The Love That Passed

Jared’s POVNôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

My face dimmed when I saw her laughing with the doctor again. I received a photo of her with that doctor as well as the coffee shop’s address. I know that Colleen said that he was only a friend to her and that she will never cheat on me. But how can I believe that when she had not smiled at me the way she smiled at that doctor?

I cannot accept the fact that someone can make her happy who’s not me. In the past two years, there were a lot of things that had come to my knowledge. Although I had no idea about those things before, I still feel guilty at some point. I didn’t give our marriage a chance which should be my first priority as soon as we got married.

Colleen never blamed me with that. For distancing myself from her, I never heard anything from her. Now, she looks happy, I don’t think that I wanted to see her like that with another man. Because of that, I got out of the car and entered the cafe. She had not noticed me yet as she was still laughing with the doctor. I stood up in front of their table and they both looked at me.

For a moment they were shocked but they managed to greet me, “Mr. McLahlin.” the doctor said. He knows me, the fact that he knows me made me think that he knew who I am to Colleen. Does he know how we are as well?

“Are you still not going home?” I looked and asked Colleen, not minding the doctor whose eyes were on my wife now.

“Yeah, we’re almost done.” she replied casually and then looked at the doctor. “I had to go Dr. Gerard.” she said and stood up. The doctor stood up as well and smiled at her. I didn’t like the way he did that. No doubt that he likes her. He then looked at me and then nodded.

“I am going back to the hospital now. Don’t forget what I told you, complete rest and do nothing.” he said before he left the cafe.

Colleen walked to the cashier and asked, “How much is my bill Emie?”

“It was already settled Ms. Colleen.” Emie replied.

“Did the woman with me earlier pay for it?” she asked again. Who is that woman? Is she the one that sent me their photo?

“No, though she did pay for it but I didn’t accept it. Dr. Gerard said that if you are going to eat here, we have to put your bill on his tab even if you have someone with you.” Emie replied happily. It was as though she was cheering for the two of them.

“Ahm, Emie,—” she said but I stopped her.

“Here.” I said, as I gave my card to Emie. She looked flustered and so was Colleen. Why are they looking like that? Is it wrong for me to pay for my wife’s coffee?

“No need to put her bill on the doctors tab. I am going to pay for whatever my wife consumed.” I told her and then she looked at Colleen who just smiled at her.

“OK, Sir.” she replied and took my card for Colleen’s payment and gave back my card after. “Thank you, come again.” Emie said, smiling. With that, I feel paranoid, does she know about me and Colleen’s situation as well?

“Bye Emie.”

“Bye ma’am Colleen. See you next month.” the cashier replied and then I looked at Colleen who was now following me going out. I pointed to her where my car was parked and she started walking there.

“Sit on the passenger seat.” I told her and opened the door for her. She looked at me in disbelief. “What, do you want me to carry you?” I asked again when she didn’t move.

“Huh? Ahm, no. I am going to get in.” she said and then she did.

We were both quiet on our way home. “Do you always go to the hospital?” I asked and she nodded. “Did mom always ask you to get her laboratory results all the time? You don’t have to do that. Don’t go there anymore and I will be the one who will be going there if mom needs anything from her doctor.” I added and she didn’t reply. until we arrived at home, she still didn’t talk.

We walked together going inside and she went straight to her room. I didn’t follow her and I stayed in the living room because I was sure that she would be back soon and confront me.

Just as I thought, she came rushing. “What’s going on?” she asked and I didn’t reply. I wonder how long she will be able to last asking me when I don’t answer her. She stared at me waiting for my reply and I think she was thinking whether she would ask me again or not because she was just there, standing not too far from me. I took my phone and started to delete her and that doctor’s photo.

She sighed and turned around. I was stunned. She just asked me once and didn’t bother asking more. I mean, I haven’t replied yet. Is that how impatient she was with me? Wait, is she really impatient? I wanted an answer so I followed her to her room and I found her taking my clothes out of the closet.

“What are you doing?” I asked and now she was not answering again. I am tired now. “Colleen, what do you think you’re doing?” I asked, yelling. She stopped and looked at me.

“I already asked you and you didn’t answer. I guess your response was very expensive or I have no right to question the owner of this house. But this is my room and I didn’t want other people or anyone to invade my privacy even if you own everything in here.” she replied. She was calm and her voice was soft and low. I can feel that she was angry but her voice was soothing. How can she do that?

“I am going to stay here from now. You don’t want to transfer in my room, so I am going to transfer here instead.” I told her and her eyes widened. “We are married and it was only natural that we sleep together.”

“I had no plan on repeating what had happened to us. You can go back to your room now if that was your intention. If you want, you can go and do that to the woman you love.” she replied and it was now I who was stunned.

Did she just push me away to another woman, or worse, back to Stacey? So, she doesn’t really care at all.