Today, of all days...

She hovered around the living room. He was almost 3 hours late now. He’d never been late in their 6 years of marriage. And today of all days. It was almost as if he’d done it on purpose. She heard his footstep on the portico. It wasn’t as jaunty as she heard it every single evening. But maybe he was just tired after a rough day at work.

He entered to find her lying on the bed. She looked beautiful as ever. He sighed and thought once more about what exactly he was going to say. “Happy Anniversary sweetheart….,”he sighed. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had to meet someone and she took longer than usual”. He could almost feel her stiffen although her body was under the bedcovers.

“She?”

“Yes honey. I think there is something we need to talk about. There’s someone else…Helen…from work. I think I’ve talked about her a couple of times to you. Don’t ask me why…I do not know. I only know that I love her like I’ve never loved in my life. And that though this is terrible timing, I felt I must be honest with you...at least today.”

“Well I really don’t know what to say….” Her voice trembled at the brink of hysteria. “How long has this been going on?”

“About a year now…listen Mary...I know this is a shock…but try to understand…this means a lot to me. Will you not meet her?”

“I really don’t think I should….perhaps it would be better if we just went to bed now and talked about this tomorrow with our lawyers present.”

“Please Mary…she’s waiting for us at my workplace right now. Let’s drive over and the three of us can talk things over. “

10 minutes later she was in her Porsche and they were speeding along 18^th Mile. He seemed nervous to talk. Strangely, she was calm…almost as if she had embraced the inevitable. That’s what made him nervous.

“Do you remember the day you gave me this car John? How I dashed it against the tree while backing it into the garage? The look on our faces?”

“Yes, “he replied with a small smile.”That was some day huh…our second anniversary…”

“What went wrong John? What did I do wrong? Is she prettier that me? More sexy? Better in bed?” They’d come to a halt in the deserted parking lot of the building where he worked. It was almost 10pm and the guard was asleep at the other side of the building. He just continued to smile that small smile of his.

And then something snapped. She opened the glove compartment of the car and got out her Heckler and Koch Saturday night special. She cocked it and held it aimed at him. Her hand was steady as hell, he saw.

“Get out of the car. I’m going to end this…for all three of us. Take me to her now.”

Panicking, he got out, put on his coat. They walked into the deserted building. The elevator rose up to the 26^th floor in silence. It pinged to a stop. They both got out. His office was at the end of the corridor. She been there only once before. To tell him she was pregnant. 3 months ago. He did look like an idiot standing there with his mouth open. It seemed like an eternity away.

He stood in front of the door and she stayed behind him. He knocked twice. And the door opened with a burst of light. And she pulled on the trigger while someone sang out “Happy Anniversary Smiths!!!!!!”

Today of all days…………………….

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The phone rang like a persistent alarm clock. At last Mary gave up ignoring it and picked it up.

“Hey…are you feeling alright?? You did drink way too much last night.”

“I’m fine,” she replied.”Just a blinder of a headache”

“Anyway...i just called in to check…take care”

“….and Helen…..thanks for calling up and telling me about the surprise party in advance…he was pretty convincing when he told me about your affair.”

“Why sure,” said Helen” what would you have done if it was true?”

“Me?” said Mary, looking at her John fast asleep next to her and the box of blank bullets at her side.”Why I suppose I’d have the shot the two of you. You take care too Helen…bye”