The End

Chapter 26: Casual, Quiet Intimacy

Summer had turned into fall and fall was quickly turning to winter. Ellen's birthday was a few days away and Thanksgiving would be shortly after. Patrick was set to head to Europe just after Valentine's Day. It was all coming quickly and yet not quickly enough.

They made the decision together to wait until after Patrick's upcoming projects before they made any changes in their marriages. So their relationship continued to survive on quiet phone calls and secret meetings.

Halfway between Patrick's house in Malibu and Prospect Studios was a little park in Beverly Hills. They allowed themselves one afternoon a week here. Ellen was covid testing daily for work and Patrick was still working mostly from home. So even as the pandemic continued to shift and turn they felt safe together.

There was a corner of the park on the opposite end of the playground that had a little stream. They sat in the shadow of the large tree. Patrick with a ball cap, Ellen with a hat and sunglasses.

"What are your birthday plans?" Patrick nudged her with his shoulder.

"Meh," Ellen shrugged. "Avoidance."

"Ah," Patrick shook his head with a smile, "Come on, you and I both know getting old is something to celebrate."

"I know," she didn't pity herself for long, "It feels different this year."

"Why?" he asked genuinely.

Ellen shifted uncomfortably and then let her eyes settle on him, "It's the first time in a long time I wish I could spend it with you."

"So spend it with me," Patrick responded without hesitation.

"How can I spend it with you?" She asked him with an annoyed tone.

"Spend the day with me and the evening with your kids?" He insisted.

"How are you going to swing that?" Ellen was still skeptical.

"Don't worry about it," Patrick said, "Spend your birthday with me."

"Ok," she surrendered to his persistence.

There was something about a television set that mirrored a high school. Good news travels, bad news travels quicker and rumors spread like wildfire. Patrick could sense something in the air this morning. His walk from the trailers to the hospital set was a quick one but the crew seemed to be gathering in clusters. He made it all the way to the soundstage door before he heard some of the whispers.

"Did you see her ring?"

"Yeah," another woman from wardrobe whispered back, "But I think he's a dick," she rolled her eyes, "she probably paid for that ring."

He didn't need any more information than that to know who they were talking about.  His stomach twisted and his heart fluttered uncomfortably.

Patrick cleared his throat and searched for an excuse to go back to the trailer.

He turned to go back and she appeared at the end of the alley. They both froze. The most pivotal points of their relationship were now communicated in silence. Words failed them, not because they didn't know what they wanted to say, but because they couldn't say what they wanted to say.

Patrick was a hypocrite if he told her not to get married. If he said he was upset that she got engaged and didn't tell him. The hurt that riddled his chest was unwarranted. His voice couldn't tell her that this broke his heart into a million pieces. That a world of what could have been was dissolving before him. He couldn't ask anything of her, he didn't deserve anything. He was going home to a pregnant wife for gods sake. Still his eyes locked with hers.