Circumstantial

Chapter 8

"Leaky tap?" I ask, cashing up my last customer for the day.

"Yeah. My wife, oh Lord, she's one firecracker. Calls me at work, while I'm in a meeting, just to scream my ear off about the bathroom tap dripping. Says she can't nap with the sound. Her voice annoys the hell outta me, yet I still have to bear it. Ain't no solution for that, right?" He rubs his thumb and forefinger over his eyes in exhaustion.

I chuckle. "I know a place that does voice box transplants," I say.

"Really?" He looks at me hopefully.

Dear God, this man really hates his wife. "No. No, I was kidding. She can't be all that bad, man." I reply, chuckling.

He doesn't find it funny and stares at me with daggers, as if I'd just killed his cat.

"Hope the washer solves your problem though." I hand him his receipt.

"Yeah," he says curtly, turning on his heel and heading out the door.

It was times like these that I appreciated being single. Women were too much work, both emotionally and mentally, not to mention financially. I grab the keys and make my way through the store closing up the windows.

"Where have you been?" Sarah barges in.

I had totally forgotten about her. So much for being grateful for my single status, I sigh.

I walk over to the other end of the store to switch off the overhead fans and lights.

"Well, hello to you too," I reply indignantly.

"Michael," she says my name slowly, as if trying to contain her anger.

I turn to look at her. She's furious, alright. Her jaw is clenched, her eyes are like flames and her hands are fists at either side. She had called me several times over the past two days. I ignored them, not really ready to deal with her manipulations just yet. I was still recovering from her erratic behavior from the days prior.

"Yes?" I sigh in exasperation.

"You didn't return my calls, so I left you a few voicemails. We were supposed to meet for lunch today," she stares at me in annoyance.

"Oh? Sorry, I didn't get the message," I lie, scratching my head. I did, in fact, get the message. I just didn't see the point in going to a restaurant to discuss how to win over her family's blessings, just so we could split up the next day. Also, the store had been busier than usual and I hadn't closed up for lunch.

She bit her lower lip, probably to stop from swearing at me, and clicked her tongue, her anger visibly escalating.

"You signed a contract. Now if you want to behave like a child, I'm not going to be running after you. Either be a man and stick to your word, or at least have the balls to say that you can't handle me, you coward," she stares me down challengingly.

I raise my eyebrows at her in amusement. She wants a man who can handle her? Fine, I'd give her that. With my larger than average sized balls.

"You're right. I'm sorry. Let me lock up the store. We'll go to the gym for an hour, then I'll take you out to dinner," I suggest, walking up to her.