I, Ache Vol. III

A Christmas Story | Siegfried

Written by mjcathy24

A few hours before the dinner...

How do you let go of someone whom you have loved for almost thirty years? Your lover and the mother of your children?

I mulled this through as I drive towards "our" home to pick up my wife for our family Christmas dinner.

My wife. Huh. I suddenly get hit by a pang of sadness as I realize that I will no longer have the privilege of calling her "my wife" next year. This might be the last Christmas we'll have together as a couple.

After almost 30 years of marriage, Carmela and I will be calling it quits. Not that I wanted us to split up; no, the idea never crossed my mind. But a few months ago, after I missed our nth date due to work commitments, she finally gave up.

I remembered arriving home, dead-tired from work, longing for the comfort of my wife's embrace on our warm bed. Opening the door to our bungalow, I see a light flickering in the dining room. With the sound of my shoes echoing on the marble floor, I approached the area, calling out, "Honey? I'm home."

"Mela?" My voice trailed off as I stared at the scene before me. My wife was sitting at the head of the table, blankly staring ahead as she held a glass of wine in her hand. A smorgasbord of my favorite dishes were laid out yet remained untouched. Two candles lit up the table, almost burnt down, wax pooling at the base of the candelabra.

"I want a divorce," Carmela said in a calm, unaffected voice as she stood up and turned to face me.

"What?! Why?" I asked, surprised.

"Are you seriously asking me that question?" Mela asked in an incredulous tone as she paced the room. "Do you even remember that we had plans for tonight?"

"Yes, of course, I knew! Nag-text ako sa iyo na I have a work emergency. I had to take charge; it's my job."

"Congratulations on saving the day once more at work, Mr. COO," Mela replied sarcastically. "Sorry to say you lost your wife as a trade-off though."

"You're giving up on our marriage just because of one missed date?"

Mela's eyes flashed fire as she retorted. "One?! My God, Sieg, ganyan ba kababaw ang tingin mo sa akin?" She crossed her arms over her chest and asked in a brittle tone, "In the past year, how many times have we seen or talked to each other? Made love? Heck, do you even remember why we were supposed to have a date tonight?"

"Since I seem to be the stupid and insensitive party here, then why don't you enlighten me?"

Carmela shook her head and emitted a watery laugh. "I remember a time when you always found ways to surprise me and made any day worth celebrating. We couldn't keep our hands off each other. Then the children came and as the bills piled up, you became more focused on being a good provider and yes, I truly appreciate what you've done for me and the kids. Kahit na madalas, absentee father ka. But now, all but Louie are grown up yet you still make work the most important thing in your life.

"I want a man who makes me his main priority, not just an option. I want to come first. But you never listened no matter how many times I asked - no, pleaded. And now, I'm done begging. I'm worth more than the scraps of affection you give me."

Mela approached, gave me a lingering kiss on the lips then placed her rings on my palm. "Thank you for having been a part of my life. Pero kailangan ko ding mahalin ang sarili ko."

She walked off but as she reached the stairs, she turned back and said, "By the way, we were supposed to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary last night. Happy anniversary. I'll just pack and be out soon."

"No -- you stay. I'll go. I'm truly sorry. You know I still love you, right?"

She put on a sad smile and quietly answered, "But sometimes love just isn't enough."

"I won't give up, Mela. I'll fix this," I told her before I left.

Over the past few months since we separated, I reassessed my life and found that what Mela said was true - I had been consumed too much by work. I thought, "what would dad have done?" and did it. I delegated more and rarely worked outside office hours. I wanted to win my wife back and I would show her that I've changed rather than give her empty platitudes.

The sound of the phone ringing jarred me from my thoughts. "Mela." I hurriedly parked so I could answer the call but the voicemail picked it up. I played it back and was surprised at what I heard.

"Sieg, Carmela here. You don't need to pick me up for the family dinner tonight. I'll manage to get there on my own. See you later."

If I head back now, I'd end up driving for almost an hour more but it will only take me 20 minutes to get to our home. "Home it is, then." Well, it still was our home after all until the divorce gets finalized. Besides, if she still insists on going her own way, we could both go to mom's house in separate vehicles.

Finally arriving at our place, I parked behind her car and slowly walked up the driveway, breathing in the scent of freshly mowed grass and the stargazer blooms. I would surely miss our home if the divorce pushes through - but I won't give up without a fight.

Letting myself into the house, I had just finished taking my shoes off when I was startled by a loud moan coming from the master's bedroom. Fearing the worst, I rushed to our room and my cock hardened at what I saw.

Mela, naked as the day as she was born, lying on our marital bed as she pleasured herself by holding a vibrating dildo in one hand while pinching her nipple with the other. The hand on her breast slipped to her clit and flicked it as she slid the dildo in and out of her dripping wet channel.

I stroked my cock through my pants while I stood at the doorway, mesmerized as I saw my wife with fresh eyes. Her breasts which used to be firm and perky lay soft against her chest, the areolas and tips larger after providing sustenance to three children. Her slightly curved belly shook as her breath hitched, displaying the stretch marks that lined her tummy, a mark of pregnancy. I realized that in the years since we became parents, I never took the time to appreciate her beauty since we hurried through our lovemaking sessions so we could finish before the kids woke up.

"Shit, Sieg, faster!" Carmela shouted as a flush spread across her body, a clear sign that she was almost at her peak. Moving the dildo faster, her back arched and she screamed my name once more as she came.

"I missed you too, Mela," I said as I finally announced my presence.

"What the hell!" She screamed as she reached for the blanket to cover herself. "What are you doing here?"

"I was near the house when I received your message so I decided to come here anyway. When I heard you moan, I thought there was an emergency but..." My voice trailed off and I just shrugged.

"Now the show is over so can you please leave so I can make myself decent?"

"No."

"What did you say?" She huffed indignantly at my response.

I approached the bed and sat beside her, tentatively holding her hand. "Mela, the past few months without you proved to me that I'd rather lose my job than lose you. I've made changes to my lifestyle and I swear, if you give me one more chance, I'll make you my number one priority. You will always be my one and only, as I am yours."

She worried her lips with her teeth and tears brimmed at her eyes. "I'm scared, Sieg. I still love you but I can't go through that again."

"I'll make it right this time. I'll prove it to you. I'll woo you once more. I'll even do a striptease for you if you want. I'll do anything to get you back."

She looked at me with fear in her eyes but said, "Okay. One last chance. But I won't be a pushover this time."

My face lit up in happiness. "One chance is all I'll need."

I was about to kiss her when my phone rang. "Work again?" She asked with a smirk.

"No, it's Louie's therapist. Andie's meeting us at the house, remember? But Emile can entertain her. My wife needs my full attention this time."

"Damn straight," Mela said as she pulled me in for a kiss.

Merry Christmas, indeed.