WHAT I NEEDED ── ARGYLE

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏𝒆.

MARIE HAD FOUND OUT ABOUT HER HUSBANDS AFFAIR a month before annette started her sophomore year. she had made plans to visit her mother in palm springs for the weekend, the girls deciding they wanted to stay home and james volunteering to stay home with them. normally marie would've urged the whole family to go with her but when knew james had been working so much that he never had time to spend with the girls, she was okay with them staying home. she didn't know james only wanted to take that as an opportunity to pursue his year long affair.

    she had left bright and early one saturday morning, the girls under the impression that they would be spending time with james, marie thinking the same when she had left. but while she was off with elizabeth, james had woken up and told his daughters he had gotten called into work and he wouldn't make it home in time for dinner that night. bonnie was disappointed, and as was annette but for an entirely different reason, knowing deep down he wasn't telling the truth.

    james left that day, sneaking an extra pair of clothes as he planned on meeting up with his mistress to spend the night with her, planning on going home right before marie did on sunday. he thought his plan was genius, going outside of lenora to meet with the young secretary, his daughters at home alone and having their own fun without him. but annette could only have so much fun as her anxiety began clouding her mind, immediately thinking of where james really was.

    james had made it home on time that sunday afternoon, marie getting home only hours after him. she was in a good mood when she walked through the door, happy to see james was sitting with his daughters in the living room, the three watching a movie on the tv and eating popcorn, the large bowl in james' lap. but that would be the last time she would ever look at her husband with love in her eyes because the next day when james actually returned to work, marie got a visit from their neighbor during her lunch.

    her world came crashing down as the elderly woman sat in front of her to express her concerns, telling marie she and her husband had spotted james kissing a woman and going into a motel room with her. marie didn't want to believe what she was hearing but deep down she knew there was some truth to it, knowing james had become unbelievably distant over the past few months, most nights not knowing if he was in bed with her.

    she didn't waste time rushing over to where james worked, knowing he got a longer lunch than she did, wanting to confront him right away. she was determined as she walked into the building, briefly greeting the receptionist with a forced smile, getting straight into the elevator, hand gripping onto the purse that hung on her shoulder. she could feel her hands shaking as she pressed the button to the third floor, ignoring the look she got as she stormed towards her husband office.

    she had wanted to confront her husband but she had never expected to walk in on her husband laying a kiss on his secretary's lips, a hand placed gently on her cheek before he pulled away as if he knew he had to be careful kissing the woman at work. marie didn't say a word, beginning to feel angry as james finally noticed his wife standing at his doorway, eyes widening in shock. "marie!" he said, shocked as marie slowly walked closer. she remained silent as she pulled her wedding ring off her finger, dropping it in front if the other woman. "wait honey i can explain" james said, getting up from his desk.

    "don't." was all that marie could say to her husband, staring at him with pure anger before she walked out, ignoring the stares she was receiving from the other workers. james stopped midway after initially going after her, rubbing his face in frustration. marie cried in her car when she got home, feeling betrayed and stupid that she hadn't questioned his disloyalty, nights of him claiming to be working late, flashing in her mind like a movie reel.

    that night james came home in the midst of marie and the girls eating dinner, marie tensing up the moment she heard his voice. "why don't you girls take your dinner up to your room , your dad and i have to talk" she said softly, giving them a reassuring smile that things were going to be fine, annette and bonnie taking a glance at each other before they did as they were told, carefully holding onto their plate of food and their glass of water.