playing. The song playing was unmistakable. It was an old seventies love song.One she adored for the longest time. A song she told him on their very first date that she loved.

When she arrived at the archway she saw him laying on the couch with his eyes glued to the TV. The TV was not the source of the music, however. The music was emulating from the stereo across the room. It was a rather large stereo system. On to big for this small apartment she thought. The receiver was so big she could read the LCD from across the room. She noticed the word repeat was on. 

He did not notice her as he was looking at the TV in opposite direction. She walked around the couch he was plopped down in. She purposely walked to the side his feet were on so he would notice her once she was fully on the other side of the couch. To her surprise, he did not notice her. He seemed to be in a trance looking at the TV. It was only after a moment she decided to arrest him to her presence. She did so by softly asking “Are you playing this for me?”

He seemed genuinely startled to suddenly see her standing there. He quickly rose to his feet in amazement that she was there. Once on his feet, he let a brief moment pass just staring at her and she at him. Then he walked over to her nice and slow as not to frighten her. She did not move as he approached. He stopped only when they were face to face. She could smell the beer on his breath. Another moment passed in silence. Each of them wanting the other on to speak. Finally, he collected himself and said. “ Would you believe me I told you yes?”

She took another step forward to get even closer to him and then said. “I would” Then she grabbed him by the top of the shirt with one hand and pulled him to her. Her other hand was gently on the back of his head. His hands naturally gravitated to her hips and then around her bottom of her back. She kissed him as hard and passionately as she ever kissed anyone. Then she pulled back her head but did not let go her tight grip of his shirt. He hands were firmly wrapped around her and were not about to let her go. She looked directly into his eyes and firmly said “four things” She then paused waiting for a response. He playfully said, “ They are?”

Still looking into his eyes she sternly said “Don’t you ever fucking lie to me!. Second, don’t ever walk out on me that again” Thirdly promise me you will always help me with the dishes. And lastly, promise to love, honor, cherish and obey me forever.” Before he had a chance to answer her she launched back into him. Kissing him even harder and longer than before.

This time it was him that pulled his back with a puzzled look on his face. Then he quizzingly asked her “Miss Summers don’t have that last one backward? Is it not you who is suppose to love, honor, cherish and obey me?” Her response was quick and playfully forceful and she pushed him so hard he fell back onto the couch where she found him. Standing over him know, smiling ear to ear she just said. “Not in our house baby!” Even though they had sex several times now. This first time they truly mad love with each other.

Lost in this happy memory she did not hear the creak of screen door open and close. She only caught him out of the corner of her eye as she turned in time to see him walking back into the house. He did not say anything. She thought that was strange at first. Her husband if he had something to say he would say it.Then she noticed that the empty wine class had been replaced with the full glass of wine. She could not help but smile. Because she realized she still had a man to bring her drinks when she wanted one. Know it was just for all the right reasons.