Late in the evening, as Mary placed Soren down to sleep in his crib, she watched him for a moment, his tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm. She tucked his blanket securely around him, brushed a soft kiss on his forehead, and whispered, "Sweet dreams, my little love."
Quietly, she walked out of the nursery, gently closing the door behind her. The hallway was dim, the house silent except for the faint creaks of the wooden floor beneath her feet. As she made her way downstairs, she felt the weight of the day pressing down on her.
In the living room, she found her mother seated on the couch, a blanket draped over her lap and a steaming cup of tea in her hands. "He's finally asleep?" her mother asked with a soft smile.
Mary nodded, sinking into the armchair across from her. "Out like a light. He's been so fussy lately, but I think he's just teething."
Her mother sipped her tea and studied Mary carefully. "And how are you holding up, sweetheart? You've been looking… distant."
Mary forced a smile, "I'm perfectly fine, just a bit tired."
Her mom shook her head not believing a single word, "be honest with me Mary, did something happen between you and David."
Mary said quiet, she didn't know what to say to her mom. She hasn't figured things out with David so this wasn't a very perfect time to discuss their situation to her mom.
"I'm you're mother Mary, and I'm here if you need anything."
Mary sighed, her shoulders slumping as she stared at her hands resting in her lap. "Mom, it's… complicated. I don't even know how to explain it."
Her mother reached out and placed a comforting hand on hers. "Sweetheart, I've been through my fair share of complicated. Whatever it is, I'm here to listen. You don't have to carry it alone."
Mary hesitated, her thoughts racing. She wanted to confide in her mother, but at the same time, she felt protective of the fragile state of her marriage. "I'll figure it out ma, you're not always going to be here anytime this happens so I'll learn by myself."
Her mother frowned but kept her voice gentle. "Mary, I understand that you want to handle things on your own, and I respect that. But leaning on someone who loves you doesn't make you weak. It makes you human."
Mary looked away, her chest tightening. "I know, Mom. But if I don't learn to fix this myself, how can I expect to handle things when you're not here? I need to figure out how to stand on my own."
Her mother sighed, her eyes filled with a mix of pride and concern. "You've always been strong, Mary. Even as a little girl, you wanted to solve everything on your own. But remember, strength doesn't mean shutting people out. Sometimes it means knowing when to let others in."
Mary nodded slightly, though her resolve didn't waver. "I hear you, Mom. I do. But right now, I need to work through this in my own way."
Her mother studied her for a moment before giving a small smile. "Alright, sweetheart. I won't push. Just promise me one thing—if it ever gets too much, you'll let me know. Or someone you trust. Don't try to carry the whole world on your shoulders."
Mary's lips quirked into a faint smile. "I promise."
Her mother reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Mary's ear. "Good. Now, why don't we finish this tea and talk about something lighter? Maybe tomorrow we can take Soren to the park like I planned."
Mary's smile grew a little warmer. "I'd like that, Mom. Thank you."
As they shifted the conversation to happier topics, Mary felt a small sense of relief, even if the weight of her worries hadn't entirely lifted. For now, she was grateful for her mother's presence and the quiet support it offered.
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Late at midnight, Mary sat at her vanity, brushing her hair back into a messy bun. The soft glow of the table lamp illuminated her tired face, the shadows under her eyes a testament to sleepless nights and endless worries. She stared at her reflection, her thoughts racing as the brush stilled in her hand.
The house was silent, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards and the faint hum of the refrigerator downstairs. David hadn't returned home yet, and Mary couldn't help but wonder where he was—or who he was with.
She set the brush down with a sigh, her fingers trembling as they lingered over a small photo frame on the edge of the vanity. It was a picture of her, David, and Soren from a happier time, before the cracks in their marriage had started to show. Her heart ached as she traced the smiling faces with her fingertip.
As she stared at the photo David suddenly looking stressed and tired himself
As she stared at the photo, the sound of the bedroom door opening caught her attention. David stepped inside, looking as stressed and exhausted as she felt. His tie was loose, and his shirt was slightly wrinkled, as though he'd been wearing it far too long.
He paused when he saw her, his gaze softening slightly. "You're still up?" he asked, his voice low and tired.
Mary turned back to the vanity, not meeting his eyes. "Couldn't sleep."
David ran a hand through his hair, hesitating before stepping further into the room. "I thought you'd be in bed by now."
She didn't respond immediately, her fingers still resting on the photo frame. Finally, she said, "I was about to head to sleep."
With a soft click, she turned off the vanity light, plunging the room into a dim glow from the bedside lamp. She stood, brushing past David without looking at him, and moved toward the bed.
David hesitated, watching her. "Mary…" he began, his voice tentative.
She pulled back the covers and slipped into bed, her back turned to him. "You should get some rest too. It's late," she said softly, her tone distant.
"No, I'm not going to sleep without having a proper conversation with you." He said grabbing her arm, "what do you want me to do to prove that I only have eyes for you, not another person."
Mary froze, her arm still in his grasp. She slowly turned to face him, her expression a mix of exhaustion and frustration. "David, it's not just about proving you don't have feelings for someone else. It's about trust. About you letting me in instead of shutting me out."
David's grip loosened, but he didn't let go completely. "I know I've made mistakes, Mary, but I don't know how to fix this if you don't tell me what you need from me."
Her eyes searched his, looking for sincerity. "I need you to be honest. I need you to show me that you care enough to keep me in the loop about your life. I'm tired of feeling like an outsider in my own marriage, David."
He nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting hers again. "I'll tell you everything," he said earnestly. "About work, about the photos—everything. I just need you to know that you and Soren are my whole world. I don't want to lose you."
Mary's eyes softened slightly, though her walls didn't come down entirely. "Then start now. No more excuses, no more protecting me by keeping secrets. If we're going to make this work, we both have to try."
David let out a heavy breath and sat on the edge of the bed. "The pictures… They were taken by my brothers people. Like I said before, those people are just my business partners and thos pictures were played with to make it seem like we were doing things."
"I know you and your family are not in good terms, but don't you think that I have the right to know if you have woman clients. You know how I feel about the whole thing but you hide everything from me."
David looked down, guilt etched into his features. "You're right. You have every right to know. I should have told you from the start, but I didn't want to worry you. I thought I was protecting you."
Mary shook her head, her voice quiet but firm. "Protecting me? David, keeping things from me doesn't protect me—it isolates me. I'm your wife. If we can't face things together, then what's the point of all this?"
David ran a hand over his face, his frustration with himself evident. "I was scared, Mary. Scared that if I told you, you'd think the worst of me. That it would just add more strain to us."
Mary's voice softened slightly, though the hurt was still there. "You not telling me only made me think the worst, David. All I want is honesty. Even if it's hard, even if it hurts, I need to know I can trust you."
David reached for her hand again, his grip gentle this time. "I'll do better, Mary. I promise. No more hiding things, no more trying to handle everything on my own. You're right—we're supposed to face things together."
She looked at their hands, the warmth of his touch conflicting with the cold ache in her chest. "Please don't go back on your words."
David looked up her tired face and nodded, "everything I do, I'll always let you know."
Mary slightly smiled pulling her hands away from his grip, "now go take a shower and come sleep."
TBC