She had been crying as she left the house, and it showed. She grabbed a napkin and dried off her cheeks and eyes, double-checking her makeup in the rearview mirror. Everything still looks good... For a 'horse-face'.
Clara had a very strict upbringing. She didn't have many sleepovers. She didn't go to bars. She didn't get to go to parties unchaperoned. She never broke curfew. She didn't drink. She didn't smoke. She never skipped school. Which is what made tonight so difficult for her. This date went against 50 years of programming. This went against all of her upbringing, all of her strict family life, all of her strict married life. She was betraying everything society expected of her. Or, at least what she had been convinced society expected of her.
She was moving on.
###
Clara stopped to put some gas in the car. It was a warm night and she was dressed to the nines in a black knit dress that showed off her shoulders and was high enough to flaunt her sexy legs. She'd been working out a lot and taking long bike rides to deal with the stress at home, and it showed. It made her feel good when she noticed some of the looks she was getting from the guys at the next pump.
She decided to call her daughter again. She was still so nervous.
"Hello baby, it's mom. I just wanted to make sure you're staying at Denise's house tonight."
"Yeah, mom. I told you. I'm crashing here tonight. We're going to stay up and watch movies... "
"I know. I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't change your mind and go home tonight."
"No-"
"Be sure and call me if you do."
"Mom, aren't you supposed to be going out tonight?"
"I'm on my way... Just nervous."
"It'll be fine mom. Forget about dad. He's a loser. He's the one that decided to leave you. You need to go live!"
"I know...I just..."
"Mom, I gotta go. Have fun tonight!"
"Ok...just... Stay at Denise's tonight."
###
Almost there. Clara found herself thinking about the previous night and the fight she'd had with her 'husband'; Vince.
Clara just wanted her bank card back, and Vince got physical.
Vince wasn't one for holding down a job or earning his own way in the world. He wasn't too interested in his children or carrying his weight at home either. Clara did it all. She worked two jobs. She stayed up late to drop her teenage kids off at their work for a night shift. She woke up early to pick them up in the morning before heading to her own first job of the day. Vince never helped out. She believed this was just the way things work. According to her strict upbringing, it was. She was married, and she had to make it work. Even if she was married to a useless lump who was all ego and zero aspiration. At some point, he began to feel embarrassed and resented Clara. She was carrying him and the rest of the family. If news got out, his ego would take a huge blow, and there wasn't much else beyond ego for him to fall back on. It was ego that made him look outside the marriage. It was ego that made him demand a separation. It was his self-loving ego that let him run up debts and forge Clara's signature without feeling an ounce of guilt or duty to repay; Clara could handle all that, she makes enough.
It was from ego that in the midst of finalizing their separation, Vince was still holding onto Clara's bank card and using her money. It was also ego, and perhaps an antiquated sense of property where spouses are concerned, that made him feel entitled to her money and to handle her roughly.
“Please give me back my card, I am asking nicely, it is my bank card. Please give it back.”
Vince just ignored her.
Clara's body trembled from adrenaline. It would be easier to let him have his way. That's what she had been trained to do all her life. She was fighting that urge, fighting her own body. More assertively this time, not pleadingly, she raised her voice; "Give it back!".
Vince lost it! He grabbed Clara by the hair and pulled her across the kitchen where he picked up a bag of sliced bread and threw it at the opposite wall. The bread bag exploded on impact and bread flew everywhere.
"Pick it up!" Vince growled, forcing Clara down to the ground by her hair. "Pick it up! Clean up this mess and pick up the bread!"
Vince finally let go as Clara started picking up the pieces of bread.
"Look at you, down on all fours like a dog...a Horse-faced dog. How could anyone love you?"
Clara kept her head down to hide her tears as she picked up the bread. The indignity of it all. How had she come to be trapped in this marriage controlled by a monster? She had no say in so much of her life. When she spoke, she was ignored. When she stood up, he knocked her down. Even as their separation papers were being drawn up, he still felt as though he owned her. Like livestock. Her whole family, except for her own children, seemed to agree with him on that. She could get no support there.
Clara quietly made her way to her room and locked the door. Still no bank card.
That was just last night.
###
Clara finally pulled up in front of Kevin's house. She'd known him from work, but never really spoke to him until a few weeks ago. It was a daring and unprecedented move on her part. She stepped into the hall and spoke to a 'strange man'; as her family would refer to any man other than her husband. She told him that she'd been thinking about him lately. It started the ball rolling and he began hanging around her more. Finally, Kevin invited her to come to his place...tonight.
Clara looked at the house. It was a nice place in a great neighborhood. But Clara was going to a strange man's house. On her own. Unchaperoned. It didn't matter that she was 50 years old. She felt like a child and could hear her parents lecturing her in her head.
Maybe I should go back home.
Clara had been home alone for the day. She cleaned, because Vince likes the house clean. She cooked Vince his dinner, because Vince still expects his dinner. She left Vince a note telling him dinner was in the fridge and that she was out for the night... "Out for the night" That part would make him mad if he were to read it. She had taken care of everything right up to the front door, and then she walked through it.
NO! There's no going home anymore!
Clara looked back up at the house. Kevin was already on the front porch. He'd noticed her car and came out to wave her in. He was wondering why she was just sitting there.
Clara got out, walked up the walkway, and straight into Kevin's arms. He gave the best hugs. Then they kissed long and hard and held each other for a moment before going inside.
###
"I brought something". Clara said, handing Kevin two bottles of wine. He had told her he likes wine, and it seemed a shame to waste these.
"Jetbird!" Kevin said, admiring the bottles and grinning. "This is some good stuff!".
"We have all kinds of wines, and neither of us drinks. I thought you should have them."
"Well, the first rule of wine is that you share it with a friend. So tonight, you drink! Besides, you seem nervous. This will take the edge off."
Kevin produced a couple of glasses and opened the wine. Pouring some wine, he held up the glass for her and gave the wine a swirl;
"It's a California Merlot, the acidity will give it a tart flavor and you may notice some hints of red berries and spices."
"You know a lot about wine!" Clara said.
"My secret is to always paraphrase what's on the bottle! But Bright Cellars make some fine wines, and this one pairs well with you... because you both have nice 'legs'".
Kevin Handed her the glass and poured himself one.
"Cheers!" Kevin said and clinked the glasses together. "I've made us some soup to start; my 'Food Almanac' says soup is perfect for October."
Clara had never had wine before. Not so much as a drop, and she was amazed at all the sensations going on in her mouth. She felt so free with Kevin. He genuinely wanted to share all these experiences with her. She could finally begin to live! And for Kevin, he could see life through her fresh wide eyes. This was going to be the start of a new life. But...
"What's the matter?" Kevin said, noticing a strained expression on Clara's face.
"I think I just need to call my daughter. Her father isn't getting back home until late and I'm not sure if I turned off the gas on the stove..."
Which was true, there was a slim chance Clara had turned off the stove out of habit. But she knew for sure she had set up the matches and the striker on the front door.
She needed to make absolutely certain her daughter was not going to go home tonight. Only then could she relax a little and enjoy her dream date, the first date of her life.
About the Creator
Michael Gimera
Michael is an author and background actor with varied interests.
I try to write slowly, in deference to those who don't read very fast. ;)
Whether you loved, endured or hated my story; please leave a comment to tell me about it!
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