Covid Diaries: Love in the time of Covid

Day 24 - Walk in the Park

Peter grabbed Claire's hand as they took a stroll through their favorite park. The trees covered most of the path allowing some sunlight to peek through and provide light on the pathway. They both had become accustomed to taking daily walks now. Peter worked as an accountant. Claire was a full-time mother to their two sons, Jack who was now 5 years old and Riley who was 2 years old. The two boys were running ahead of them, only stopping to inspect bugs along the way.

"Jack, Riley! Slow down!", Claire called to them as they continued to run ahead.

"We need to figure out a way to entertain them all summer, they're going to go crazy without their friends", Peter said.

"We could get an outdoor pool for the backyard?"

"That's a great idea, I'll call around to get some price quotes."

Jack's phone buzzed with a message. He pulled out his cell and read the text. It was from Bill.

Claire grew quiet. "Who's messaging you?"

"It's Bill from work, we're trying to get a deal closed on Monday", Jack replied hastily.

Claire wondered why it couldn't wait until Monday. "On a Saturday? I wish you'd put work away on the weekends when you're with your family Peter", said Claire as she looked ahead avoiding eye contact with him. Bill wasn't married so she understood why he would have different priorities.

"You don't understand Claire, you're home all the time. I need to manage my time between work and home. That's how it is."

"I'm home but I don't have a single moment to myself. It must be nice to have adult conversations sometimes. We never talk anymore", said Claire. It wasn't the right time to get into this but she could feel face grow pink with anger.

I'd love to stay home with the kids, let go of the financial stress of supporting the family. Of course, I wouldn't do that", Peter's tone turned cold.

Why did this lovely walk have to turn sour? Claire decided to drop the topic and she ran after the boys who were attempting to climb a tree.

Peter wondered if things with Claire would ever improve. They were never on the same page about him putting his job first. "I'm being reasonable, what's the big deal, reading a text message or taking a few calls over the weekend? This job pays the mortgage!", he thought but didn't dare say out loud.

"We're lucky I still have a job", Peter said catching up to Claire and the boys.

"Let's drop it. I'm grateful you're working. You know that's not what this is about."

"Fine."

As they walked home in silence, Peter wished for normal times when he could go into the office and take a breather from his family. Working from home seemed to bother Claire even more as she could hear him on conference calls. Why she would think his job was better than taking care of the kids was mind baffling to him.

Claire, on the other hand hated the fact that Peter was home all the time, he rarely offered to help during the day as she struggled with Jack and Riley. Her friends seemed to be enjoying their family time due to Covid and here she was, all she could think about was when would things go back to normal?