The warm summer breeze caressed the feverish flesh of Capri's skin, teasing the tiny hairs that stood point at the nape of her neck. Her eyes watching every retreating step her husband made towards his vehicle. She couldn't believe he was leaving her alone. Again.
White lights blinded her momentarily, but she could hear the tight screeches the tire made to hold on to the road. Her vision only clearing quickly enough to see her husbands truck speed down the dark road. It was hard to fight the knot that formed in her throat, the tears seeking release, but she did, she couldn't accept the fact that he was leaving her and not know the reason. He only told her he needed space and what number to reach him.
Accepting defeat and suddenly feeling the breeze for what it was, Capri sought out the warmth of the fireplace. She stood before the dying fire. It reminded her too much of their relationship. The more she tried to rekindle the flame, the more he turned away from her. Their nights no longer involved romantic rendezvous, walks on the beach, or sipping wine by the fireplace. Communication between them was like two strangers. The marriage she once had was dying, quickly and painfully and hope was beginning to weigh thin. Tonight was a true sign, their 6th anniversary had been a failure.
The morning came with the non-stop ringing of the house phone. Her hangover had already taken a number on her and all she wanted was silence; A chance to think of a plan, but it wasn't quite working out as well. She knew better than to finish a whole bottle of wine, but it was the only thing that kept her company throughout the night. Probably the only thing she'd accept to drown out the symptoms of a heartbreak. Hell, she'd even make it her secret lover if there weren't any consequences like the one she was dealing with. It would be her only lover that wouldn't abandon her or choose sleeping on the couch instead of their bed.
The ringing finally stopped and was now replaced by the doorbell. Obviously today wasn't going to be a quiet one. Acting like she wasn't home didn't blow over too well with some.
"Oh my God, just leave me alone," she mumbled, dragging her feet as she approached the door. Groaning at the sharp ray of light and the two figures that stood before her, she stood aside.
"Damn, you look like an elephant trampled your ass, " the blond head said with a half laugh.
The two intruders walked pass her as she lazily closed the door. She followed the rich trail of vanilla and some other flower scent she had yet to recognize. Her best friends Italeigh and her husbands sister Rochelle was running their mouths faster than she could catch up. All she could think about was the hard empty space forming and weighing her down.
"Capri! Are you even listening to a thing I've just said?" Italeigh smacked her lips and rolled her eyes, a habit she had yet to kill since being a teenager.
"No."
Her voice made them stop and look at her light, she was a woman who needed some serious girlfriend talk. Rochelle knew she was having problems with their marriage, but it look like things were making a drastic change and not for better.
"Capri, want to talk?" Italeigh pulled her in a tight embrace. "How about we get you cleaned up and go grab a bite, hmm?"
Capri only nodded, it was best she get some air. Think some things over, hopefully her hangover letting up.
"Good, I know this new place that's H.O.Tee!"
Italeigh suggested a new cafe in town called Ying Yang. It was out of the normal five star dining they were accustomed to attending.
"They mix all kinds of cuisines here. Delicious."
"How you find out about this place Lei-Lei?" Rochelle rose a skeptical brow.
"My new beau surprised me." she said in a matter of fact tone.
Capri remained silent, taking in the vibe of the cafe. Rome didn't take her out to new places anymore or even their favorite spots. Whoever was getting what belonged to her won't keep it too much longer.
"Come on, I requested soundproof."
Rochelle and Italeigh ate in silence for the first five seconds as they watched Capri nibble and pick at her salad. Normally she'd be cracking jokes on Italeigh's new man of the week or going on about her god-daughter. They knew marriages were tough, but they weren't going to have their best friend in an emotional, depressed wreck.
"What happened between y'all?" Italeigh asked before stuffing her mouth.
Capri let an excess amount of air leave her lungs before inhaling slowly. It was a sob story she wasn't ready to share yet.
"We, ugh, we had a fight." Embarrassed and on the edge of making a hysterical scene, she stared away. "We separated."
Rochelle felt the guilt eating away at her. There had to be something she could do to fix the situation her sister-in-law and bestfriend was in. Before she could speak, Italeigh had took the reins.
"Ri-Ri, I'm so sorry to hear that, but you're too good for that dog."
"Hold up, that dog is my brother. Capri I'm sorry. I don't know the real and if I did you know I'd be the first to tell you. You think he's cheating?"
Capri couldn't answer, she merely shrugged her shoulders and hoped it was a good enough answer. She felt he was doing something behind her back a year ago. The damn female intuition was knocking at her door as soon as he said he would start working late at nights and not to wait up for him. There just wasn't any proof of him sneaking behind her back.
"Well I mean he's sniffed many bushes and humped a few trees when he was younger, but he knows he has a good thing going with you. He hasn't lived that lifestyle since he met you." Rochelle placed her hand over Capris, offering some kind of reassurance.
Of course she would say that, she's his sister first. Blood would always be thicker than water and Capri wasn't dumb enough to not know Rochelle knew something. Still, she couldn't go pointing any fingers yet or making enemies when the main factor stood. No proof.
"I don't know where I went wrong."
"Girl you didn't go wrong anywhere. All you have to do is take a trip to one of those big girl stores, sip something nice and let cruise control take over."
Rochelle rolled her eyes, "She's not like you Lei-Lei. Give her some advice should could actually use."
"Maybe that's the problem. Stop acting all sweet and pull the bull by it's horns. You know, saddle up and ye-haw it out!" She imitated a cowboy.
Capri finally gave in to a smile. Italeigh was a high class woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go after it. There wasn't a man she let tie her down, nor stick around for too long. She enjoyed life to it's fullest and wasted no time regretting. Capri admired her, she didn't have the guts to live that lifestyle.
"Capri, why don't you get away, take a real trip." Rochelle suggested.
"Or stay up at the house you had up for rent, that no one is staying in, that I've had my eye on forever." Italeigh put on her brightest smile that would win anyone over, yet did nothing to phase Capri.
"It would be nice to get away from the house. Besides, who knows when Rome will come back." If he ever comes back was on the tip of her tongue, but felt it was wiser to not show how she truly felt about him leaving her. It was likely they were saying the same thing in their heads.
After the end of the meal, Capri was finally able to relieve the stress of her pitying friends. The one stall bathroom became a temporary heaven.
Throughout their girls day out, Capris mind kept wandering back to a question she'd been asking herself all last night and all day. The question nagged at her, took away her smile, made her feel she didn't stand up to the duties as a wife. It choked the air she inhaled and formed that familiar knot in her throat....
Did she have to stand by a man whose love she shared?
