The Goodman Wife (preview)

The Goodman Wife

                                      Chapter One

He's late again. It wouldn't be so bad if he said there was some prior engagement or work obligation. Hell, if he'd even pick up the phone and called just to let her know he's alright. But this was his new trend. Wherever he was, he was. And as far as he was concerned wife or not, it's none of her damn business.

What started off as a happy marriage when Gabby Goodman once felt loved and desired is now a standoff and her spouse is willing to fight with everything he has to hold on to his independence. “It's like he wants me to be his wife, but he doesn't want to be my husband.” She picks up her cellphone to check for any missed calls.

“None, not a damn call or a text,nothing!” She drops the phone back on the counter only to pick it up again and begin dialing. “Hello? Um hi, this is Gabby... Wesley's wife. I'm sorry for calling you so late. Have you seen or heard from him tonight by any chance? I tried his phone, but it's going straight to voice mail. Oh was that earlier? Yes everything is fine and thank you. Okay bye bye.”

Gabby grabs the open bottle of moscato on the counter and refills her glass. “I could jump in the Infinity and drive all over town looking for his ass, but what good would that do? He's where he wants to be.” And Gabby knew it was not at home with her. It took a lot of hurt and working through denial, but finally she lets that thought turn over a few times in her mind.

She knew that she could make it on her own. But everything boiled down to one solid fact. She still loved his ass. And no matter how many times he betrayed her with his antics, she's not ready to take that big step out the door and out of his life. Sipping on her fifth glass of moscato she hears a muzzled phone rig. “Damn I left the phone face down again!” She jumps to answer it before whoever is calling hangs up and in the process knocks the moscato bottle and what's left inside onto the floor.

“Hello? Why haven't you called? No, I'm not trying to interrogate you, but it's five o' clock in the damn morning!” The voice on the receiver gets louder and more agitated. “How the hell am I invading your privacy? I am your wife. What type of private life do you have that shouldn't involve me?” There is a click and the cell phone receiver goes dead.

Gabby has grown accustomed to these type of debates with Wesley. He vigorously argued his points, but when her a point of view makes more sense she would get the good old click. She desperately wanted him to understand her pain and see things from her point of view. However, she was starting to realize that seeing things her way was something her husband did not want to do.

Placing her cellphone back on the counter she cleans up the spilled wine that was now getting sticky on the tiled floor. “What should I do? I could stay up and confront him when he comes in.

But the last thing Katia needs is to wake up again to us fighting.” Her daughter was turning six in a couple weeks and the only thing Gabby could hope is for things to simmer down in time for Katia's birthday party.