Remember Me

2. Expect the Unexpected

My father is expecting me to show up at work tomorrow; I know it but I can't stop thinking about what Maya suggested this afternoon. And it's keeping me up.

I toss, I turn and I glare at the menacing red numbers on the clock that keep ticking by against my will.

Finally, I decide to climb out of bed to get some water and stretch my legs for a bit instead of just lying bored in bed.

Unfortunately, my wife and I have this problem where we physically can't sleep without each other. "Can't sleep?" She asks, leaning against the wall while I have my back turned against her at the sink.

"Sorry I woke you up." I reply without answering her question. Her small feet pad across the hardwood floor and then I feel her arms around my waist.

"What's going on babe?" I sigh, turning around and leaning my back against the counter causing my wife to take a few steps back.

"What if I do quit?" I ask abruptly. "What does that mean for us? And what if my dad doesn't forgive me for leaving the family buisness?"

She frowns, stepping back into my embrace. I settle my arms around her waist, resting my hands on the small of her back. "What if you don't quit? Stop worrying about money and everyone else's feelings and start worrying about yourself" she insists, knowing damn well that it's easier said than done. Especially considering the vow I made to myself to never let our kids go through what she did.

No tuna melts or leaky roofs.

"This job doesn't make you happy and it's certainly not helping your relationship with your father so why stay?"

I stare down at her, unable to argue because she's made some good points. Maybe it was time to move on.

"I'll think about it" I concede.

She grins, reaching up to peck my lips. "Good. Now come back to bed."

I groan. "I have to get up in like, two hours what's the point of sleeping?:

She looks over her shoulder and smirks at me. "Who said we were sleeping?"

~ 🖤 ~

Staring at myself in the mirror, clad in a pair of jeans and a black v-neck, I attempt to prepare myself for what I'm planning to do today.

Last night, after my conversation with Maya, I was more sure now than ever that quitting the family buisness was the right move. I just hoped it didn't go as awful as I was imagining.

"So." Maya beams, leaning against the counter beside me with her hair damp around her shoulders, a black skirt around her hips and a simple white bra covering her chest. Since I woke her up this morning neither of us had gone back to bed.

Instead, we rolled around between the sheets for a while, watched an episode of The Office and then decided it was time to get ready for work.

"So?" I ask, glancing over at my gorgeous wife.

"I was thinking we could go out for dinner to celebrate your independence after I get off work tonight. What do you think?"

What did I think? A date with my girl sounded like the perfect way to celebrate my departure from the family buisness. "Dinner sounds perfect. I'll swing by and pick you up after school."

In the meantime I could make reservations at our favorite restaurant and unwind from what was going to he a trying morning.

"Perfect" she repeats, reaching up to peck my lips. "Good luck today." She adds as we pull apart and I sigh, turning away from the sink.