Margaret by no means imagined she’d return residence to see her husband, Martin, desperately tearing up their beautiful backyard along with his ex-wife by his aspect. The quiet urgency of their voices and the soil on their arms steered secrets and techniques hidden for years. When she confronted them, Margaret got here to see that Martin wasn’t the flawless man she believed him to be.
I as soon as believed my husband, Martin, was the proper man—form, attentive, and a comforting presence throughout a painful breakup. We met via a pal, rapidly fell in love, and bonded over small quirks and shared vulnerability. Martin’s tales about his tough marriage to his ex-wife, Janet, made me really feel fortunate to have somebody so real.
As an alternative, I used to be sh0cked to seek out him in our yard along with his ex-wife.
I sat within the automobile for a second, blinking quickly, questioning if my eyes had been taking part in methods on me. However no, they had been there, digging up all of the flowers I had labored so arduous to develop.
At that time, I obtained out of the automobile and marched over to them.
“What’s happening right here?” I demanded, my voice trembling with anger.
Martin’s head snapped up, his eyes broad with shock. “M-M-Margaret!” he exclaimed, dropping the shovel with a clang. “Y-you’re h-home e-early.”
He’s stammering.
At that second, all my worst fears got here speeding in. Martin solely stammered when he was really harassed or nervous. However why? What was he hiding?
Was he dishonest on me with Janet? Had they by no means actually damaged up? Or was it one thing much more sinister? Why else would they be digging up our yard in secret?
“W-we had been simply…” he began, however Janet reduce him off.
“Oh, you didn’t inform her?” she started. “Love, she DESERVES to know that 10 years in the past we buried a time capsule.”
“A time capsule?” I repeated numbly.
“Sure, we buried one once we had been nonetheless collectively. After we lived right here,” she revealed, gesturing to a muddy steel field close to her toes. “We all the time deliberate to dig it up sometime.”
Martin nodded, “Y-yeah. We, uh, we thought it will be enjoyable to look again on our reminiscences.”
“Your reminiscences,” I echoed. “So, you determined to destroy my backyard on your little journey down reminiscence lane?”
“I-I’m sorry,” Martin stammered. “I d-didn’t suppose—”
“No, you didn’t suppose,” I snapped earlier than storming into the home.
Inside, I paced the lounge, making an attempt to course of what had simply occurred.
Martin known as out, “Margaret? Can we discuss?”
I took a deep breath and stepped into the hallway.
“What’s there to speak about?” I requested coldly.
“Please, allow us to clarify,” Martin pleaded. “It’s not what you suppose.”
Janet nodded. “We simply wished to reminisce a bit. There’s nothing —”
I held up a hand, slicing her off.
“You understand what? Positive. Go forward. Reminisce. Dig up your previous. I’ll be outdoors.”
I brushed previous them and went outdoors. As I regarded on the mess they’d product of my backyard, an concept fashioned in my thoughts.
So, I began gathering wooden for a bonfire. By the point I had a superb blaze happening, the solar had nearly set. I may hear Martin and Janet within the kitchen, laughing over one thing they’d discovered within the time capsule.
“Hey,” I known as out. “Why don’t you guys carry that stuff out right here? We may have a pleasant little bonfire.”
A couple of minutes later, they joined me outdoors, and Martin put the time capsule on the bottom.
“That is good,” he smiled.
I nodded and reached into the field to seize a handful of its contents. I had just a few previous pictures and letters in my hand.
“Margaret, what are you —” Martin began, however his phrases died in his throat as I tossed every part into the fireplace.
“What are you doing?” Janet demanded.
“Burnt bridges ought to keep burnt, don’t you suppose?” I stated firmly. “It’s time to focus much less on the previous and extra on the longer term we’re alleged to be constructing collectively, Martin.”
I watched because the flames consumed their reminiscences, considering this wasn’t how I imagined our life collectively. Nevertheless, it additionally gave me hope that perhaps we may construct one thing new from right here. One thing sincere and actual.
Taking a look at Martin, I additionally realized he wasn’t the proper man I assumed I’d married. He was simply as flawed as the remainder of us.
All of a sudden, Janet broke the silence.
“I feel I ought to go,” she stated, backing away from the fireplace. Neither Martin nor I attempted to cease her as she hurried out of the yard.
As soon as we had been alone, Martin turned to me with tears in his eyes.
“Margaret, I’m so sorry,” he stated. “I by no means meant to harm you. I simply… I didn’t know how one can inform you in regards to the time capsule.”
I took a deep breath, “Did you suppose I wouldn’t perceive?”
“I used to be afraid,” he admitted. “Afraid you’d suppose I nonetheless had emotions for Janet, afraid you’d be upset in regards to the backyard. I assumed if I may simply dig it up rapidly when you had been away, it will be over and executed with. However I assume I used to be unsuitable. I tousled, massive time. Are you able to ever forgive me?”
“I don’t know, Martin,” I stated actually, staring on the fireplace. “You’ve damaged my belief. That’s not one thing that may be mounted in a single day.”
“We’ve got so much to speak about, and so much to work via,” I continued. “However not tonight. Tonight, I would like some area.”
“In fact,” Martin nodded. “I’ll… I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
As he returned to the home, I remained by the fireplace, watching it slowly die down.
The backyard must be replanted, I assumed. New seeds, new soil, new life. Possibly our relationship may very well be the identical approach.
Solely time would inform which path we’d select. However one factor was sure, my ideas concerning Martin would by no means be the identical once more.
