My Neighbor's Wife

Chapter 2

Hey! Another chapter :)

Lucy and Benjamin Barker are heading towards the park. It is an unusually day in London, so the couple takes advantage of the good weather. Finding a big tree that offers them a shade, they decided to settle under it.

"Isn't this nice, Ben?" Lucy asks. She is lying in the grass with her head on Ben's lap- eyes closed; her face looking so peaceful.

Ben caresses her face then answers "Yes, as long as I'm with you"

Lucy gives a contented sigh and a serene smile. She is very happy with her husband, although they may sometimes have some misunderstandings she still loves him no matter what.

But even though she is happy, she is not contented; she feels like something about her- about them- is missing. She knows what this is, and this is: a child. She and Ben were trying to have a baby but it seems like her husband doesn't want one anymore. These past few days he's been acting strange- He avoided having sexual interactions with her, when before he would insist on doing it every night- men- but now he is making up excuses. She fears that she is not satisfying him, or he is not interested with her anymore. Wanting to confirm her fears she asks Benjamin.

"Ben?"

"Hmm?" answers Ben while caressing Lucy's beautiful blonde hair.

"Do you still consider having a child?

Benjamin is taken off guard by his wife's question. He still wants to have a child with Lucy- considering that she's his wife. But, he just cannot afford to have two at the same time. He will not be able to support the other child if Lucy decides to have one; he cannot let that happen, because as a father, he knows he is responsible for his child. Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, he croaks

"We- well, of course. But, I think we should save money first. Right?" it is the truth, of course; he just hopes that his wife will agree with him.

"But Ben, didn't you save enough from your barbering?" she argues. They have been saving money because they are planning to bring another soul into this world; but now, Ben is telling her that they should save some money first. What happened to the money that he is earning?

"I have saved some money, yes. But, it wasn't enough." He cringes inside as he says this to his wife. He does not want to lie to her but he has no choice. He cannot tell her that the money the he saved would be used to his child but, not their child, no, Nellie's.

"I have some, too. It was the money that my parents gave me on our wedding day, I kept It." says Lucy, trying to convince Ben.

"You have to understand my love, that it's not that simple." He says before tapping his wife's nose.

Lucy is not having any of it. She sits up straight then looks around her, anywhere but Ben. She huffs then says "You know, I'm beginning to think that you don't want to"

"What? Why?" he is surprised that his wife would think that.

"I should ask you that, Ben. Why? Is it because you're not getting any satisfaction from me or because you don't like me anymore?" Lucy's voice is getting higher.

"Don't start with this again, Lucy" he says, knowing where the conversation is heading.

"You didn't even answer my question" she knows that she is being childish, but she is tired of putting up with her husband's excuses.

Ben takes Lucy's face with both hands, turning it to face him; then, he gently asks. "You know that I love you, right?"

Lucy's face softens, and then she answers looking straight into his eyes "Yes"