Broken

Chapter 17

"Honey, we don't have to talk about it. We can just sit here and gossip." She leans forward a little. "I could give you the lowdown on my neighbour, who i'm almost certain is getting it on with the guy down the street. Her husband is away a lot, goes fishing for days on end."

Eve looks up from her hands. "That.. almost sounds normal. I didn't think people did normal anymore."

"Well, you've been out there for a good while. But some of the people behind these walls haven't been out there at all," Marie says. "The world never stopped being normal for them, not really."

"You were out there," Eve says.

"Yeah, i was. I had a rough time of it too. Not as bad as you from the looks of it, but rough all the same."

"How did you get over it?"

Marie sighs deeply, offering her a sympathetic smile. "I don't think you ever really get over it. It's always there. You just, make room for it, so it doesn't consume you. Having a good man helps, someone who understands."

"Is your husband a good man?"

"Yeah, he is." Marie smiles. "I've gotta be honest with you. I was real surprised to hear how Negan is with you, it still surprises me now."

"Is that because you think he's bad?"

"No. He's done a lot of bad stuff, but i don't think he was ever one to hurt women. However, his reputation with women is why i'm so surprised. For a man to go from having all those wives, to being with just one woman, and a troubled one at that."

"Wives?" Eve frowns.

Marie stares at her. "Oh, shit. Did you not.." she rubs at her temples. "Sorry, i shouldn't have opened my mouth, i thought you knew."

"What do you mean wives?"

"Back when Negan was the leader of the Saviors, he had multiple wives. If i'd known he hadn't told you, i wouldn't have said anything." Marie tilts her head. "I can see from the look on your face that you're not too happy about it."

"Why.. why would he have more than one?"

Marie shrugs her shoulders. "I don't really know. I guess he had an appetite, and it's pretty common knowledge.. sorry."

"Don't be. I'd rather hear the truth."

"Don't be too hard on him," Marie says softly. "That was a long time ago. He's not the same person he was back then. I mean, shit.. if he was, then he wouldn't be here."

"I just, i wish he'd told me that.. about the wives."

"He was probably embarrassed, or worried how you'd react. No one wants to hear that the guy they're with used to have multiple women on the go. You should talk to him about it though. Don't bottle it up, or it'll just eat at you."

"Can we talk about something else?" Eve shifts uncomfortably in her seat, her stomach rolling as she feels an overwhelming pang of jealousy.

"Sure." Marie smiles.

~

Eve watches Negan as he stirs a pot on the stove, humming a tune to himself.

She'd liked Marie. Granted, she hadn't liked her little revelation, but that aside, Marie had seemed nice, and it felt good to have someone who understood what she'd been through.

"Negan."

"Yeah, sweetie?" He smiles, swaying his hips a little as he adds salt to the pot.

"Why didn't you tell me you had multiple wives?"