8 Weeks

by Bethany Lopez

  Once I was composed I turned back to her, “What do you mean, Shelly? We have a lot to work out.”

  She shook her head sadly at me.

  “We have nothing that can be worked out, Cal.”

  I felt panic begin to rise in my throat, until I was in danger of choking on it.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I want a divorce, Cal, and I’ll let you know when I’m ready to talk about it.”

  She shut the door slowly in my face, as I stood there, stunned and speechless, with my life flashing before my eyes.

  “No …” I whispered, unable to believe what she’d just said. I pounded on the door for a few minutes, desperate for her to come back and talk this out, but she never did.

  Chapter 8 – Shelly

  God, would I ever stop crying?

  After I left Cal standing at my dad’s front door, I climbed into the shower and let the water run over me as I cried my heart out.

  I couldn’t see any way to forgive Cal and stay married to him. I just couldn’t. And, as much as it seemed impossible to do, I knew that I was going to have to pick myself up and figure out what my life looked like without him in it.

  After a few more days of moping around, I finally agreed to meet the girls for lunch.

  Sasha was in real estate, and Gaby worked at a bakery nearby the restaurant we were meeting at, so lunch was usually the best time to get together. We wouldn’t have a ton of time, but a little time with the girls was better than none at all.

  I took some time to make myself look presentable. I’d lost a few pounds over the last couple weeks, and I had to put my makeup on a little heavier to cover the circles under my eyes.

  When I got to the restaurant, Gaby was already there, drinking what I’d bet was a diet coke and talking to a waiter. He was tall, dark, and really good-looking and she blushed slightly when she saw me walking toward the table.

  “Hey, Gabs,” I said as I leaned down to kiss her cheek. “What was that about?”

  “Oh, nothing,” Gaby said with a wave of her hand. “He was just asking me out for coffee.”

  “Oooh, really?” I said, happy to be talking about something normal. Every guy who came in to contact with Gaby asked her out. But, she usually said the same thing. “So, what’d you say?”

  “No, thanks, but maybe another time,” she responded with a smile.

  “I wish you’d say yes one of these days,” I admitted.

  “I will,” Gaby replied. “When it feels right.”

  Gaby seemed to be able to read men better than anyone I’d ever met. She was like the man-whisperer. She always seemed to know if a guy was good for her or not, and she was always very choosy about who she dated. She’d had two boyfriends since I’d known her, and they’d both been relationships that lasted over two years.

  Gaby did not do casual relationships, much to every man within a sixty-mile radius’s disappointment.

  I heard the heels before the whirlwind hit, and I knew Sasha had made it.

  Sasha, on the other hand, loved casual relationships.

  Sasha loved to buy expensive things and pamper herself consistently, and was very focused on her career. She didn’t want a man in her life who thought he would get to have a say in what she did and how she did it, so she always kept them at arm’s length. She used them for sex and arm candy, and that was about it.

  My friends and I were all completely different, but we loved each other unconditionally. We were lucky that it had always been that way. There had been people that tried to come between us, male and female, but no one was ever able to break that bond.

  One of the things I’d loved about Cal was that he’d always gotten it. My friendship with my girls … because he had the same thing with his friends.

  Shit … Cal.

  I felt the sadness creeping in again, until Sasha grabbed my chin, looked me in the eye, and said, “Nuh-uh, girlfriend. Chin up.”

  I smiled shakily at her, and tried to nod. But it was difficult, since she was still holding my chin. She chuckled and released me.

  “How are you?” Sasha whispered.

  I sighed deeply and said, “Crushed.”

  “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.”

  Sasha pulled me tightly to her and I held on as if I were afraid to let go. She smelled of perfume and hair product, and I found it very soothing.

  “Do you want me to put a hit out on him?” Sasha asked seriously.

  I chuckled and replied, “Not today.”

  Gaby leaned across the table and asked, “Have you talked to him?”

  I shook my head.

  “I haven’t been able to. I can’t look at him right now. He stopped by the other day, and I saw him long enough to tell him I want a divorce, then I ran back inside.”

  Gaby gasped at my statement.

  “Are you sure that’s what you want, Shelly? Don’t you want to talk it over with him first, maybe think about it for a while?”

  I shook my head and felt tears forming.

  “I don’t think it’ll make a difference. He betrayed me in a way that I never believed was possible.” They each took one of my hands in theirs as I spoke. “I think I need a clean break, and I need to start figuring out what to do with my life.”

  “Let us know what you need,” Sasha said.

  I turned to Sasha and said, “I want to sell the house.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, neither of us will be able to afford it on our own, and I need to start fresh. I’d like to rent something for now, an apartment or condo or something.”

  “Okay, but you will have to discuss this with Cal and come to an agreement. The house is in both of your names.”

  I nodded. I knew I’d have to talk with him eventually. I was just really not looking forward to it.

  We paused our conversation and ordered lunch from the dark-haired waiter who kept looking at Gaby longingly.

  “Gaby, dude’s got a fine ass,” Sasha said with a wicked grin as she watched him walk away. “You should take him around back and give him what he’s asking for.”

  “Shut up, Sasha,” Gaby said with a laugh.

  I laughed with my friends and knew I wanted to spend more time with them, so I wasn’t miserable and alone at my dad’s.

  “We should do something Friday night,” I said.

  “I’m free, what did you have in mind?” Sasha asked.

  “I don’t know … something different. Something I’d never do with Cal,” I said the wheels in my head turning. “I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo, get my nose pierced, and I’ve been thinking of cutting my hair.”

  “Slow down, sister,” Gaby stopped me before I could throw out any other ideas. “How about we do one crazy, body-altering thing at a time. We wouldn’t want you to do something that you’d regret to get back at Cal.”

  I frowned at her.

  “I don’t want to do any of it to get back at Cal, I want to do it for myself. Those are things that I’ve always wanted to do, I just didn’t think he’d approve. It’s about my independence, and the fact that I don’t need Cal’s approval anymore.”

  “Well, when you put it that way, I’m all in,” Sasha said loudly, causing the other patrons to turn and look at us.

  “Okay, well, how about we start with the piercing, then go out for drinks and show it off?” Gaby said in a softer tone.

  “Sounds good,” I said, clasping my hands together nervously. It would be good to get out and stop moping around, but I was a little nervous at the same time. I tried to put on a brave face and said, “I’m excited.”

  “In the meantime, you need to sit down and talk to Cal,” she said sternly.

  I nodded sadly, “I know.”

  Chapter 9 – Cal

  I was on my way to meet with Shelly. My palms were sweating and my stomach was rolling. I’d never been so nervous in my life.

  I’d been a wreck since the last time I’d seen her.

  I couldn’t believe she was
talking about a divorce; it was the last thing in the world I wanted. Shelly was everything to me, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

  I was so messed up, I worried that Scott was on the verge of kicking me out. He said he was tired of my stinky, miserable ass, permanently indented on his couch. I knew he was fuckin’ with me, but he had a point. I needed to get my shit together if I ever even hoped to get Shelly back.

  I had to come up with a plan. A plan to make her give me a chance to make up for the mistake I’d made. There had to be a way that we could get past this and heal.

  Yes, on paper it seemed unforgivable.

  But … I had to believe that she could. She’d always been it for me, and nothing was more important than keeping her as my wife.

  I pulled up to the park Shelly’d told me to meet her at. She’d wanted to meet somewhere public, but without a lot of people around.

  I was pretty upset that she seemed to distrust me on every level, but understood that she was hurt.

  I would be too, if it were the other way around.

  I saw her sitting at a picnic table under a giant oak with leaves of copper, red, and a deep russet, her long dark hair wavy and flowing in the breeze. The picture she made took my breath away, and I stood there, committing it to memory, before I walked forward to meet her.

  “Hey,” I said as I got closer, causing her to jump a bit on the bench.

  She looked up at me warily, and I felt that look punch me in the gut.

  I had the feeling she was not here to tell me she was ready to give us another shot. I was going to have to buy myself some time.

  “Hi,” Shelly responded.

  I sat down across from her and folded my hands in front of me. I was nervous and felt awkward. Two things I’d never been around Shelly in my life. Even when we started dating.

  “So,” she began, then stopped, clearing her throat nervously. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to say it … I’ve been thinking, and we need to put the house on the market as soon as possible. You never know how long it’ll take to sell, and neither of us make the kind of money that would allow us to pay for two houses at once.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, anger and hurt mingling together in my tone. “You asked me here to talk, yet it sounds like you’ve already decided not to give our marriage a chance.”

  “I told you the other day at Dad’s house that I wanted a divorce,” she said, refusing to meet my eyes.

  “Shit, Shel, we haven’t discussed anything at all. You won’t accept my calls. You won't see me. You’re just jumping straight to ending it. I mean, have you thought of counseling or anything? I’ll do whatever it takes, Shelly.”

  She shook her head sadly at me. “Cal, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over the fact that you slept with someone else, after six years of being together. I hate it. I can’t even stand to think about it. You betrayed me.”

  The last she said in a whisper, making the full effect of her words wash over me like a million tiny pinpricks.

  “I don’t want a divorce,” I responded, reaching for her hand. She took it quickly off of the table before I could touch her. “I love you, Shelly, and I’m willing to do anything.”

  “There’s nothing you can do.”

  “I’ll quit drinking. Never go out with the guys again. I’ll prove to you how much I love and respect you, Shel.”

  “That’s not a life, Cal. I don’t want you to give up everything and never leave my sight. I want what we had, a relationship of love and trust, and I just don’t think it’s possible for me to have that relationship with you again.”

  I felt desperate, frantic at the thought of losing her.

  “I won’t sign divorce papers.”

  Shelly’s head shot up and her green eyes bore into me.

  “Why would you want to make this harder? I don’t want to fight with you, Cal.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t want to make it harder, and I don’t want to fight with you,” I implored. “But I will fight for you, Shelly. Give me a chance to.”

  She was shaking her head again, and a plan formulated in my mind.

  “Give me eight weeks,” I said desperately.

  “I’m not going to live with you for eight weeks, Cal.”

  “No, I get that,” I responded. “Give me eight Saturdays. Eight dates where it’s just the two of us. Give me time to show you why we're so good together, and that I’m willing to bend and compromise to make our marriage work.”

  Shelly looked at me thoughtfully.

  “Why eight?”

  “One week for each year that we’ve been together.”

  “Eight weeks?” she asked, as if trying to decide whether she could stand to wait that long.

  I nodded, hoping my outside looked calmer than my insides.

  Shelly was quiet for a few minutes. I sat there, scared to death that she'd say no, but hopeful that she'd agree.

  Finally, she looked me in the eye and started to talk.

  “I want to move forward on selling the house. We need to move our stuff out and divvy everything up. I won’t put everything on hold for eight weeks, but if it will take eight dates to get you to sign the paperwork, without a fight, I’ll agree."

  The thought of moving out, living separately, and selling our house made me fear that one day a week with her may not be enough to get Shelly to realize she still loved me, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

  “Okay, I’ll get my stuff out, and we can have Sasha put the house up for sale, but I want eight real dates, Shelly. You have to keep an open mind, and give me a chance.”

  “They will be just dates, Cal. No sex.”

  “We can play that by ear,” I said. When she looked at me warily I added, “I’m not going to attack you, Shel. Give me a break.”

  “Sorry,” she said softly. “I just want to establish rules. And, Cal, you need to know, I don’t think eight weeks is going to change anything. I’m still going to want a divorce.”

  “Please,” I pleaded desperately. “Give it a shot.”

  She nodded again, then stood to leave.

  “I’ll contact Sasha when I get home.”

  I sat there as she walked away, watched her drive off, then stared up at the old oak.

  Shit, I had to come up with eight dates. They had to be romantic or mean something to us as a couple. Maybe I had to think of some things that she always wanted to do, but we hadn’t done because of me, to show her that I was willing to do whatever she wanted in order to keep her as my wife.

  I needed to get together with Scott and TJ and get some advice. They’d certainly been on a lot more dates than I had.

  Chapter 10 - Shelly

  I was feeling pretty good.

  The rum and Cokes had gone down smoothly, and the pretty stud in my nose was only a little tender.

  I laughed out loud as Gaby tried to fight off guys on the dance floor. With her long blonde hair braided down her back, and her skirt so long it grazed the floor as she moved, she looked like a free-spirited hippie. When Gaby moved, her body fluid and graceful, guys always paid attention.

  "I'm gonna go save her," Sasha said with a wicked grin as she downed another shot of tequila.

  I watched as Sasha sauntered over and crooked her finger at the guys Gaby was trying to dance away from. They went willingly, and Sasha was soon a blur of long legs and flashes of red as she danced seductively in between the two men.

  I grinned at Gaby as she came toward me with a scowl.

  "Why do guys think that because I'm dancing, I want them to grind all over me?" Gaby asked, picking up her beer as she sat at the bar next to me. "I just want to enjoy the music."

  "It's one of the hazards of looking hot and dancing in the middle of a club," I said, snickering when Gaby stuck her tongue out at me.

  "It's good to hear you laugh," Gaby said, touching her hand to my shoulder.

  I nodded. "It feels good too."
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  "So, you really sure about this eight weeks thing?"

  I took a sip of my drink, shrugged, and said, "He said he'd sign the papers if I did it."

  "What time are you guys meeting up tomorrow?"

  "Cal said he'd pick me up around five."

  "Did he say what you were going to do?"

  "No, just said to dress casual when I asked."

  "Hmmm," Gaby mumbled as she sipped her beer. "It's kind of cool though, huh? That he's going to plan surprise dates for eight weeks."

  Gaby's blue eyes looked large and hopeful.

  "Don't get your hopes up, Gabs," I said, putting my hand over hers. "Like I said, we’re packing up the house on Sunday and it's going on the market. I fully intend to go through with the divorce when the eight weeks are up."

  Gaby pouted a bit, but nodded at my words. "I'm here for you."

  "I know," I said with a small smile. "Now let's stop talking about this depressing shit. How about a shot?"

  "Okay," Gaby agreed as she waved the bartender over. He was yet another man who was hoping for a shot with her, so we never had a problem getting served whenever we came.

  I ordered three, then turned to get Sasha's attention and waved her over.

  All eyes watched as Sasha picked the hair up off of her neck to allow some cool air to sooth her. Her chest heaved from exertion, and the little red dress she wore left little to the imagination. Her face held a knowing smirk.

  "You're such an attention whore," Gaby said when Sasha reached us.

  "You know you love it," Sasha replied, blowing her a kiss.

  Gabby laughed.

  "I really do," she admitted.

  "Here ya go," I said as I passed out the shots.

  When we raised our glasses Gaby said, "To us ... To always having each other's backs, good times or bad. And to Sasha, whose sexy ass can distract the most annoying of men."

  "Here, here," Sasha and I said in unison, grinning like fools.

  We slammed the shot glasses on the table and I winced as the tequila burned its way down my throat.

  "Shit," Gaby said suddenly.