Husband-Wife by Debbie Lacy

To Love, Honor and Obey

Leonard Nelson was 47 years of age, handsome, educated man who owed his own CPA business. He was a good man, great provider, loved and adored his beautiful wife China.

China Nelson was 43 years of age, a beautiful successful woman who worked as a System’s Manager for a large computer company. She loved her handsome Leonard for all he could provide for her.

Driving home tired from all of the meetings, system problems and employee related issues of the day, China pressed the garage door opener and drove in. She grabbed her handbag and briefcase while getting out of her beamer as she watched the automatic garage door close. As she entered the house, she kicks off her shoes and checks the messages on her answering machine. One of the messages was from her husband Leonard who called to say he’d be late for dinner. She puts the Lasagna in the oven to warm then went upstairs to take a nice relaxing bath in her Jacuzzi tub.

Leonard had a late business meeting with a client and couldn’t wait to get home to his lovely China. The meeting ended and was quite triumphant. As Leonard had gotten another new client and he could not wait to share the good news with China.

China was a materialistic high-maintenance woman who loved to spend money. She told her friends if Leonard wasn’t a successful businessman she'd never would have married him.

When Leonard arrived home he found China setting the table. It was a lovely dining room setting and Leonard was please and also quite hungry.

“Hello Sweetheart!” He greeted walking over to kiss her.

“Hi Baby! How was your day?” She inquired.

“Oh, it was a typical day.” He replied.

“So I gather you didn’t get the account?” She asked firmly while putting her hands on her hips.

Leonard turned and smiled at her.

“You did!” Oh honey that’s wonderful!” She exclaimed.

She slowly walked over to him and kissed his lips while taking off his shirt and unbuckled his belt and immediately his pants fell to the floor then Leonard picked her up and carried her up to their bed and made passionate love to her.

After the late dinner, China went over and sat in Leonard’s lap. Casually she told him about her day and how she was so tired of her job. Leonard told her that she’d have days where things just doesn’t run smoothly all the time and to just be tough and roll with the punches. There will be better days ahead. This wasn’t what China wanted to hear, she wanted Leonard to have some compassion and give her the option on whether she should quit or not. She knew he was doing exceptionally well in his business for a while now, so it’s not like she has to work. China went on to tell him that she just can't handle the pressure and that she was giving her two weeks notice. Leonard paused and looked at her then asked, “Did you find another job or something?”

“No, I haven’t found another job yet!” She retorted.

“So what will you do to earn an income?” He asked her.

“Honey, right now I just want to take a break. That's all!” She expressed.

“Not right now sweetheart, I need you to hang in there at least another year.” He demanded.

“But why!” She quaked.

“Why he repeated, because now we have this big house which is what you wanted. Your dream home!”

“Why, he repeated again, because of the new cars we both wanted, your new Beamer and my Land Rover out in the garage.

“Not to mention the maid service twice a week, the yard service, the pool maintenance, all of your designer suits, dresses, shoes and hand bags up in your closet. The expense account, my business account and all of the other bills we have – that’s why!” He exclaimed.

“Baby, if you just wait, I promise you’ll be glad you did!"

"Yes, I’m getting more clients and things are looking good, and the business is rapidly growing but I need to make sure we’re going to be secure financially for the rest of our lives. I want that for us baby, that’s why your income will surely put us over the hump in just 1 year. Will you do just that for me?” He proposed while sweetly kissing her on her lips.

“Well okay!” She smiled.

Things went well between the couple for about five months. Leonard’s business continued to accelerate. One day there was a major power outage due to an electrical storm the night before. The energy was restored but the computer system's mainframe was malfunctioning causing problems with all the computers. It took hours of working with technical support to fix the problem. System users were constantly calling her team; she had to deal with the pressures from managers of other departments and not to mention the customer’s they serve at other companies. It seemed everyone pointed his or her finger at her. As if she created the problem, so she got angry and quit right on the spot.

When China got home, she dropped her belongings from the office on the floor of her closet then fell in her bed crying. “What a humiliating day!” She thought. What will Leonard say now that I’ve quit? She thought as she fell asleep because she was so tired from the stress of the day.

Leonard was on his way home thinking about his wife and what she cooked for dinner. China was a wonderful cook, which was one of the unique qualities Leonard loved about her. When Leonard arrived at the house there were no lights on. He drove into the garage then entered the home turning on lights when he noticed there was nothing cooked on the stove. This was odd to him.

“China! Baby where are you!” He called out coming up the stairs.

She heard his voice and started to awake.

“I’m up here Leonard!” She yelled out.

“Hey! What’s wrong baby?” Are you feeling okay?” He consoled.

“I guess I was really tired and fell asleep. What time is it?” She asked.

“It’s 8:00, but don’t worry about dinner sweetheart, it’s late so let’s order out!” He suggested.

He ordered Chinese and then went to take a shower and when he came out of the shower in his bathrobe he sat down on the bed beside her to massage her shoulders.

“Ooh! That feels good!” She said.

Leonard kissed her on her neck while massaging her shoulders then asked, "Another bad day?”

Before China could answer the doorbell rang. It was the Chinese order being delivered. Leonard went to the door then into the kitchen to get the bottle of wine to drink. He arrived back to the bedroom where they ate dinner and enjoyed themselves in pleasant conversation. China knew she had to tell Leonard she quit her job today but decided to enjoy the moment. She could tell Leonard had a great day because he talked and laughed more that evening than any other and she loved to see him happy. Then later they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Leonard was up and out early the next morning it was about 9:00am when she woke up.

“My Goodness! I didn't realize it was so late!" She thought.

She put on her robe; she went downstairs to pick up the morning paper from the front porch. She grabbed a cup of coffee and went out to sit in her garden. As she sat admiring her flowers the maid entered the back gate.

“Good Morning Mrs. Nelson!” Ella greeted.

“Good Morning Ella!” China replied.

“You’re not working today?” Ella inquired.

“No Ella, I no longer work. I quit my job yesterday.” She confessed.

“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that! Well I hope you find you another job soon!” Ella replied.

“Well thanks Ella!” China responded.

China called a few of her girlfriends to see if they could juggle their busy schedules that day and meet for brunch. They all agreed. So she got dressed in one of her designer outfits with matching handbag and was out the door. When she arrived at one of the popular restaurants, there awaiting her was Tonya, Jackie and Simone. Jackie work as a Legal Counselor for a large Law firm, Tonya managed a Major Spa Resort and Simone just received her Master’s in Architectural Design.

It’s been awhile since she’s been able to hang out with her friends. They had a wonderful time catching up while drinking peach martinis. China mentioned to them that she quit her job the day before. Jackie asked, “What did Leonard say?” But China kept talking about other things refusing to answer the question. Then Tonya asked, “So what are you going to do with all of that leisure time girl, unless there's plans to work with Leonard in his business.

The look on China’s face gave them the impression that she hadn’t told him yet.

“Oh no China, you’re going to have to tell him girl!” Simone exclaimed.

“I know, I just don’t want to tell him right now. Things are going so well for him and I don’t want to spoil his happiness with my bad news.

“Okay girl, but you need to tell him as soon as possible. You guys have a great marriage and you don’t want to do anything to disappoint him.” The girls suggested.

“Okay, I won’t! I’ll tell him tonight at dinner.” She confirmed.

“Anyway ladies, I heard Nordstrom is having a sale! Want to go browse a bit?” Simone asked.

They all immediately left the restaurant and went shopping.

Leonard had a fabulous month accumulating many new clients so he thought he'd do something special for his wife. He wanted to surprise her with a gift so the first thing he did was buy her some expensive jewelry. He purchased two tickets to fly to a San Francisco theater to see a play she spoke about then afterwards a late dinner.

“This will surely make her happy since she has been having such a tough time at the office lately. This surprise will surely relax her.” He thought.

He felt so please about the idea and had to call her at work to lift her spirit.

Later, she arrived back home from brunch and shopping with the girls late that afternoon; China went up to the bedroom and laid out her new outfits she purchased when she noticed there was a large black velvet jewelry case and a ticket envelope lying on the bed. Excited she grabbed the jewelry case to look inside when she was distracted by the sound of a diesel engine of a large truck out in her driveway. Curiously looking out of the window, there was a wrecker pulling off with her beamer. She ran downstairs yelling for the wrecker to stop but it was long gone. She reached for the telephone to make call when she noticed Ella left the vacuum in the middle of the floor. The furniture polish and dusting cloth was still on the table. Confounded, she slowly walked to the kitchen as the dishes hadn’t been washed and looking over into the laundry room the clothes had not been done. As she looked out the patio doors her beautiful flowers in her garden had all been plucked up and the water in the pool was nearly drained out. Now she was quite alarmed as she ran back upstairs to open up her walk-in closet and found all of her designer clothes, handbags, hats, and shoes were gone. There was nothing left but empty hangers inside. She held the black velvet case and quickly looked inside as it was empty then threw it on the floor. She reached for the ticket envelope and peeled it open only to find no tickets inside. In despair while walking downstairs she thought, "Oh My God!". Anxiously she thought to call one of her girlfriends for some consolation. While sitting at bottom of the stairs, she called Jackie as her phone rang and rang.

“Come on Jackie pick up!” She thought taking a glance out the front window noticing the big For Sale sign.”

“Hello!” Jackie answered.

“No! Not the house!” She yelled out while dropping the phone just as Jackie answered.