The Choice

         “Did you turn off my text messaging?”  Lacey yelled slamming the door to her bedroom as she stomped into the hall toward her mother in the kitchen. 
         “Yes.  I told you I would.  You are 20 years old and it’s time to pay your phone bill or stop texting,” Meg shouted.  Lacey stomped back into her room.  “And stop putting the milk carton in the frig with a teaspoon of milk,” Meg said though she knew no one was listening.  I’ve got to get out of here.  She tousled her short hair, reapplied blush and added another layer of mascara as she studied the faint lines that parenthesized her crooked mouth. 
Rick, Meg’s husband, was shaded by the maple tree and bent under the hood of his car tuning it in preparation for their trip to Florida.  Meg couldn’t fathom relocating to a place more humid than upstate New York.  Mildew would be popping out on everything like a rash.  She wasn’t even sure that she was welcome on the trip but Lacey and her son, Bret, were going and if the kids were vacationing, so was she!  She was going somewhere -- off this dusty, desolate road populated with peeling-painted houses scattered like marbles. 
“Where are you going?” Rick asked barely looking up.
         “The store,” Meg said.  As if anyone cared. 
* * *
         “Hey, mom.  You want to go to the mall and get our nails done?”  Lacey’s anger over her cell phone was as forgotten as last year’s Christmas presents. 
         “Sure.  We can stop for Chinese on the way home.”  The dynamic duo rides again!  Rick’s indifference was bearable but her daughter’s silence was intolerable.  Meg, tall and thin with a crooked smile, wears her heart on her sleeve. 
Manicured and feeling glamorous, mother and daughter participated in a favorite pastime of the area – wandering the mall.  The garish lights and dinging noise reminded Meg of a gambling casino and why she avoided the mall.  Meg and Lacey stopped in Bath & Body then the food court.  They threw their bags on a nearby table thereby reserving it.  Meg spotted the construction worker that she had seen a couple of times.  He grinned in her direction.  Her breath caught and she felt like she was part of a scene in a movie.  She half expected to hear the word “cut”.  She studied the menu on the huge chalk board to camouflage her reaction from Lacey.  Meg braked her impulse to turn her head to make sure his gaze was directed at her. 
A cross between Brad Pitt and Nicholas Cage, he moved with the stealth and grace of a tiger.  His eyes were blue peeking out from dark lashes and both mother and daughter noticed.  Meg was thankful that she had colored her hair.  No gray haired ladies need apply.  Lacey looked at her mother like she had forgotten her underwear.  Apparently she had seen the stare. 
Later that day, Meg called her sister during her lunch break for their daily chat.
“Hey did Bret enlist?” Sharon asked knowing that was Meg’s biggest fear.
“No.  He’s excited about Florida.  Hey, I keep seeing this guy at the mall.  I’m not sure but I think he’s flirting with me.”
         “May I remind you that you’re married?”
Meg laughed humorlessly and sang into the phone imitating the Righteous Brothers, “I’ve lost that loving feeling.  Rick doesn’t care.  He doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body.” 

The next day, Meg left for work early and spotted “blue eyes” paying for his afternoon pick-up.  He turned around and smiled at her – no mistaking his direction.
“Hi.  I guess we’re both addicts.” he said. 
         “What?”  Meg’s asked.
         He pointed to his coffee cup.  “Coffee.”  He chucked revealing even white teeth.  He is perfect.
         Coffee at McDonald’s was the highlight of Meg’s day.  Again the next day, she spotted “blue eyes” saunter in, his gaze sweeping the room as if casing the place for a future break-in.
         “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”  Meg flirted. 
         “Hey, do you want to go have a beer?” 
         “Can’t -- on my way to work.  I work second shift.”
         “Well, another time,” he suggested as they walked outside into the sun in unison.
         “Sure.  Do you have a name or are you incognito?”  Meg ventured.
         “Doug,” he answered as he reached for his sunglasses.  Were they to protect his eyes or was he trying not to attract the paparazzi?  “Walk me to my van,” he said as he motioned down the street.
         “Do you have beer in your van?” she laughed ignoring the chill running down her spine like fingers on a keyboard.  “Where are you parked?” Meg asked following in spite of her better judgment.
         “Right there.”  Blue eyes pointed to a dead-end alley and a van parked about 50 feet down the street.  “Are you going to tell me your name?”
         “Meg,” she answered as she followed Doug down the quiet street taking a quick look at her watch thankful that she had left home early.  Doug opened the back door as if to extract a valuable tool for his job.
         “Well, I’d better get . . .” but before she could finish Doug leaned toward her, took her face in his calloused hands and kissed her firmly.  Meg returned the kiss.  Doug lifted her to the back seat as if she was as light as a plastic spoon.  He leaned in forcing her further into the van.  God, what am I doing?  I’ve got to get out of here.  But instead she awkwardly scooted across the seat.  Doug kissed her lifting her legs and laying them across his lap so he could sit beside her.  He expertly unzipped his pants and inserted Meg’s hands into his tight jeans while running his hand up her back under her t-shirt playing that keyboard.  Meg’s heart raced as if she had run up stairs two at a time.  He unbuttoned Meg’s jeans and pulled aside her underwear then slowly reclined her on the seat.  She bit her lip.  I’ve got to stop this.  But she didn’t.  She just kept on kissing him and held tightly until she felt his insertion.  He whispered something as the momentum of his thrusts increased.  She was sure the passersby on the street could hear but she didn’t care.   
***
         “Sis.  I’m seeing Doug again tomorrow,” Meg whispered to Sharon on the phone. 
         Sharon laughed.  “Are you sure this is what you want?  Are you attracted to him or the chase?”
         “Don’t know.  It’s giving me ulcers though.” 
         “Maybe you should talk to you husband and avoid ulcers.  Where do you meet?” Sharon asked.
“At McDonalds and we go to his van.  Get this.  Rick, who hasn’t given me more than a peck on the cheek in a decade, has decided to get romantic now.” 
         “Maybe he knows.  See, there is something left in your marriage,” Sharon said. 
         “Don’t know.  But I think he’s warming up to sex.”
         As Meg predicted, when she got home from work, Rick was awake and showered.   
         “I’m so tired,” Meg announced.  “I’m going to bed.”
         Rick followed her into the bedroom and got into bed.  Meg held her breath while Rick awkwardly put his arm around and kissed her stiffly.  Could she breathe life into their marriage? 
***
         “Mom, what’s wrong with you lately?” Lacey asked over their burgers and fries.  “Have you stopped eating?”  Sharon, Meg and Lacey had stopped for lunch after shopping.
         “Just tired,” Meg lied.  Sharon looked at Meg with a scowl and Meg kicked her under table. 
         “Well, you sure did find lots to buy today.”  Sharon decided a change of subject would help Meg.  She looked like a fish swimming upstream. 
         “Yeah, I’ve never seen you buy so many outfits,” Lacey said as she looked through her mother’s bags. 
         “Needed some summer clothes.”  Meg said.
         “Yeah, mom.  You’ve lost so much weight,” Lacey commented.  Someone did notice.  Sharon’s face took on a pinched scowl like one of those dolls made of dried apple.  She clearly disapproved. 
After Meg and Lacey returned home, Meg turned around to leave again.  She left Doug a message that she’d be at his van.  They had to talk.  She still hadn’t decided what she would say after an hour and a half.  Where was Doug?  He was out of work by now and should be here to get his van. 
Maybe I should just leave Rick.  Move out.  Rick would be hurt and angry but would get over it.  He was a good father and provider.  Great, now, I see his good qualities, she thought as her stomach churned.  Where is Doug? 
         Meg called her sister as she waited.  “Sharon,” Meg said as she tried to hold her tears.  It was like trying to stifle a volcano. 
         “What’s wrong?  Did Rick find out about Doug?” Sharon asked.
         “No.  I can’t take this double life.  I don’t know what to do.” 
“Yes you do.  Make a decision,” Sharon said.
“I don’t know what I want,” Meg said.
“Yes. You do.  You want to keep your marriage and fool around with Doug.  You have to make a choice.”  Meg snapped shut her cell and gave up waiting for Doug. 
* * *
The next day at work, Rick called Meg.  “Bret has been in a biking accident.  He’s at Binghamton General.” 
Meg’s gastric juices already on overtime fulminated.  She could not hold it.  She vomited.  Everyone in the factory looked up.  “My son,” she said as she ran out the door. 
Meg breathlessly ran into Brett’s hospital room and sobbed.  Bret lay in the bed hooked up to an IV.  His face was swollen shutting one eye completely and a protruding tooth lay atop his bloody lip.  His arm stretched uselessly across his body but he was alive.  Thank you God, she whispered.
Bret had scrapes and bruises but his condition was stable.
* * *
Meg had to talk to Rick.  She saw him pull into the driveway and poured a brandy.  Maybe he’ll forgive me.  When Rick walked through the door Meg knew something was wrong.  Had Bret taken a turn for the worse?
         “What’s up?” Rick asked.
         “I have to talk to you,” Meg stammered.
         “Yeah, I know.  I need to talk to you too.”
         Rick reached for the brandy and poured.  Something was up.  Meg’s stomach flipped.  Rick drinks coffee after work not brandy. 
         “I didn’t want this to happen but I’ve met someone.  I thought I could forget about it and make our marriage work.  But I can’t.”
         Meg couldn’t believe her ears.  Dull old Rick has a girlfriend.  He looked like he was going to cry. 
Meg downed another brandy to stop her trembling.  “You’ve met someone?” she repeated dumbly.  “How long has this been going on?  Her voice trailed off.  “So that’s why you made love to me.  You mean you’re just giving up on us?”
Meg thought for a moment, weighing the possibilities.  Her mind raced ahead planning as her stomach bungeed.  She was going to be free.  Free to see Doug and she didn’t have to say a word.  She tried to speak but only croaked.    But did she really want to lose Rick?
“I have met someone too.”  She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt.  “We are planning a future together,” she added weakly. 
         The door opened and Lacey breezed through tossing her purse on the chair, took a quick look at her parents who were composing themselves, trying to smile.  She shrugged not really interested in whatever was going on. 
         “Guess what mom.  Guess who I have a date with tonight” she said as she opened the refrigerator in search of food.  Without waiting for a reply Lacey continued.  “Remember the guy at McDonalds with the blue eyes who kept looking at us?”
         “Yes,” Meg answered warily.
         “Him.  I saw him at lunch and he asked me out.”