Lonely in Milwaukee

Madison was growing real tired of all the spontaneous business trips sending Clay away for days and even weeks at a time. "Again?" She sat in the center of their huge bed fighting back tears.

"Maddie, it'll be fine. It's only for five days." Clay moved from closet to bed filling his well-used suitcase.

"But our anniversary is this Saturday." Her lower lip jutted out with the complaint.

"That's why I requested that we keep it a small event, in case something like this came up." He kissed her quickly and hurried of to collect more of his things to pack.

"And let me guess, I get to do the honor of calling everyone to cancel?" She gave him a sarcastic smile when he leaned over and dropped another armful of clothes into the case.

"I would do it, but I'll be on the plane pretty early and straight to the site when I land." He hunched a shoulder at her and darted into the bathroom.

"Don't worry about it." The grumble was only heard by empty space.

Madison had done her best to be the dutiful wife. She had moved from sunny Florida with Clay in order for him to pursue his career with the architectural firm, to the ever frozen Wisconsin apartment cheerfully. She'd left behind all her nursing friends and her family to chase their shared dreams of living a happily ever after type of life, once they were settled in.

As if the fourteen hour days weren't putting enough of a strain on their one year marriage, only six months into it, Clay had begun flying all over the country at a moment's notice.

"Baby, I'm still an intern. I have to go where they send me. It will get better once I'm hired in full time, I promise." He flashed his winning smile that never failed to gain approval of whatever goal he was after.

She had rolled her eyes so many times at this statement, she was developing a twitch in her lower left eyelid from the action. "Don't forget your neck pillow." She couldn't stay angry with him when he looked at her in that way.

Clay snapped his fingers at the reminder, and returned to the closet to grab the item from the top shelf. "Thank you baby. I promise we'll do something extra special when I return." He zipped his bag and stashed it behind the bedroom door for his early departure in the morning.

Madison didn't doubt that Clay meant what he said, but the last time he left and she was the one to unpack the apartment, he returned too tired to even take her out to dinner the following night. He had given her a sweet, "looks great, babe," and slept for the next twelve hours.

Madison turned over onto her side to wait for Clay to join her on the bed. They never made love before he flew out, his choice. He said it made leaving harder and he didn't want to exhaust himself and wake up late the next day.

So much for starting on that family they imagined having together. How was she to ever get pregnant if he was hardly around to participate in the act required to get her that way?

She tried not to stiffen when he lay down behind her and pulled her to him.

Clay wrapped her in his arms and snuggled in for the night. "Good night, babe."

"Night." She reached over and turned out the lamp next to the bed and closed her eyes.

Madison kissed him goodbye at the gate and waved to him as he boarded the plane to New York. It was going to be a long five days. She had already called her mother so many times she was sure she had begun regretting hearing her phone ring by now. All of her friends would be at work by now or on their way at least.

Madison lay on the couch in the living room staring blankly at the television. If that damn call a date commercial played one more time, she swore she would put the remote through the screen.