AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her nostrils flared as she brought two plates to the table, each filled with crispy breakfast food. “Good to know. Except today, because you have to be at work soon, don’t you?”
I nodded and pulled the plate close, inhaling the scent of bacon, eggs, and biscuits with honey. “I do. I can’t believe you made scrambled eggs.”
Her brow crinkled adorably. “Why?”
“You usually call them an abomination. Or, if I’m lucky, vomit eggs.”
Megan shrugged and took a seat. “I can see where vomit eggs might come from, but I felt like cheesy scrambled eggs so that’s what I made. You like scrambled eggs?”
“Love them.”
She scooped up a forkful and clanked it with mine like they were champagne glasses. “In that case, happy anniversary to you.”
“To us both, I’d say.” I dug in and finished the whole plate in under five minutes. “What are you up to today?”
This was nice, exactly what mornings were like when the stars aligned and Megan and I were on the same schedule.
“I think I’m gonna head over to Sweet Treats today.” Her words were matter-of-fact as she stood and went to the stove, pulled open the oven door, and returned with more biscuits and bacon. “Maybe it’s all the orgasms, but I’m feeling very inspired and creative today, so I figured I’d see if I can turn it into anything.”
“I’m sure you’ll have the entire town buzzing again.”
Her lips pulled into an unsure half-smile. “I hope so, because I came across some old notebooks and I’m thinking those ideas are just what the doctor ordered.” Her smile was bright and excited, the way they always got when she was working on some odd combo that never failed to wow every customer who came into the bakery.
“What ideas are those? Your watermelon cheesecake was both controversial and popular.” I missed mornings like this, talking about work and bouncing ideas off one another.
Megan pushed her plate away with an uneasy smile. “Online ordering and catering services for corporate lunches and other bigger events in town, maybe even the surrounding towns. And since we now have those independent delivery services, I could do it without adding too much to my bottom line.”
“What?” My tone and my expression were not what anyone would expect of a loving and supportive husband, but her words had taken me by surprise. “Why would you want to do that?”
She shrugged. “Why not?”
“Okay, let me rephrase, when did you have time to think up all these business plans?” I didn’t know why I was getting so worked up, but something about this felt wrong. All wrong.
Her smile dimmed, which I hated, and she replaced it with a bland grin. “I found some notebooks in my office the other day and there was a whole plan for online ordering and catering services for Sweet Treats Express. I figured this must be something that I really wanted.” She reached across the table for a pink plastic notebook and shoved it in front of me. “Look.”
The notebook didn’t just contain notes, it was filled with them. Drawings for logos, and how to make the space work for multiple purposes, a tentative budget, and menu ideas. It was all there, outlined as if she’d been thinking about this, planning it for months.
“You never said anything.” I felt betrayed and angry, and I couldn’t say why, exactly.
“I didn’t know, Casey.” Her tone was disappointed with a hint of annoyance. “I guess that means you’re not happy about this. Why?”
“I’m not happy or unhappy, Megs. I’m surprised because you never said a word.” Which begged the question of why she’d kept these ideas to herself.
She froze and nodded her head in that angry, distracted way of hers. She did it when she wanted to fight but wouldn’t.
“Maybe I planned to tell you, I don’t know. But based on your response, I have a pretty good idea why I didn’t.”
She pushed away from the table, taking her plate with her. She rinsed her dishes and placed them carefully in the dishwasher before she turned to me again.
“I’m going to look into it anyway. I thought you’d be happy for me, but I guess I was wrong. I’m still learning. See you later.” She cast a quick look at the biscuit, egg, and bacon sliders on the table, shook her head, and walked away.
I finished the delicious food in silence, enjoying the buttery biscuits and the salty sweet mixture of maple syrup and bacon, but not as much as I had enjoyed it a few minutes ago.
Megan showered and dressed quickly, before I could gather my thoughts, before I could even figure out if I needed to apologize or simply offer support. She slipped out the front door without a kiss or a word of goodbye.
It wasn’t our first fight and it wouldn’t be our last, but something about it put me on edge and kept me there long after I arrived at the hospital to do rounds and check on my patients. The day moved slowly, which was just fine with me—at least it was until my plans to escape to my office were interrupted by Cal.
