Playful, Loving Wife

Also A Plauful, Loving Wife

continued

Setting: Children are off to bed. Joseph and his wife are sitting in front of a fire in their living room. Joseph looks at his wife. He searches her eyes for a glint, a playful glint. None appears.

Maybe this isn’t his lucky night, but he has had some good playful times. And he does have a loving wife.

Remember the dinner we went out to in Hawaii? We pretended we were both singles out alone. The maître d' said that there was only one table left. I told him that if you didn’t mind maybe we could share the table.”

“I don’t think he suspected we were married,” adds Jill joining in recalling the event. “Even though we both were wearing wedding rings.”

“Or he thought we both were cheating on our spouses.”

Jill smiles. “I think I had a lot to drink that night.”

“Only two glasses of wine after the meal.”

“And one before,” adds Jill.

“Is that why you felt comfortable suggesting we watch the waves roll on to the beach from your balcony?”

“I was in full control of my faculties. I thought it was a pretty innocent first step to luring you to my room,” says Jill grinning.

“It didn’t take long for that innocence to disappear.”

“Cheating on your husband with your husband. It doesn’t get better than that,” says Jill stepping closer to Joseph. “We had so much fun that we did it again the next night. Remember? Only we went to a different restaurant.”

“It was like getting away with enjoying forbidden fruit. I think that was one of the best times in our marriage,” says Joseph reflectively.

Joseph sucks in a long deep breath before he says, still in a very low voice, “that radio warning––don’t drive unless you have to.” He falls silent again. His hand sweeps away another tear. “That’s the warning my grandmother told me was issued when my parents tried to drive home from Grand Prairie. They didn’t heed it. They died.” He takes another deep breath and adds, “I don’t want that for our children.”

Before Jill can respond, Joseph’s arm shoots out pointing to the motel sign. “I knew it,” declares Joseph. A few moments later he adds, “There’s a vacancy. Phone Julie. Tell her because of the roads we won’t be home tonight.”

Jill does as Joseph requests. She finishes talking to Julie before Joseph rolls up to the parking stall before the motel office. While talking to Julie, Mary’s words haunt Jill. Can’t say I don’t know how to please a man. Hang on to him. He’s a good man. Wanting to be like Mary, Jill wonders what she can do distract Joseph from the sadness brought on by the snowstorm.

“Sure hope they have a place for us,” he says. “I didn’t see any empty parking stalls.” He shifts into park.” You coming?” he asks as he turns off the engine.

‘I’ve got it,’ thinks Jill. She remembers a play she previewed for the drama club. A smile crosses her face as she recalls the opening scene.

“You coming?” repeats Joseph. He opens the car door.

“You want a married woman to spend a night in a motel with you, right?”

The strange question stops Joseph as he half steps out of the car. Turning around he looks at her, trying to figure out what she is up to.

“Do you think it’s wise that the clerk knows who the woman is that will be sharing your––”

“Whaaat?” says Joseph as he drags himself back into the car.

“Grabs your attention, doesn’t it?” says Jill grinning. “I just paraphrased an opening scene from a play our drama group half considered.”

“Jill, what does this have to do with anything?” A touch of annoyance colors Joseph’s response.

“Joseph, I want you to trade scenes, the depressing scene of your parent’s death for an alluring fantasy scene, a scene where a guy picks up an attractive lady from a party and brings her to a motel for the night.”

Joseph digests her idea. He can’t believe he sees a playful smile. ‘That’s not really my Jill.’ Looking closer he sees Jill tilt head, her left eye peaks up out from beneath her hair. Her index finger slowly slides her hair to the side. The uncharacteristic invitation raises a hidden hope. He dares to check it out. “A fling?” he ventures.

“With a mystery woman, a once-in-a-life-time opportunity,” clarifies Jill, grinning. She sees Joseph buying into her option. “A secret only you and I will know about.”

Joseph toys with the implication for a few seconds. “Stay here. I’ll go register us.”

MAN   TOY

Indeed, Joseph is a lucky man to possess such a wonderful wife. He’s like a man who bought a brand new top-of-the-line car. Any sign of rain and it’s in the garage. Frequent washings keep it looking new. Hand waxing and hand polishing guarantees it looks unblemished. Only number one gas for this beauty. Protect it. Park far away from other cars in the parking lot. Take it in for an oil change well before the required time. Anyone seeing his prize possession would think it was a show room vehicle.

Joseph’s commitment was like the man who bought a brand new car. Do anything to keep Jill as happy as he first saw her. After marrying her, he knew she was the best thing he ever had. How can one go wrong with that kind of commitment for his wife?

Unfortunately a misperception created friction. Many times Jill felt that, instead of being his valued helpmate, she was his treasured object, a very important thing. In times of need, particularly when Jill wasn’t her normal happy energetic self, he’d often turn to his long time, good neighbor, vendor and farmer friend, Thomas and his wife, Rebecca. He trusted these older people like they were his loving parents. They were after all, married a lot longer and had raised six children. Why not look to them?

Problem: Jill felt devalued. Her wisdom and advice weren’t important.

“I know you were pretty broken up when you returned from the hospital. But I felt that after our little talk before Christmas things were improving. At Amber’s birthday party I hoped I’d see a little of the Jill I married, but you seemed to just be going through the motions, like it was some kind of job you had to do. Be patient, Rebecca told me. So I tried.”

‘Rebecca again? Always Rebecca. I thought he said he’d quit running to her for every little thing. Who all have you been talking to? Who else thinks I’m totally messed up?’

 haiku capsule:

                   

loving playful times     

fantasies––forbidden fruit

only part of marriage

Next blog:  “A Good Man”