Good Pet

“Thank you, my love. And the good evening to you!” I look at him, just happy to have him to look at.

I lean forward, spying a bit of wine next to him — probably his after-work glass. We always used to do that together when we got home from the office.

Some of my friends used to tell me that I could just stay home and be his “wife” and not worry about keeping a job of my own, but I didn’t want to be that dependent on him or that helpless. Plus, I like my job and I have career ambitions I don’t want to throw away.

“Have a good day at work?” I ask him.

Dennis nods.

“It was okay,” he says. “Busy. Ridiculously busy for what is supposed to be a Monday, the first day back from work, but I guess that’s what you get when you are in as much demand as me.”

I laugh, unable to tell whether he’s proud or irritated by that fact. Tellingly though, he doesn’t join in. Dennis doesn’t even crack a smile when he hears me giggling. And that usually does it for him, especially if he is having one of those “bad days.”

Chapter Two

Melissa

Dennis just sighs. He gives me a scowl unworthy of anything I’ve done and says, “You wouldn’t be laughing like that if you had to do a job like what your bosses have to do.”

I’m so surprised by his gruffness, his meanness, that I actually sit back in my chair and put my hand to my heart.

“You’re just a secretary. You don’t really know how much work everything else is.”

“Dennis!” I pause, unable to get myself to think or speak for a moment.

I’m not used to him being so short-tempered, and over such a little thing like a giggle.

“You’re so mean right now!”

I pause again, searching his face for a good reason for this behavior. I want to see some indicator of what or who could have possessed him to act this way.

“I wasn’t trying to make light of what I see now is obviously a very difficult day for you, sweetheart.”

I lean further in, feeling fragile. Not only because he still looks upset with me, but because I’m starting to feel guilty. I feel bad for having a little laugh since my boyfriend obviously felt it was at his expense. Not because I thought he was adorably flustered-looking or anything like that.

“And there’s no reason to bring in my job into the conversation like that! I know it’s not the same as yours, Dennis, but it’s not not work!”

I shake my head vigorously after I say this, wanting to get out of this confrontation. A fight has no business starting between us this early in the game, or this early in my morning.

“It doesn’t matter, anyway. I don’t know why you’re so grouchy, honey, but let me make it better, hmm? Let me tell you how sexy you look; how handsome you are. How lucky everyone at that agency is to have someone like you working for them.”

I pause, seeing some of his irritation soften.

“And when I laughed like that, it wasn’t at you, honey. It was just because I thought your face was so cute when you said what you said about not knowing whether it was a good or bad thing that you were so busy.”

He stares at me, saying nothing, with his lips pulled down in a tight scowl.

“I was looking forward to talking with you, Dennis.”

I sigh, looking at him like my most precious jewel.

“I’ve been waiting anxiously this morning to talk to you, wondering where you were, worrying about why you were late,” I add, hoping he hears me and knows how much I love and respect him.

“I was late because of all that work I was telling you about,” Dennis says finally, although this time, he doesn’t sound angry.

He sounds a bit depressed. He looks a bit sorry as well, or regretful. About what, I’m not entirely sure. My mind immediately says it’s because he snapped at me, and I accept that faster than I should.

“I’m sorry I was running late. And I’m sorry that I got after you like that.” He takes another sip of his wine and then brings his hands up through his long hair. “It was unfair of me, Melissa. Forgive me?”

“Of course, I forgive you, my love,” I say, eager to get away from those unhappy feelings of mine.

There are dark rims I can see around his eyes. I see some odd darkness around his lips and cheeks as well, but I don’t say anything about it. I’m just happy to be talking with him, and I just want our time to stay good and loving. I’ve waited long enough this morning for it, after all.

But, as I look at my clock, I realize I am running out of time.