My Husband and I
Dark Romance ?
Part 3
Episode 39
~ Mary’s POV ~
Humming in tune to the music playing on the stereo, I sipped from my water bottle. I was enjoying the view of the city before me.
During my stay at Abbey and Shola’s place, I’ve come to like sitting outside on their balcony. The view was pleasant because of the perfect atmosphere and landscape.
Due to the men having work today, I had the apartment to myself. After breakfast, I spent the entire morning pressing my new phone. I had missed my old phone at home. I can only imagine the numerous messages that had accumulated on it.
A week has passed since I’ve shaken hands with Shola. Despite the rough start between Shola and I, there hasn’t been any more animosity. We may not have been best buddies, but we were cordial; regularly greeting and saying goodbye to one another.
Though I had hope that someday in the future, we’d grow to be friends. He didn’t seem like a bad man to me. Just a man who had good intentions for his friend, Abbey.
Speaking of, Abbey has done well in keeping me happy. More than happy. Though John was still at the back of my mind. I’ve been feeling less guilty the longer I stayed here. It’s not as if I’ve forgotten I’m married or didn’t feel horrible for cheating.
Some days, I’ve been hard on myself for having an affair. The next, I would push it to the back of my mind and carry on with my day.
The sound of my phone ringing brought me out of my thoughts. Picking it up from the table, I saw the caller, Comfort was video-calling me. Pressing on the answer button, I brought the phone up to my face. Smile wreathed my face once she appeared on the screen, her expression similar to mine.
“Hey girl!” she greeted.
“Hi, Comfort! How are you? How have you been?” I asked her. It’s been a while since we talked.
“Stressful. I’m still processing my documents. I’m close to leaving this place to see my man, but my documents are taking forever to process,” she frowned.
Comfort was soon moving to the UK with her boyfriend. I was going to miss her but was very excited about her happiness.
“Aww, I’m sure It’s going to work. All this stress is for a good reason. You’ll be home soon to be with him.”
“You’re right, I just miss him and I want to get this over with.” Comfort sighed.
“Anyway, what’s up with you? I see you have a certain glow in your face.” She noted with a smile.
“Nothing much,” I shrugged, looking away.
“Mary finally did it! You had segz!” she shouted in excitement. When did it happen? How was it? Did you…?”
Cutting her off, I had a smile.
“It happened a few weeks ago, and it has been going on since then.”
“Oh my!” she squealed.
“Details, now!”
And so, I told Comfort things I experienced with another man, sparing detail I deemed too much or too revealing. I spoke of how good the segz was and how easy it was to get lost in Abbey. When I mentioned the recent events that occurred involving Shola, her excitement dwindled. Her expression turned into a scowl as I recalled what has happened.
“What a man. At least he apologized.” She said.
Nodding in response, I also told her about how my feelings for Abbey were evolving into something more than I thought it could be. After I finished speaking, she spoke up.
“Have you given any thought to your marriage and what you’re going to do?”
“Honestly, Comfort, I haven’t been wearing my ring. When I think of what I have with my husband, my mood dampened. I don’t want to think of a divorce but I don’t know. I really don’t to think of a divorce but I don’t know. I really don’t known anymore.” A long sigh escapes me.
“What do I do?” I whispered before tears welled up in my eyes. Running a shaky has across my face, a sob broke free.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
“I’m so happy here, Comfort. But I know I can’t stay forever or have this affair for the rest of my life. Eventually, Abbey will get tired of me.”
“Mary, you don’t know that,” she cut me off.
“I shook my head. “Yes, he will. He’s a man. The type that wants a family. How can I give him that if I’m tied to John? What if he doesn’t want that with me? What if being with me gives him a terrible reputation? We are having an affair. I don’t even know why I’m bothering myself with such thoughts.”
“Because you love him,” Comfort’s voice carried through the phone softly. I shook my head denying her words.
“Sweetheart, it’s Ok–“
“No, it’s not. I can’t … no, I shouldn’t feel this way for another man. I’m tied to–“
“An emotionally abusive man.” She interrupted.
“Comfort….”
“No Mary. John hasn’t treated you well for years. Years! As your friend, I’ve tried to support you and honor your marriage to that abusive man, but he…” she paused after stuttering. Taking a deep breath. You’re finally seeing what’s wrong and Abbey is to blame. In a good way. This man makes you happy. I can see it through the phone. After all these years, I’m seeing the fullness of your cheeks and healthiness, Mary. My friend is getting another chance at love. After witnessing you cry so many tears over a man who’s belittled you, undermine you, and –“ she stopped short and began to cry herself.
My eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Comfort was shedding tears.
“I’m sorry,” I told her, apologizing for leaning on her too many times for witnessing my downward spirals more than I can count on my fingers.
Sometimes I tried to keep things to myself over the years, to not burden her. But I must not have done a good job at that. I was a rotten friend.
“Don’t be. I love being your rock and vice versa,” she breathed, gathering herself.
“Before I decided to leave and move to the UK with my love, I was worried about you. I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
“No. I wish you had told me this sooner, Comfort. Don’t you ever stop loving your life because of what I have going on? Or think about stopping your life for me.” I said.
“We’re sisters, Mary.”
“Yes, and sometimes sisters stay together, but sisters also part. To live out their lives. If I had known you felt this way…” my words trailed off.
“What? You’d stop confiding in me? I don’t blame you for anything. No. I’m just so glad to see you return to how you were. Before you married Johnson. The point is it’s okay to be in love with a who’s showing you more than John has ever done, who has been taking care of you, helping you, loving you. It’s okay, Mary because you deserve to be happy. Especially with a man who is the complete opposite of your husband.”
“I…..,,
“You took off your ring, Mary. That’s big! I know you h@ťě thinking about it, but maybe divorce..”
“No,” I cut her off. “I can’t. I can’t.”
“Sweet….”
“I can’t be alone.”
“You’d have Abbey,”
“What if he dumps me after I end it with John? What happens then?”
“You wouldn’t be alone. You’ll have me and…”
“You’ll be in the UK living your best life as you should be doing. I can’t break it off with John. I’m too scared.” I admitted, ashamed.
I was hardly a woman capable of being strong. Who stays with someone out of being by themselves?
“What if you try it out?”
“I can’t..”
“Hear me out,” she began. “My lease will be up in about a year. What if I put you on my lease and you move in? I’ll continue paying the rent for you to stay there.”
“I don’t know,” truly, I didn’t.
I couldn’t stay at Abbey’s forever and I didn’t want to go home too. Nor did I know if I was welcome to go back. However, a large part of me no longer wanted to be dependent on men. John took everything away with a lush out the door. I was worried Abbey would do the same.
“This would be the perfect chance to see if you can handle being on your own,” Comfort continued.” And if you can’t, then…”
“I’ll do it. But you’re not paying the rent, I am. You have a life to live in the UK with my sister-in-law when I finally move there, don’t worry about me.”
“Mary, I’ll always worry about you. I love you,” she said.
“I love you, too,” we both wiped our tears smiling at each other through the phone.
“And thank you, but don’t worry about me. I’ll figure my messy life out myself. You have to promise.”
“Oh come on!” she rolled her eyes.
“Promise me, Comfort,” I demanded.
“Fine. I promise to not worry about you while I’m riding on my chariot in the UK with my future husband,” she said. We laughed for a while as our tears dried up.
“I’m ecstatic that you’re leaving,” I admitted.
“Ouch, bestie,” she said jokingly and laughed again.
“Seriously though. I’m so d@mn happy to see you happy. After you get settled, I want to visit you too.”
“Sounds like a plan. You should bring your boyfriend with you,” she laughed. Before I could reply, I heard the voice of another behind me.
“Hey pretty,” I turned around to see Abbey at the balcony entrance. He began walking toward me with a smile on his face, dressed in a crisp suit and tie. He looked dashing and segzy to the point I couldn’t help but lick my lips.
I am lucky to have that man.
“Is that him?” Comfort’s voice cut through my thoughts. Hardly realizing I still had the phone held up in my hand, facing him.
“Oh, girl!”
“Yes,” I said with a silly smile.
Shifting my gaze up the moment, Abbey reached me. I greeted him back. “Hi, Abbey,” leaning down, he gave me a quick peck on my lips. Comfort ‘ooing’ in the background had Abbey’s gaze moving from mine to the phone. He smiled at it.
“Oh, hello there, you must be Comfort. I’m Abbey.”
“I know who you’re,” she grinned at him. Her tone teased, wiggling her brows, she carried on. “I know all about you.”
“Okay, Comfort. Goodbye!” her laughter rang out loudly before I cut the call, utterly embarrassed.
“She knows all about me, huh?” he kissed my forehead.
“Hmm, and how do you know if I said positive things about you?” I asked him. He seemed so sure of himself. He moved around the couch then, sitting directly in front of me, leaning in, he brought his lips to my ears.
“Because of the way I have you screaming all night and other stuff we did,” backing away, he grinned at my shocked expression.
“Now are you ready to eat or do you want us to head to the bedroom? Which do you prefer?” I asked him.
This story is gradually coming to an end.
To be continued.
Frank The Writer