My Neighbor's Wife

Chapter 19

He's pacing by the window of his barbershop, sickly worried. It is already eight in the evening and his wife has not yet to return home. Usually she'll be here by six, but now she's two hours late. What's also adding to his anxieties is that he knows that she is with the man that he distrusts the most- other than Mr. Harris.

He has been battling with himself for the last two hours if he should go to the judge's house and fetch Lucy. But, he does not know what is keeping him from staying. Maybe it is the feeling deep inside him that knows that she is really safe and that she is only doing this just to spite him. She has done this before, yes. She will turn up in their house late, and when he will ask her why she's late she will only shrug and head straight to the bedroom to sleep.

To be honest, it is quite infuriating. Yes, what she's doing hurts him, because she spends her time more with the judge now than him. But, what she cannot understand is how dangerous it is for her to be walking alone in the streets. It's not like the judge accompanies her home- that bastard! It is better when she gives him the silent treatment, than this.

Rubbing his temples, Ben finally decides to take a break from his pacing- seeing that it will only do nothing- and takes a seat on the barber chair. Exactly as he sits down, the bell from his shop jingles, signaling a person entering.

He looks up to the door, and relief instantly washes over him as he sees his wife. He stands up and approaches her. His arms are extended to his front, ready to give Lucy a welcome hug; but they go limp as she greets him with a pointed look.

He sighs, following his wife as she walks past him going to the small kitchen. Ben stays behind Lucy as she prepares herself some tea, not even speaking a word to him. His brow furrows when he comes closer to her; he can smell the strong scent of alcohol from her. She drinks now!? So, that's what she has been busy doing with the judge.

He wants to shout at her, to slap her, but he cannot. Not when he knows that he's the reason why she is acting like this. But does that not mean that he is happy with her for acting so irresponsibly. She must have hurt him by doing this, but there will also be consequences that are not good in her part.

He waits before she puts her tea down on the table before he grabs her arms roughly- unintentionally- and faces her to him. He is not aware that he is hurting her, for his anger is blocking out his sensibility.

"What work do you really do for the judge? Tell me!" he asks with malice in his voice- insinuating something.

Lucy is protesting, trying to break free from her husband. But her attempts are in vain, for Ben only tightens his grip on her, shaking her. "What are you talking about?"

Ben looks possessed. He has that burning rage lurking behind his eyes, and his voice is cold when he answers his wife- who is starting to cry now. "Don't play dumb. I can smell you, you reek of alcohol. Now tell me, what do you two have really been doing?"

"We are not doing anything! At least nothing that you and that whore had been doing!" with that, Lucy pushes Ben off her as hard as she can, managing to free herself from her husband. She runs to their bedroom, sobbing loudly and locks it- fearing for the first time, for her safety.

Ben only stands there as he watches his wife run away from him. Then, as the door loudly shuts, realization suddenly dawns on him and he sees the error of his doings. He stumbles on his feet as he replays in his mind what he just did to his wife. He grasps the small table beside him to support himself. He feels like his legs are turning soft and his stomach is churning. He is enveloped with guilt that seems to grow stronger with each passing time.

"What have I done?" he mutters to himself; his voice is filled with confusion and regret.

He stands still, feeling very stupid. He just made him and Lucy's relationship even worse. He doesn't know what possessed him to do that. It can be the anger that he feels for the judge- he takes it out on his wife for he can't really lash out on Turpin, can't he? Also, it seems that his wife is finding the company of other man much more preferable than him- and it hurts him. All the anger and frustration pent up inside him just bursts and he isn't able to control it.