My Neighbor's Husband

I stare at her back, watching as my ex gets into her car and drives away. Holy hell. My life just got about fifty times worse, and I still can’t comprehend what’s happened.

But Margot. Where was Margot in all of this? When I turn back from the door, I see the curvy girl standing in the middle of my living room with tears in her eyes. Obviously, she heard every word.

“Dane,” she says in a choked voice. “I have to go.”

“No,” I say roughly, going to her and trying to take her in my arms. “Don’t go, sweetheart. We’ll figure this out together.”

But she shakes her head, the tears pouring down her cheeks now.

“No, you’re going to be a father,” she says in a trembling voice. “I can’t come between you and your child.”

“Margot,” I say more insistently, grabbing her arm this time. “It’s going to be fine. You heard what Amelia said. We can work this out. Nothing is impossible. You know that I don’t love her the way I do you.”

That only makes the curvy girl let out a wail of pain.

“But the child! What are we going to do about the baby?”

I hang my head.

“I don’t know,” is my reply.

“And she’s going to be living in your house!” Margot practically screams now. “You are living with your ex-wife and your soon to be child in your house! How am I supposed to deal with that? Where do I belong?”

I shake my head, my gut churning.

“Again, I don’t have any answers right now, Margot. This happened only fifteen minutes ago, and I’m just as stunned as you are. But I can’t turn Amelia away right now, not when she’s pregnant and expecting my child. It’s not the humane thing to do.”

Margot takes a deep, trembling breath. Then she turns to look at me with a loving desperation in her eyes.

“I know, and I agree, Dane. That’s why I have to let you go. I can’t be a part of this fucked-up situation, and yet there’s no way for you to extract yourself from this fucked-up situation. The baby changes everything, and you have responsibilities. I love you so much for owning up to your responsibilities and for being a loving father, but I can’t do this to myself,” she says in a choked voice. “I hope you understand.”

With that, the beautiful woman turns on her heel and flies out of my house. I can hear sobs as she runs down the street and back to her own home. I hope Buster is there to greet her with a doggy-kiss and a happy smile.

Meanwhile, I’m completely done for. The woman whom I adore and who brings sunshine to my life just walked out. I feel that I’ve seen the last of her. Even if I haven’t seen the last of her, our relationship has changed forever. From here on out, it will be only polite smiles and stilted greetings. I know I’ll never hold Margot in my arms again. I’ll never kiss those plushly pink lips, nor hear her moan in my arms while reaching the highest heights of pleasure. That part of my life has passed, and my heart breaks as the lovely girl leaves.

12

Margot

Three months later.

I get to Pretty Pink Nail Salon and let myself in through the back door.

“Hey chica,” greets Trish, my co-worker. “How’s it going?”

I smile, hoping I look okay.

“It’s going. I’m just going to put my apron on, and then I’ll come right out.”

Trish nods before going back to her customer’s nails. It looks like she’s doing a rainbow design today, studded with clear crystals and heart appliques. It’s going to look amazing.

Meanwhile, I glance at the appointment book. My first client doesn’t come in for another hour, so I busy myself with cleaning my workspace. I sweep the floor, and then Windex the small table. Then I make sure all of my instruments are heat-treated and sanitized, and place a couple of hand towels into the warming oven so that they’ll be ready when the customers arrive.

Thus is life. I’ve been going through the motions, and my co-workers know it. They know what happened with Dane, and were totally sympathetic.

“It’s going to be fine,” cooed Hannah, one of the older ladies, while stroking my hair. “Men come and they go. You just be strong for yourself.”

“But we had it so good,” I said pitifully while wiping my eyes. “And in a way, I can’t blame Dane. His ex got accidentally pregnant, and what is he going to do? Walk away from his child? If anything, I only respect him more because he wants to do what’s right.”

Hannah nodded, her double chins jiggling.

“It’s alright, child. That just means you met a good man, but there are more good ones out there. Look at me and my Herbert! We’ve been together thirty years and still going strong. And trust me, after eight children, Herbie and I have had some tough times.”