This Is My Choice

Mark was awoken to the smell of coffee as he tossed in bed stretching trying to wake up, he realized how late in the morning it was. He jumped out of bed and quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth. He went into the walk-in closet and picked out a shirt and tie while picking up his black cotton slacks off the floor. As he got dressed he thought not today, I can't be late today. He rushed to put on his clothes while studying the time as if by looking at the clock he could magically push back time. He ran out of the room and was surprised to see his wife Linda in the kitchen reading the paper like she had no care in the world making him envy her in that moment. 

"Why didn't you wake me?" He asked her as he looked around the kitchen in a rush looking around for his keys. She looked up from her paper as she put down her coffee. 

"I'm sorry you looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you." Linda exclaimed as he ran to the living room still looking for his keys. 

"You know I have a meeting with the Board today, this was not the right day to let me sleep in!" He yelled out from down the hall. 

"I'm sorry I didn't realize that was today." She replied as she got up from the kitchen table and went to the living room. "What are you looking for?" She asked as he looked under the mail and other paper for his keys. 

"For the stupid keys...why can't I find anything?" He questioned himself as she enjoyed watching him scramble like he did every morning before that searching for his keys.  

"They're by the door on the key rack like they are supposed to be." She said pointing to the front door smiling. 

"You like watching me suffer like this don't you?" He asked running to the front door. 

"No, of course I don't." She said sarcastically as he looked back at her. 

"Somehow I doubt that." He said smiling back at her as he went to say good bye. 

"You're not going to even have coffee?" She asked as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. 

"No, I really can't. I'm already running late as it is." He said checking his watch for the time. "I'll grab something later." 

"Are we still going out tonight?" She asked walking him to the door. 

"Umm, we'll have to see. It depends on how this meeting goes." He said opening the front door. 

"But it's our anniversary," she said as the expression on her face change from happy to a look of disappointment. 

"I'll try my best to make it, but I can't make any promises. I love you and I'll give you a call later on." He said running out the door pushing the alarm button on his keys as he checked his watch again for the time. He looked back at Linda standing in the doorway and waved to her as he entered the car. She closed the door behind her and went back into the kitchen and finished her coffee when the phone had rung. She looked at the caller id and saw it was her sister Brenda calling. She picked up the phone as she rinsed the coffee cup in the sink. "Hello," 

"Happy anniversary," Brenda said as Linda put the cup in the dishwasher.  

"Thanks," Linda said walking toward the bedroom to get ready for work. 

"What's wrong?" Brenda asked while she was feeding the dog. "Is this a bad time?" 

"No, you're fine. I just have a lot on my mind that's all." Linda went into the bedroom and picked out some clothes to wear. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Brenda asked when the dog started barking. "I'm sorry, give me a minute and we can talk." She put the dog outside and closed the door.