THE OTHER SIDE OF FOREVER
(Chapter 8)
When Lucy went to their room, Kelvin was still awake, lying in bed with his eyes fixed on the ceiling. He turned to her as she entered, a hint of hope in his voice. “Hey, Lucy. I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking, maybe we could go out tomorrow? Just the two of us? Try to talk things through?”
Lucy’s expression was unyielding as she began to change into her nightclothes. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Kelvin.”
Kelvin’s face fell, but he tried again. “Come on, Lucy. We need to talk about this. We can’t just keep avoiding each other.”
Lucy’s voice was cold. “I don’t see the point, Kelvin. You’ve made it clear how you feel. I don’t want to hear it again.”
Kelvin sighed, trying a different approach. “Okay, fine. Let’s not talk about us then. Let’s just go out and have a good time. We can go to that new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.”
Lucy’s expression didn’t waver. “I’m not interested, Kelvin. And even if I was, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be seen together right now.”
Kelvin’s frustration grew. “Why not? We’re still married, aren’t we? We can still pretend to be a happy couple for one day.”
Lucy’s laughter was bitter. “Pretend? You want me to pretend to be happy with you after everything you’ve done? No, Kelvin. I don’t think so.”
Kelvin’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Lucy, please. Just try. For me. For us. For Wills.”
But Lucy just shook her head and turned away, leaving Kelvin feeling defeated and helpless.
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At wills school…
Kelvin walked into the school, a sense of trepidation building in his chest. He had no idea what Wills’ teacher wanted to discuss, but he had a feeling it wasn’t good.
“Ah, Mr. Kelvin, thank you for coming,” Wills’ teacher said, her expression concerned. “I wanted to talk to you about Wills’ performance in class lately. He’s been struggling to keep up with his studies, and I was wondering if you knew what might be causing it.”
Kelvin hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. He knew exactly what was causing Wills’ struggles – the tension between him and Lucy, the fights, the stress of their failing marriage. But he didn’t want to open up about that.
“I’m not sure,” Kelvin said finally. “Wills is a bright kid. Maybe he’s just going through a phase?”
The teacher frowned. “I’ve been teaching for a long time, Mr. Kelvin. I know when a child is struggling due to personal issues. And Wills is definitely struggling. He’s withdrawn, he’s not paying attention in class… it’s like he’s lost interest in learning altogether.”
Kelvin shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He knew the teacher was right, but he didn’t want to admit it.
“I’ll talk to him,” Kelvin said finally. “See if I can get him to open up about what’s going on.”
The teacher nodded. “I appreciate that, Mr. Kelvin. But I have to ask – is everything okay at home? Wills seems like a very sensitive child. If there’s something going on that’s affecting him, I need to know so I can support him.”
Kelvin’s instincts told him to shut down, to deny any problems at home. But a part of him wanted to confess, to tell the teacher everything and ask for her help. In the end, he said nothing, just shook his head and left the meeting feeling guilty and worried.
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Kelvin nursed his drink at the bar, trying to drown his sorrows. His friend, Mike, tapped him on the shoulder and nodded towards the entrance. “Isn’t that…?”
Kelvin’s eyes followed Mike’s gaze, and his heart sank. Lucy walked in, laughing and smiling with another man. Kelvin’s anger flared as he recognized the man – John, the same guy she had been talking to on the phone.
Kelvin’s vision blurred as he stormed over to their table. “What is going on here?” he demanded, his voice low and menacing.
Lucy’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. “Kelvin, calm down. This is just a friendly drink.”
Kelvin’s eyes locked onto John. “Friendly drink? With my wife?”
John stood up, a smug expression on his face. “Hey, Kelvin. I didn’t know you were so possessive.”
Kelvin’s fists clenched. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. She’s married, for crying out loud!”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Oh, spare me the drama, Kelvin. I can take care of myself.”
Kelvin’s anger boiled over. “You’re my wife, Lucy. You’re supposed to be faithful to me.”
Lucy’s laughter was cold. “Faithful? You want to talk about faithfulness? You’re one to talk, Kelvin.”
The bar fell silent, patrons watching the drama unfold. Mike tried to intervene, but Kelvin shook him off. “This doesn’t concern you, Mike.”
John took a step back, his eyes flicking to Lucy. “I think I’ll leave you two to sort this out.”
As John walked away, Lucy stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. “You have no right to dictate what I do, Kelvin. I’m done with this conversation.”
With that, she turned and walked out of the bar, leaving Kelvin seething with rage and humiliation.
To be continued…
