Bleach And Vinegar

Excerpt from my old short stories?

Ivan gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles peppered with white as he glared forward. Dove planned a trip to her parents' farm, a last attempt to mend their relationship.

"This is stupid." He seethed, his Russian accent thick as his bushy brows furrowed.

This wasn't the man she fell in love with. The cold rolled off of him in waves, causing a pit in her stomach.

Maybe she should've given up the sweet years the two shared before they grew bitter from Ivan's festering hatred.

Dove glanced at Ivan before back to the window at her side. "No," She said, her own accent - Polish - Seeping through her words, "It'll be nice, don't you think?" She asked, speaking with attempted optimism, something she rarely did.

"It'll be an absolute disaster, that's what it will be." Ivan said, glaring at Dove's profile. He was seething, but kept his voice low so the other drivers on the highway couldn't hear their bickering.

"You know me and your parents don't get along. It's always been that way."

"My parents don't even get along with me, Ivan." Dove shook her head, glancing over at Ivan as they spoke. "There's a smaller, sperate house on the property. The only time we'll see them is for meals, so don't get worked up about it, hun." She added.

Ivan scoffed and shook his head.

"And what happens if someone brings something dumb up? What happens if I offend them?" He huffed, glancing at Dove.

"Besides, we don't always have to get along with your parents - that's true. But when your father decides to make a point..."

He emphasized the word, eyes locked on the road ahead.

"Step-father." Dove corrected. "It doesn't matter what he thinks," She leaned back, slumping down in her seat. "And my mother's bitchy. If it bugs you that much we don't even have to eat with them, just take the food to the side house and eat it there."

Ivan remained silent, his lips compressed as he gripped the steering wheel even tighter.

It wasn't even the situation with her family that bothered him so much - it was her lack of concern. She clearly hated her parents, but she was going out of her way to visit them anyway. It was like she was seeking to make their relationship worse by doing this.

"The plan was to repair our bond with them, you know?" He finally said, breaking the silence with a frown.

"No it wasn't." Dove mumbled, sitting back up in the seat. She remained quiet for a moment, pausing before speaking once more not knowing if she should continue or not. "I miss you, Ivan. *You.*"

"The plan was to go out and to spend time away with you. The only place I could get was the farm." She sighed, her gaze shifting from the window over to Ivan.

Ivan was taken aback by her response.

"...You miss me?" He blinked, his demeanor softening as he turned his attention towards her.

"I have always been right here." He tilted his head. "Wait -"

He fell silent, his brain working on her phrasing.

"Dove, what are you saying? That we're not together anymore?" He asked, feeling his breath catch in his throat, an automatic overbearing anxiety falling over him.

"God, no, I'm not saying that." Dove shook her head.

"You just... I dunno changed, Ivan. And I know it's not from work. Something with you snapped and it's not like you," She paused. "And frankly it's driving me mad."