“You know what? I don‘t care!” JC screamed.

“FINE!” Renée retired to the bedroom while JC chose to remain in the den watching the game.

The argument had lasted well over an hour, and no one really knew the outcome. They parted ways and more than likely wouldn’t see each other until they went to bed. In that case, there was a partial truce called until morning when something else would come up.

Renée sat on the edge of the bed staring at her wedding picture. It would be the last thing to be packed. She quietly brought her suitcase down from the closet and begin packing it. She would go to her mother’s until she could get things straightened out with JC. He was so difficult one minute, then completely charming the next. Snapping the locks on her suitcase, she carefully slid it under the bed. She would leave when JC fell asleep.

JC stared blankly at the television screen. He didn’t even know who was winning, nor did he particularly care. He was hurt. He knew Renée was hurt. He wanted to make things better...To wrap his arms around her and tell her they should both stop acting foolish and just be in love. Unfortunately for both, his stubborn streak wouldn’t allow him to do that. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock; It was already past 1am. He climbed the stairs and gently pushed open the bedroom door.

Renée lay on the bed curled on her side reading a novel. JC became flushed. She was supposed to be crying, waiting on him to come upstairs and make things right. The minute he would put his arms around her, she would automatically apologize and never expect the same out of him. She glanced up from her novel, then returned her gaze to the pages in front of her. JC hastily changed into some pajama pants. She hadn’t even so much as looked at him since he first came in. He threw back the blankets and crawled into bed, giving her the exact same treatment she gave him.

A few minutes passed and Renée was still reading.

“Damn it, how am I supposed to sleep? Turn off that light!” JC hissed. Renée simply looked at him and then clicked off the light.

She waited an hour or so, then carefully slipped out of bed, grabbed her suitcase and tiptoed down the stairs. She loaded the suitcase into the back of her metallic copper Santa Fe and drove towards the interstate.

~:~:~:~: 3 hours later :~:~:~:~

Renée carefully pulled into a 24 hour Stop-N-Go. She stretched as she climbed out and locked the doors. She would get a soda and a snack, but first she had to make a trip to the ladies’ room. Washing her hands and face, she exited to the snack shelf. While scanning the items, her eyes were drawn to the deep blue eyes and sweet smile. She read the headline, “GQ Gets Personal: What is the key to JC‘s happiness?”

She didn’t remember him doing a spread for GQ, but nevertheless, she picked up the magazine and forgot all about her snack. She laid her items on the counter.

“He’s so cute!” The young girl behind the counter said. “My friends and I went to his last concert here. He was so awesome! I can’t wait until he comes back! His wife has got to be the luckiest woman in the world...”

“Yes, I suppose she is...” Renée replied, barely over a whisper. Renée pulled out a ten and laid it on the counter.

“...but listen to me rambling, you can tell its late.” She giggled. “$3.53 is your change. Thanks, have a good night!” Renée gave a half-hearted smile, and walked back out to her car.

Carefully sipping her coffee, she wondered if she dared read what the key to JC’s happiness was. She knew she was once a part of it, but now she wasn’t so sure. She scanned the contents for the article page, and flipped to it. The quote that was on the page with his picture read: “...Friends and family have a lot to do with it, but I would be the most depressed man without my wife to share it with...”

Tears were coming fast and hard now. There had been a few slipping down her cheeks since she left but now, the floodgates were released. She placed the magazine in the passenger seat and began her journey. She turned the car in the other direction and headed home.

She wondered why she had left to begin with, why she didn’t apologize, why she didn’t make things right. She could see the distant lights of the city ahead. Another hour or two and she would be home. He would probably never know she left, and if she was quiet when she returned, he wouldn’t know.

Quietly she climbed the stairs and unpacked her suitcase in the guest bedroom, if he saw it, she would claim to be sorting through make up. She would hang her clothes in the closet until later. After she had finished, she changed back into her nightie and tiptoed inside their bedroom. JC hadn’t moved an inch. She slipped back in bed. Cautiously, she wrapped her arms around him. He woke up and grumbled some incoherent words. She squeezed him tighter as her tears flowed freely. JC felt the wetness on his back. Quickly he rolled over and took her face in his hands.

“Baby, what is it?” His mind was clouded with sleep, he obviously didn’t remember the fight until Renée looked up at him. Her brown eyes drowning in her own tears. “Shhh, Baby Girl, it’s okay. It’s okay. I love you...” He kissed her forehead, then her nose, and then placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’m sorry...Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”

“JC, I love you. I’m sorry Baby, I never meant to hurt you...” She explained her little road trip. “I’m sorry...so so sorry.” She continued to cry into his chest.

JC pushed her away. “What made you come back?”

Staring into his gentle eyes, she replied “Only love...I love you so much...I can’t live without you. You’re my missing piece, when I’m without you, I’m incomplete.”

JC then pulled her close again. “I love you too, my angel.” Wrapped in one another’s arms, the couple fell into a comfortable sleep.

The End