Kicked out

Cassandra finished work early when she heard that Elaine was at her home, it was unusual for her to be there in the afternoon and she immediately knew something was wrong.

“How long have you been waiting?” She asked.

“About an hour, did I disturb your work?” Elaine questioned, it must have been hard for her to leave work and come see her.

“No, luckily my last client bailed on me so I am totally free for the day” she answered.

“Can I get you a cup of coffee or something”

“Where did you leave me to last night, I woke up and you were not there with me”

Elaine’s outburst startled her that she squeezed her lips in shame.

“I am so sorry my friend, after you passed out. I tried to book us a taxi but there was none available. All I could remember was that I was trying to check outside if I could see any but when I woke up, I was in bed with one of my client” Cassandra narrated to her, her ordeal. She could remember rejecting Ethan but how then did she end up in bed with him.

“You slept with your client, I thought you don’t mix work with pleasure”

Elaine’s spoke with her mouth wide open.

“I know, I hope nothing bad happened to you. How did you get home safely?” She inquired.

“That's the thing, I didn't”

“What do you mean you didn't, don't tell me you messed up too”

“Oh I did worse, I woke up to Richard in my bed” Elaine uttered.

“What?” Cassandra suddenly sprung from her seat, her lips quivered and her eyes bulged out in shock.

Then her eyes widened with curiosity,

“How did that happen?”

“Well I still can't remember all the bit and pieces but when I woke up at the bar and I didn't find you there. I ended up walking up to the man that had been staring at me for a while” Elaine explained.

“I can't even remember his face because I was drunk too” She cut in.

“So was I, I must have been so drunk that I couldn't even recognize own husband or he must have switched with the stranger. I am just so confused right now about what happened” Elaine stated.

“What did he say?”

“We got into an argument and I accused him of cheating”

Cassandra couldn't control her laughter as she fell from her chair.

“Are you crazy?, you were the one who tried to cheat and got caught.

Were you trying to be manipulative or something?” she asked.

“I know I was also wrong but think about it, what was he doing there”

“You are right, wait a minute, this is your family issue. I don't have to say anything about it besides your husband is quite scary” Cassandra quickly pulled herself from the conversation once it involved Richard.

“Can I have the cup of coffee now?” Elaine requested.

“Sure”

****

Richard sat in his dimly lit office, his hands trembling as he gripped the edge of his desk. His mind was consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, and the weight of his actions seemed to press upon him like an burden. The memory of that one fateful night with his wife Elaine haunted him, intertwined with the devastating reality of her battle with cancer.

As he stared blankly at the computer screen, his eyes glazed over, Richard's mind replayed the events of that night with vivid clarity. It had been a night of passion, and a desperate longing for solace.

Richard could recall how many times she told him that she was in love with her husband and wished to spend her last days with him.

He could remember how much he had neglected her and made her feel like she didn't matter to him.

The thought of her claiming to divorce him was enough to wake him up from his dull senses, he knew that she deserved happiness but yet he still couldn't let her go.

“What is wrong with me?” he thought to himself.

Why couldn't he just let her go when she wanted to be away from him.

He could vividly remember when he got the news that she had cancer, his hands were trembling in fear but he couldn't dare show it to her so he walked away.

The day had been far spent and he thought to return home knowing fully well that Elaine would not be home.

Stepping out of the car into the house, He pushed open the front door and got in, his gaze fixated on Mary, who was sitting in the living room, her eyes filled with concern.

"Richard, my dear, you're home," Mary said, her voice laden with a mix of relief and worry. She rose from her seat and took a step towards him, reaching out her hand in an attempt to comfort him.

“Is Elaine home?” he asked.

“No, why are you hesitating in divorcing her, I overheard your discussion earlier, she tried to cheat on you, isn't that enough for you to leave her” She said.

“How could you suggest that I divorce Elaine?" he spat out, his voice laced with anger.

Mary recoiled,

"Richard, please, I only said those things because I care about you. I don't want you to live a life devoid of love and happiness. Elaine deserves to be with someone who truly loves her, especially given her condition and the fact that you don't love her” she tried to twist her words to make it look like it was for Elaine’s good.

Richard's eyes narrowed, and his voice turned venomous. "Deserves? Are you suggesting that I'm a heartless monster who would abandon his sick wife? I thought you knew me better than that, Mother."

Tears welled up in Mary's eyes, her voice trembling. "Richard, please try to understand. It's not about abandoning Elaine; it's about being honest with yourself and with her. Staying in a loveless marriage will only bring pain and resentment to both of you."

Richard scoffed, his anger escalating. "And who are you to decide what's best for me? Have you forgotten that I'm a grown man capable of making my own decisions? I don't need your guidance, especially when it comes to matters of the heart."

Mary's eyes brimmed with tears as she struggled to compose herself. "Richard, I never meant to undermine your independence or belittle your choices. But as your mother, it's my duty to express my concerns and offer guidance when I see you hurting."

"Well, your guidance is neither wanted nor appreciated. If you can't support me in the decisions I make for my own life, then maybe it's time for you to leave this house."

Mary's breath hitched, her heart sinking at the harshness of Richard's words. She had expected anger, but his threat to kick her out of the very home she had nurtured him in was a blow she hadn't anticipated.

"Richard, please, let's not say things we'll regret," Mary pleaded, her voice quivering with a mix of sadness and desperation. "I may not always agree with you, but I love you, and I only want what's best for you."

Richard's face contorted with fury, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "Love? Is this your version of love, tearing apart my life and my family? Well, I've had enough. If you can't support me, then I don't want you in my life anymore."

Mary's legs weakened, and she sank back into the nearest armchair, her tears now flowing freely. "Richard, you don't mean that. We've always been there for each other. We've faced hardships together. Please don't shut me out now."

But Richard, fueled by his anger, remained unyielding. He turned away from his weeping mother, his voice cold and final. "You've crossed a line, Mother. It's time for you to leave. I need some space to figure things out for myself."

"Richard, I'm not heartless. I love you, and I love Elaine too. But I worry that you're drowning in a relationship devoid of love. I only want to see you happy."

“You don't get to decide that Mother” he yelled at the top of lungs. He was sick and tired of her thinking she could control and manipulate him.

“Are you going to throw me out of your house because of Elaine, have you forgotten that I am the reason you got this house and you dare to kick me out of it” she reverted.

“You are not the reason I got this house, the house was a gift from Father to me the day I married Elaine so that we could leave together” he retorted in a husky tone.

Mary flicked her hair back,

“And who do you think borough Elaine to you”

“Definitely not you” he replied.

“I want you to go and pack your things and leave this house, I will not condone you speaking ill of my wife. I know we have a loveless marriage and we barely talk but she is my wife and my life partner. If you refuse to hid to that then you can walk out that door”

“You would dare to kick your mother out” she asked him.

“I really don't want to do this but you give me no choice” he said, he could see tears rolling out of her eyes but he just didn't care about it.

Mary realized that her words and tears weren't working so she decided to save herself the trouble from being kicked out of her own house.

“I am sorry, I didn't mean to get you upset” she said.

“You should have thought of that before you brought up the topic. One more word about divorce from you and I wouldn't think twice about kicking you out of the house” he warned.

As Richard stormed out of the living room, leaving Mary behind in a pool of anguish, a heavy silence settled upon the house.

Mary wiped the tears from her face as she stared at the door.

“How long are going to play tough” she muttered then returned to her room.