Normally he leaves his car at the park and ride. Taking the bus gives him an opportunity to text the woman who let him know that his wife was cheating on him. At first she was someone to talk to, eventually they established a morning ritual of their own. Now he picks up the paper and reloads the Starbucks card she uses for her daily chai. Whenever they meet he holds the door for her knowing that a quick good morning kiss is out of the question.
Five blocks
south-west of his glass fronted office building the woman he loves spends her day meeting and greeting members of a golf club he doesn't patronize. Throughout her day she daydreams about the man who organizes trade shows almost wishing that his office didn't border the
sixteenth hole. That evening the lights at his house go out when his wife gets the call that he won't be home for supper.
Inside her car he tosses his tie to
the side, eases her sunroof back and lets his hand rest on her leg
while he drives. Most of the time they talk about their jobs; where they
go depends on what kind of a day he had and how much time she had to
find a place where neither of them would be recognized. Her apartment is off limits, bitterly he wonders if his wife is fucking a super star golfer while he's winding his way through the asphault jungle.
The things he shares
with her would have his wife rolling her eyes if she could hear what
he's telling the woman he's with. Her employees can't decide if she's a
dyke, a prude, or just another ball busting career woman. The way she's
crying would surprise a lot of her coworkers and people who know both of
them might not understand how having someone to talk to can be more
important than having friends with benefits.
Her birthday is tomorrow however he can't be with her then so he
takes this opportunity to drop a card on her dashboard. Her hands are
cold as the clean edge of the envelope slices into her skin. Gently he
wipes a drop of blood off her finger and then a tear off her cheek.
Inside the card is a ticket voucher because she loves to golf and
he wants to give her a memory to cherish.
Tomorrow everyone she works with is stunned when she hands in her
letter of resignation. No one he works with is surprised at the
mandatory company meeting. For well over a year he's been meeting with
potential buyers, his employees will be treated fairly with an option to
stay on after the merger. His soon to be ex-wife is furious that he's
leaving her even though he has several photos of the guy who used to take his spot in bed.
Currently marital bliss is something they both work hard at
preserving. On their first anniversary the server who took their dinner
orders asked where they met. A peaceful smile settles across his face as
his newborn daughter sighs against her father. When he forgets that someone
asked him a question his wife repeats the inquiry, without turning
towards his spouse he remarks that formerly he and his contented wife were
day strangers.