The Marriage Break

Part one: The damage

It was 4 o'clock in the morning and Arthur still didn't come home. That behavior had already become customary in him. He left the law firm, Dempsey LLP, and he went partying with his friends. While, she was at home like a perfect mother and housewife.

Regina had known Arthur six years ago. She fell in love with that lawyer. He was a widower and he had a small two-year-old son back then. The chemistry between Regina and Arthur was strong, and she got along very well with the little one.

A year after they met, she was already Adam's mother and it was evident that Arthur and Regina loved each other enough to get married. They get married in the spring, in a beautiful ceremony on the shores of a lake, in the Thomson family farmhouse.

Everyone knew that they were a wonderful couple. No one could doubt the love they had. Therefore, it was for two years, until Regina's fertility problems became evident. Arthur was too excited to be a father again, but Regina was even more excited. She wanted to materialize the love they had, but that couldn't happen.

Regina had been very sensitive, both because of the impossibility of having children, and because of the treatments and hormones provided. She cried almost all the time in solitude. She tried not to neglect her work, in her father's company, or neglect Adam. Arthur was aware of this situation, but there was little he could do.

Soon, Regina would stop working to dedicate herself to take care of the home and Arthur's son. The Attempts to be a mother made their relationship monotonous and Arthur was less concerned about being a father. Over time, Regina was resigned and felt Arthur's indifference about her pain.

The morning conversations were about Adam, some event in Arthur's office, or some social meeting they should attend.

"Saturday is my parents' anniversary party". Regina commented something melancholy. "I don't know what I could give them, but I think that this trip to Bora Bora could be a good idea". She finished preparing Adam's lunch box.

"As you wish..." He was not paying much attention to her. Arthur was making his tie in front of the mirror in the living room, while he watched the news on TV.

"Well I remind you that, if you go to any date, lunch, or golf, please be here by six at the latest, to prepare for the party. Also, you must remember that today is the meeting at Adam's school at night". Instinctively she went and finished arranging the tie. "I already made you coffee and French toast". She turned to the stairs and yelled at the little boy to come down. "Adam you're going to be late..."

"Again... He will be late again! ... But all this is your fault. If you hadn't let him watch TV until late". He reproached him, while he sat at the kitchen counter for breakfast.

"We're not going to start over Arthur. He wants to accompany me, and he just stays in bed with me, because he falls asleep supposedly keeping me company". She was still doing her homework, she was serving cereal to little Adam.

"You're spoiling him, Regina. He can't be under your skirt all the time". He was still in his know-it-all pose.

"He is not..." She turned and took a deep breath. "Adam was not under my skirt. He is a very sensitive child and defends his mother. That's it!"

"You see? That is the attitude that has it wrong. That's why he has problems at school and does not know how to defend himself". He finished eating his breakfast, while he leafed through the newspaper, talking without looking at his wife.

"Not that..." Again she was breathing deeply. "That's not true, Arthur. Maybe you would understand more about what happens with our son, if you were more at home and you behave like his father from time to time". She was upset. It could not be that Arthur was behaving that way.