The Good Wife (COMPLETE)

One

Pulling the roaster chicken from the oven, I stabbed it with the meat thermometer. Watching the needle rise, it slowed down and hovered around 165. Perfect. I stirred the corn and finished mashing the potatoes. I quickly set the table and glanced at the clock. I had a few more minutes before he would be home. I quickly checked my reflection in the bathroom mirror and finger combed my hair. I headed back into the kitchen and looked over everything that I had made. It was his favorites and I hope it made him happy. Maybe it would make him notice me again, too.

The front door opened and the sound of Mark's voice filled the hallway. "No. No. We cannot accept a deal like that." A pause. "Well, tell them they just have to do better."

 I sighed. That phone was practically glued to his ear or his hand at all times. I couldn't remember the last time he came home and wasn't either on a phone call or sending an email as he walked through the door. I heard him kick his shoes off and set his stuff down by the door. A chair in the dining room slid across the floor and I heard him sigh. I grabbed a plate and added a little of everything to it and walked towards the dining room.

"Hi," I greeted him with my best smile. "I made your favorite. Roaster chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes," I said, as I placed the plate in front of him.

He grunted in response, his fingers flying over the small device's keys.

I rolled my eyes. I didn't care. Mark wouldn't notice, wouldn't look up from his Blackberry to see. I've been competing with Mr. Blackberry for years now. It was just that before, I used to win.

I walked back to the kitchen and made a plate for myself. I took a minute to take a deep breath and blink away the tears. I sat down opposite Mark and played with my food, slowly eating my way through the contents. Mark's dinner still sat untouched as he typed away on his mobile.

I cleared my plate and put it in the dishwasher. I came back to the living room and plopped down on the couch, grabbing the remote. "Do you want to watch a movie with me?" I called out to Mark.

The clicking of keys was the only thing I heard for a few moments. "I'd love to Abby but I can't, sorry. I have to make a conference call and finish some emails. I'll be in my office." He got up, taking his plate with him, the door to his office closing behind him.

I sighed again and found myself some rom com to get lost in. Someone else's life to throw myself into, even if it was made up. Something to help me escape from my own reality.

The credits began to play and I yawned, siting up to stretch. Looking towards Mark's office, the door was still closed. I sighed, getting up from the couch. I didn't want to bother him so I just headed up to bed alone. I combed my hair and brushed my teeth. Pulling back the duvet, I climbed in and curled up, my eyes closing fast.

The beep of Mark's alarm woke me the next morning. I opened my eyes, reaching for it, to find him already dressed and shutting it off. I rubbed my eyes and blinked, looking at the clock again, thinking maybe it was my alarm going off. The numbers glowed 5:20. Definitely not my alarm.

"Sorry to wake you," he said, fixing his tie.

"It's okay. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. I'm just falling a little behind. I need to go in early to catch up."

"Oh," I said, settling back down under the duvet. "Well have a good day," I added, yawning, my eyes drifting closed again til my alarm went off. At this point, I groaned and slammed my hand on the snooze button. I stretched and decided I deserved an extra five minutes. When the alarm rang again, I shut it off and got up. I showered and got dressed, going downstairs to have some breakfast. After finishing, I put my dishes in the sink and headed to the car for the short drive over to the coffee shop. I opened up shop and sat, waiting for the morning crowd to come. Customers began to slowly trickle in and I flew threw the orders with ease. The morning rush came and went and I settled onto my stool with my book, awaiting the next customer.

The bell to the shop rang and I looked up from the crisp pages. I placed it down on the counter and stood up, watching the customer make his way over as he scanned our small menu.

"Hi," he said with a bright smile.

"Hi, what can I get you?" I asked, politely.

"Can I just get a large coffee with cream and sugar?"

"Any special flavors? We have hazelnut, mocha, chocolate, French vanilla, and pumpkin spice. Oh and we have regular half and half too if you'd prefer that."

"French vanilla will do."

"Okay, and how many sugars?"

"Three, please."

"Alrighty," I said, grabbing a large cup and putting two pumps of creamer in the cup. I held it under our coffee machine and pressed the button til it was almost full to the brim. I then went to the sugar machine and pressed our little button three times. I grabbed a stirring rod and mixed the concoction, watching it go from black to a creamy brown.

"What are you reading?" he asked, nodding towards my book.

"Oh," I said. "It's 'Me Before You' by Jojo Moyes."

"My sister is obsessed with those books. Is it actually any good?"

"If you like romance stories without the happily ever afters, then yes. It's amazing."

"Hmm, without the happily ever after?"

"Yeah, the guy dies in the end," I said.  My eyes widened and I slapped a hand over my mouth. I hated it when other people ruined the end of a book for me.

"Spoiler alert," he said, smiling at me. "It's okay. I don't think it's for me anyways. Too mushy."

"It's the perfect amount of mushy and real life though."

"Well then, maybe I'll read it one day," he said, handing me the cash. I rang him up and handed him back his change.

"Thank you," I said. "Have a good day."

He raised his coffee to me. "You too."

I watched as he walked out and settled back on my stool, flipping to where I had left off.

Hello readers!  Welcome to THE GOOD WIFE.  This book will be a part of a series but all books will be standalone and one does not necessarily have to read them all to understand the stories.  Enjoy!

xoxo,

Kay