The affair - A short story- Fiction- Part 2

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Celeste couldn't sleep after Peter climbed into bed. She went downstairs to make herself some chamomile tea and sat alone at the kitchen table in the dark. How could he betray her like this? After all she had done for him? She gave up all her hopes and dreams, because he wanted her to be there for the kids. She was just doing her job as a parent, and now she was going to be all alone, with two kids, and no future.  

What about her hopes and dreams? 

She finished her tea and went back upstairs. Peter slept peacefully and was unaware of the negativity roaming around in her head. Celeste lay in bed, staring at him, trying to find the old Peter, but for some reason he looked different.  

How could two people drift so far apart? They lived in one house, and shared everything, but they were living in two different worlds. They were too stuck in the same old routine and it was time to make a change. He needed to realize how precious she was to him and the children. Celeste had a plan. No man was going to leave her for some young secretary just because he couldn't have things his way. 

She loved Peter, but it was time that he came back to reality. It was time for some tough love. The only way that he was going to come back to her, was if he missed her. 

Peter was snoring lightly and she knew that he was not going to wake up anytime soon. She quietly stood up, not to wake him and quickly grabbed a few pieces of clothing and threw it in an overnight bag. She felt nervous, but knew that this was the only way. 

She wrote a quick note and told him that she needed a break, and that he would be in charge of the kids for the next few days. She set the alarm on his phone for five o clock, because that was the time she got up in the mornings to make breakfast.   

Her grandmother used to say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that is exactly what she wanted to do. She took his car keys, and loaded the bag in the car. Nobody was going to make a fool of her. 

She drove to the outskirts of the city and found a little gem of a motel she had read about in the newspaper. She had read some good reviews about the place, and she knew that she would be safe. She would decide where to go in the morning, but it was late now, and she had to get some rest. She was too emotional to drive anywhere else. 

Peter woke up with a bang and a slight headache when the alarm went off. He saw the note but threw it to the side. At first he had no clue what was going on and he grabbed the phone to switch off that annoying sound that cut through him like a knife. He called Celeste, but she didn't come. He needed something for this headache. He went to the bathroom and realized that she was not there, and then went back to sit on the edge of the bed. He picked up the note and read what she wrote. 

I can't do this alone. I need a break. Look after the kids and tell them I love them.    

What does she mean she needed a break? Who is going to look after him and the kids? He had to go to work, he didn't have time for playing house. 

Peter reluctantly went downstairs, only to find both the kids already waiting downstairs for their breakfast. He gave them each a bowl of cereal, and explained to them that their mom had to go away for a few days. What he did not tell them was that he had no idea why she left and where she went. Melissa started crying and it took him a full twenty minutes to calm her down. 

He went back upstairs to phone Celeste but after the third try, he realized that she was not going to answer. 

How can she do this to him?  

Peter felt angry and shouted at the kids to get a move on. They had to help him get everything ready for school.  He had no idea that it was such an exhausting task. Just after seven they were ready to go, and Peter became furious when he saw that she left him with the old station wagon. 

What was everyone at work going to think if he showed up with her old car? 

He felt totally stressed about the whole situation. He gave the kids some lunch money, and dropped them off at the school. He tried to phone Celeste again, but she still didn't answer. He drove to work feeling annoyed, and totally exhausted. 

He had no idea how he was going to do this on his own, and he stepped into the office looking gloom and unhappy. Jessica waited for him in his office, and handed him a cup of coffee. 

"I thought you might need this.." she said with a devious smile on her face. 

"We can go out again tonight if you like?" 

"I'm sorry Jessica, I can't do this right now...I can't tonight...."

Jessica looked disappointed and told him that he was a spoiled sport. 

She closed the door on her way out, and he took a seat behind his desk. He dialed Celeste's number again but she did not answer. It was clear that she didn't want to talk to him. He left her a voicemail. 

"Where are you Celeste and when are you coming back?"

Celeste had a good rest and picked up her phone. She saw that Peter had phoned five times and listened to the voicemail. He sounded panicky, but that was a good thing. A few days of this, and he would soon be back to the old Peter. The Peter that she loved and not resented. 

She took a quick shower and then went to find some breakfast. She thought about the kids, and hoped they would be okay, but they were not babies anymore so she was sure they would be fine. She needed to do this for herself, for the kids and or her relationship with Peter. 

At exactly four o clock the school phoned to say that the kids were still waiting to be picked up, and even though she wanted to jump in the car to go fetch them, she gave them Peter's number and told them to phone him. 

- to be continued-

 

                          

                          

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