Three is a crowd: Kenneth sets his ultimatum 

(Continued from last issue)

David and Diane have been married for years; then there is Julie, the young secretary whose axis collides with the couple’s in ways none of them saw coming.

JULIE

“It feels like you’re punishing me for a situation that you were fully aware of at the time we started this relationship, and that’s just not fair,” I candidly opened the discussion with Kenneth.

“That’s ridiculous! How can I be punishing you for anything, when I don’t have the right to expect anything of you? And maybe, that’s my problem; that I don’t have any rights as far as you’re concerned. You speak of us being in a ‘relationship’, but no-one can know about us. You say we’re in a relationship, and yet I’m supposed to be fine with you sleeping with another man. That’s not a relationship; at least not one I want to be a part of.”

“But I’m in love with you! I’m only with David because of Junior and because my family and I depend on him; you know that!” I pleaded desperately.

“I know that I’m not prepared to share the woman I love with another man, no matter what the reasoning might be,” he answered
firmly, and hearing the set tone of his voice, my heart broke, for I knew he meant it.

“So, what’s the way forward? Are you just going to walk away like nothing we had was real? Is this it? Is it over?” I asked.
“That’s up to you, the ball is in your court; if you want an ‘us’, he can’t be a part of that.”

“So that’s it? You won’t reconsider?” I asked, my tone begging him to change his mind.
“No, I won’t; I’m sorry, but I love you too much to share you,” he answered, his own tone sad but firm. His words cut like a knife, and even though I could tell his mind was made up, I, nonetheless, continued to beg, literally flinging myself at him in desperation:

“Please don’t do this, Kenneth; I love you!”

He looked down at me, and I thought I saw his gaze soften, but his stand didn’t change.

“Maybe you do, but I’m clearly not enough for you, and just part of your love is not enough for me,” he answered quietly.

DAVID

Arriving at the apartment, I made a perfunctory knock at the door before letting myself in as usual, and found Sandra playing with Junior on the living room floor.

Caught unawares, she jerked and looked up in surprise as I walked in, then smiled warmly as she stood up: “Hi, David; what a surprise!

Julie didn’t say you were coming by this morning.”

“Hi Sandra; sorry I startled you. I got some unexpected time off work; so, this is a rather impromptu visit and Julie didn’t know I was coming,” I explained apologetically, as I bent down to pick up Junior, who at the sight of me, was squealing excitedly and holding up his arms to be lifted.

“Aaah, that explains it; she wouldn’t have left if she knew you were coming,” she nodded understandingly.

“Left? Where has she gone?” I asked, trying hard not to notice the skimpy jean shorts Sandra was wearing, or the glaringly obvious
fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra beneath her T-shirt.

“Shopping.”
“I thought I’d already done the shopping last week; was there something I forgot?” I asked in confusion.

While I did send Julie money for ‘maintenance’, because she had Junior on her hands, and no car, I did the bulk of the shopping for the apartment and always came by with several shopping bags each time; so, it was surprising to hear she had had the need to go shopping herself.

“No, I don’t mean grocery shopping; I didn’t ask what exactly she was going to buy, but I think she was going into town; so, it wasn’t groceries,” she explained.

“Oh, I see,” I nodded in understanding, though privately I was still surprised by her response, as Julie had never been much of a
personal shopper – unless she was shopping for Junior.

“She doesn’t like being away from Junior for long though; so, I’m sure she’ll be here soon. Sit down and make yourself comfortable, and I’ll get you a glass of juice; or would you prefer coffee instead?”

I didn’t like the thought of waiting for Julie, especially not with her younger sister dressed as skimpily as Sandra was, but I still didn’t want to go on to the hospital and at least I had Junior to act as a distraction…

“Coffee sounds great thanks,” I smiled up at her.
“Good, give me a few minutes,” she smiled back, then turned to head for the kitchen.

I noticed that her shorts were even skimpier from the back, before catching myself and determinedly turning my attention back to
Junior.

DIANE

After David left, I had fallen asleep and was woken up by a nurse fiddling around my bed checking the drip that was running and my
bandages.

“How are you feeling?” she asked kindly.
“The same,” I answered grumpily.

“Would you like some help into the bathroom? Maybe a shower will help,” she offered, unfazed by my grumpiness.

Despite my pain and foul mood, the thought of a warm shower was uplifting, and I nodded gratefully: “Thank you.”

It was only as she helped me up that I noticed my parents were no longer in the room.

“When did my parents leave?”
“Your father just left a short while ago, but your mother is still around; I think she’s gone down to the cafeteria,” she explained, and I groaned inwardly, wishing my mother had left too.

“How about my husband; has he been back yet?”
“Sorry, I haven’t seen him,” she answered apologetically and after helping me into a wheelchair, rolled me into the adjoining bathroom.

It was awkward having a stranger help me shower, even though she was totally professional, and I did as anticipated feel much better after it.

“Thank you,” I thanked her honestly as she helped me back into bed, just as my mother re-entered the room.
“Oh you’re up; that’s good,” she smiled brightly while setting down some pastries and take away glasses of juice.

“I got you something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry. Have you heard from David?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll be back soon.

Try to eat something, you need to keep your strength up,” she pleaded cajolingly.
“Yes, do try to eat a little,” the nurse joined in.
“Maybe later; please pass me my phone, I need to call David,” I dismissed them both.

My mother sighed in resignation and passed on the phone, while the nurse promised to check in on me again later, then left me to make my phone call.

I called him twice, but the phone just rang and rang with no answer. I eventually gave up and tossed it aside in frustration.

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