Cathy’s breath caught in her throat, lost for words. She looked at her husband, who was also looking at her, expecting an answer. When none came, he repeated, “Where is your wedding ring, Cathy?” She should say something, she thought. She just did not know what to say. She fumbled, “I… it… oh Zach, I have misplaced it!” she finally said, throwing her hands up.
“Where did you misplace it?”
Silly question, she thought, and it must have shown because Zach frowned. “Zach, if I knew where I misplaced it, I would have found it before you realized”, she said sarcastically and walked away from him. Zach was stupefied: this was the first time in their four-year marriage that Cathy had been downright rude to him. What happened to his lovely humble wife, he wondered, shaking his head. That little story of Dale or whoever he is being ‘just a friend’ was too lame for him to believe. He would find out who he was by all means. Maybe he should befriend those unfriendly neighbours. They might know something, he figured suspiciously.
He went to the bedroom to find Cathy dressing up. He asked where she was going and she said “Out”. He was wise not to ask again. He watched her go and wondered again what had happened to his lovely little wife.
Cathy had plans of her own which she did not want Zach to know. She had to sort Dale out quickly before he made any mess of her marriage. It seemed Dale was expecting her for she did not even knock on his door before it opened and he welcomed her in. This time, he did not hug her or carry her or tickle her as he had done when she visited him during their eight-month relationship. He understood why she was there, and he had a lot of questions, starting with who that hulk in her house was.
When she was settled comfortably, she signaled Dale to sit by her, which he did. Then she took his hands, held them in her slender ones, looked straight at him and started, “I had no idea he was alive. I thought he died a year ago of brain seizure. The doctors told me that if he pulled through in a month, all would be well. He didn’t. Or so I thought. I was made to believe he was dead. I mourned him for six whole months and nobody told me anything. I …”
“Wait,” Dale stopped her mid-sentence, “Who is ‘he’?”
“The man in my house. Dale, I should have told you, and I promised myself that I would when the time was right. I did not want to lose you or your friendship. I was afraid…”
“Who is he, Cathy?”
“His name is Zach.” She breathed in deeply before continuing. “He is my husband.”
Dale was shocked. He got up and began pacing. Her husband? She was married? Why didn’t she say anything?!
“Dale, I was afraid that you might not want me if you knew I was married. You see, I thought he was dead…”
“You thought?!” When Cathy flinched, he lowered his voice. “You thought? Didn’t you know?” Dale scratched his head in frustration. When Cathy began to cry, he stopped pacing and stood in front of her, impatient. “Well?”
“Dale, I was told he had died from brain seizure. There was no funeral. I did not even see his body. I was just told that he had been disposed of. No one told me anything even when I pressed them; some even began avoiding me. I was just as shocked as you are now when I saw him in my living room. That was the night that I told you that I wanted to be alone. I was planning to explain things to you in due time. I did not know he was alive. But Dale, everything that went on between us was real.”
Dale seemed to compose himself. He walked to his refrigerator and took a cold bottle of water. He brought Cathy another bottle and sat beside her. After she had drunk, he asked, “What happens to us now, Cathy?”
Cathy sighed again. She could not even count the number of times she had sighed since Zach’s return. She looked straight at Dale and spoke in one breath, “We have to break up, Dale.” He shook his head. “We cannot continue, and I cannot leave my husband. I love him, you see… I’m very sorry we have to end it this way but I don’t see any other way.”
“You used me, and you want to discard me just as easily?” he asked angrily. “You will not have it your way, Cathy. You will not dispose of me so easily, you, you… Delilah!” he turned away and Cathy could see that his shoulders were shaking. Did men cry?
She got up and went to touch his shoulder but he shook it off. She started to leave quietly. As she opened the door to walk out, she heard him say, “This is not the end yet. You will not have it your way!!!” Cathy shook her head, stopped a taxi, and headed home to a husband who was also waiting for his answers.
