Sitting at the kitchen table, the pitter-patter of the rain striking the window is a calming distraction. My chin rests on my steepled hands as I contemplate how I will break the news to Cheri. Cheri unlocks the front door and steps into the apartment. “Hi, Hon. What a mess out there. There’s no way you can escape the wind and rain.”
How do I tell her? I can’t face her, so I just stare at the letter in front of me. “How was work?”
She drops her purse on the couch and hangs her coat on the rack before walking into the kitchen. She leans over and kisses me. “It was okay. Typing legal briefs all day isn’t much fun, but it’s a job.”
Cheri glances at the clock and then studies my face. “Why aren’t you at work?”
I cover the letter with my arms …show more content…
“Hmm—you don’t have a temperature. What’s wrong, Hon?”
I can’t look her in the eyes. “I’m okay. I just didn’t feel like working tonight.”
“You never call in sick. Did you cut your classes today too?”
“No.” I lock my gaze on the dingy wall.
“You’re doing it again.”
I glance up. “Doing what?”
“Chewing on your lip. You always do it when you’re holding something back.” She reaches behind my back and tickles me. “Come on—out with it, mister.”
I leap to my feet, knocking over the chair, and back away from her. “Enough, all right!”
“What’s wrong with you?” She stares at me with her mouth wide open. “I’m just trying to lighten your mood. You’re such a sourpuss.”
When I don’t respond, she smiles as she reaches out and touches my cheek. “You’re still doing it.”
“What?” I snap.
“Chewing your lip.” Cheri locks her arms around my neck and snuggles in close. She kisses my cheek and whispers, “Whatever it is, you can tell me. We’ll get through it.”
“If only it were that easy.” I wrap my arms around her waist, rest my forehead on hers, and close my eyes. I will miss the smell of your …show more content…
“And, what happens to me if you get shipped off to Vietnam in six months or a year? I’m not going to be left stranded in some hick town without any friends.”
I rest my forehead on my palms. “I don’t know—I just don’t know.” I stand up and pace the floor. “Do you think your folks will let you move back in with them?”
“No way. Not after I left the Catholic Church to marry you. You know they won’t have anything to do with me. They won’t even let me see my brother and sister.”
“I know. I’m just exploring our options.” I stare at the ceiling, waiting, hoping for some divine intervention.
The cadence of her nails tapping on the coffee table synchronizes with the rain striking the window. “Why did this have to happen now?”
She takes a deep breath and asks, “Have you told Kenny yet?”
“No. He’s going to be mad. He and Sandy were going on a three-week vacation this summer. Now, he has to hire and train a new manager.”
“I hate to sound insensitive, but he’ll get over it. That’s more than I can say about
How do I tell her? I can’t face her, so I just stare at the letter in front of me. “How was work?”
She drops her purse on the couch and hangs her coat on the rack before walking into the kitchen. She leans over and kisses me. “It was okay. Typing legal briefs all day isn’t much fun, but it’s a job.”
Cheri glances at the clock and then studies my face. “Why aren’t you at work?”
I cover the letter with my arms …show more content…
“Hmm—you don’t have a temperature. What’s wrong, Hon?”
I can’t look her in the eyes. “I’m okay. I just didn’t feel like working tonight.”
“You never call in sick. Did you cut your classes today too?”
“No.” I lock my gaze on the dingy wall.
“You’re doing it again.”
I glance up. “Doing what?”
“Chewing on your lip. You always do it when you’re holding something back.” She reaches behind my back and tickles me. “Come on—out with it, mister.”
I leap to my feet, knocking over the chair, and back away from her. “Enough, all right!”
“What’s wrong with you?” She stares at me with her mouth wide open. “I’m just trying to lighten your mood. You’re such a sourpuss.”
When I don’t respond, she smiles as she reaches out and touches my cheek. “You’re still doing it.”
“What?” I snap.
“Chewing your lip.” Cheri locks her arms around my neck and snuggles in close. She kisses my cheek and whispers, “Whatever it is, you can tell me. We’ll get through it.”
“If only it were that easy.” I wrap my arms around her waist, rest my forehead on hers, and close my eyes. I will miss the smell of your …show more content…
“And, what happens to me if you get shipped off to Vietnam in six months or a year? I’m not going to be left stranded in some hick town without any friends.”
I rest my forehead on my palms. “I don’t know—I just don’t know.” I stand up and pace the floor. “Do you think your folks will let you move back in with them?”
“No way. Not after I left the Catholic Church to marry you. You know they won’t have anything to do with me. They won’t even let me see my brother and sister.”
“I know. I’m just exploring our options.” I stare at the ceiling, waiting, hoping for some divine intervention.
The cadence of her nails tapping on the coffee table synchronizes with the rain striking the window. “Why did this have to happen now?”
She takes a deep breath and asks, “Have you told Kenny yet?”
“No. He’s going to be mad. He and Sandy were going on a three-week vacation this summer. Now, he has to hire and train a new manager.”
“I hate to sound insensitive, but he’ll get over it. That’s more than I can say about