Her voice shook now.
“My father already paid the venue.”
Her partner said:
“I panicked.”
She stared.
“About marriage?”
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly.
“So your answer to being afraid of marrying me was coming here?”
He said nothing.
“Were you planning to tell me?”
“No.”
The honesty came out accidentally.
The Fiancée laughed.
Then pulled off the engagement ring.
He moved forward.
“No.”
She held it up.
“You do not get to object.”
“Please.”
“I was going to marry you believing something that wasn’t true.”
He looked desperate.
“I love you.”
She shook her head.
“Maybe.”
Then placed the ring in his shirt pocket.
“But you love yourself more.”
She walked toward the Husband.
“Which keys?”
He handed them over.
She looked at him.
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head.
“Me too.”
Then she left.
Her former fiancé followed slowly.
At the door he turned toward the Wife.
Anger entered his face.
“This was supposed to be private.”
The Wife stared.
The Husband almost laughed.
The man continued:
“You said your husband wouldn’t be back.”
The Husband opened the door.
The man left.
Then there were two.
Husband and Wife.
Their house suddenly became enormous.
The Wife stood near the staircase.
Black dress.
Bare feet.
Hair messy.
The Husband stood beside the open front door.
Neither spoke.
Eventually she whispered:
“Close it.”
He did.
The latch clicked.
The Wife looked toward the kitchen.
“I need water.”
He stepped aside.
She walked into the kitchen.
Then saw the roses in the trash.
She stopped.
The Husband watched from the doorway.
She reached toward them.
Did not touch.
“You bought those?”
“Yes.”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
Her face changed.
For the first time that night, genuine shame appeared.
She looked away.
“You weren't supposed to come home.”
The Husband laughed softly.
“That sentence is the entire marriage now.”
She flinched.
“I mean tonight.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
The Wife leaned against the island.
“We need to talk.”
“No.”
“Please stop saying no.”
“Why?”
“Because I am your wife.”
He stared.
She realized the contradiction.
Her voice dropped.
“I made a mistake.”
The Husband looked upstairs.