Stephanie Madonna: Catching a Monster

Chapter 5: Why try anymore?

George dropped his head in sadness, his wife must be working over time, again. He loves his wife, he'll do anything for her, and that even means sacrificing seeing her, but this is the third time that she has canceled. George couldn't even get the typical text "Hey, sorry I can't make it" the last three times. He gets the hint when she comes home at twelve in the morning, as she sneaks through the house, sneaks to their son's bedroom, kisses him, grabs something to eat, and then slides into their bed thinking he's sleep.

"Daddy, where's mommy?" Mark their five year old son asked, as he wiped his eyes.

"At work son. She'll be home soon." George said. "Hopefully." He added as he whispered.

"Why does mommy always come home so late? She doesn't love us anymore?" Mark said as he hung his head. George looked at Mark, shocked, and saddened by what his son just said. "Is he right? Is that why she stays at work all the time? Am I not enough? Does she want out of this marriage? Is she having an affair?" All these questions raced in his mind. Quickly, his attention shifted to his son.

"Come here son." George said as he motioned for Mark to walk to him. Mark jumps into his father's lap. "Mommy, is just very busy catching bad guys. Making this city safer for me and you."

"Is mommy a superhero?" Mark asked looking up at George, with a twinkle in is eyes. Mark's eyes full of youth, and innocence.

"Yes. mommy is a superhero. How cool is that? You get to go to school and tell your friends my mom is a real life superhero." George said to Mark. Mark grinned hard at the thought of his mother being a superhero. Just then George's phone vibrates. George gets excited, thinking that it's Stephanie, his wife, the love of his life. But, no, it is not his wife, but a coworker who will not leave him alone. A coworker, who stills tries to talk to him, and flirt with him, even after George told this coworker that he is happily married.

Melissa (Work): Hey there stranger. Are you busy?

George: Yes, I am with my son. Is there something wrong with the job?

Melissa (Work): No, I just thought you were lonely again tonight. The wife there?

Melissa must've overheard George talking to his best friend at work, about how Stephanie is never home. How lonely it gets when it's just him in the house. How George would kill to have human interaction outside of work.

"Noisy Bitch." George thought.

George: That doesn't matter. I'm sorry, if this isn't work related, can we stop texting?

Melissa (Work): George come on, you know you're all alone in that big house of yours. Let me come over AS A FRIEND, and keep you company for a few hours.

George thought about it for a seconds. Her coming over wouldn't hurt anything right? They would talk about work, and just communicate on a friendly level. George would even have his son in there the whole time, if anything goes left, Mark will tell Stephanie. George looked at Mark, thinking about all the outcomes, and possibilities that could happen. George's phone vibrates again.

Melissa (Work): I would even bring my daughter with me. It'll be basically a play date.

A play date? George looked at his watch, the time was seven twenty p.m., a play date at seven at night? Is that even believable? How would Stephanie react? George looked back at Mark.

"You want to have some company, Markie?" George asked Mark. Hoping he would say no, so he would have a good excuse to give. When and doubt, blame the kids.

Mark eyes lit up,"YES! YES!" Mark shouted as he jumped out of George's lap. George winced at his son saying "yes", and the pain of getting kicked in the dick. George waited a few second to catch his breath, and grabbed his phone.

George: Okay, just a play date and that's it! Come whenever you're ready.

George dropped his phone. Laying back on his couch, looking up at the ceiling. A million things going a cross his mind. "I hope I made the right decision ." George thought.