Page 12 of Just Desserts

"Of course my dear, that's what I'm here for. Now I'm having my son in law come pick me up because that was enough wine for me to skip the drive home, do you need a ride?"

"No, no you go ahead. I still have some more work I want to get done here, I'll make myself a coffee before I get in the car, don't worry about me."

"Don't tell me what to do young lady. You text me after you lockup and get home understood?"

"Yes ma'am! I saluted her and she rolled her eyes. Headlights on a car shone through the glass window and Carrie waved at her son in law. She got her winter coat on then came over and hugged me once more. Taking a step back she held my face in her hands.

"You're going to be just fine, Isla. You'll be just fine." She kissed my forehead then with a backwards wave grabbed her purse and headed into the cold night air.

Jonathan

From the darkness of my parked car, I watched as the old lady who worked for Isla finally left the bakery. I waited until her vehicle was out of the parking lot and down the street before getting out of my car. It had been weeks since I had seen my wife in person. It was pure luck I happened to finally see her car at the bakery today. I was on my way to Alyssa's apartment and couldn't stop myself from driving by and checking, just like I had every day since I was served with divorce papers.

As I approached the shop, I finally caught my first sight of Isla up close. She was bent over, wiping down tables and moving them around. She stood up and swiped her forehead with the back of her hand, tilting her face towards the window. It hit me in the gut how beautiful she was, how much I had missed her. I was moving quickly then, yanking the heavy door open and letting myself into Isla's shop. She turned around, clearly expecting someone else as I watched the light literally die in her eyes.

"Why are you here?" She asked, cold and remote. Nothing like the warm woman I was so familiar with.

"Why do you think? Where have you been, Isla! You just upand disappear then serve me with divorce papers with no explanation? How could you! I am your husband! How do you think this makes me look? On top of that you don't answer my calls, you talk to your family but not me? You come into work but you don't come to see me? I'm here to take my wife home!" I was yelling by the end, rage seeping out of my pores. The days of not hearing from her, of this constant rollercoaster of events that were out of my control, fueled my vitriol as it came pouring out.

"Well I didn't think you'd miss me, you had Alyssa to keep you company afterall." She remarked dryly. Who was this hard woman in front of me? No give, all sharp edges and closed off emotions.

"There is nothing going on with Alyssa. I don't care what she said, she's crazy. I told you she was crazy and you never listened to me. Isla, stop this please we've been together almost ten years. I love you! I do not want a divorce! I want to fix this, just tell me what you need and it's yours. I can cut back my hours, we can expand the bakery. What about a baby! We can finally try to have a baby! Just tell me what you want and it's yours. Just come home with me, please I love you."

I barely got the last of my words out before a wine glass came flying at my head. I ducked just in time to miss a full on collision but it hit the wall behind me and shards of glass went everywhere, bits embedding into the wool of my coat, tiny slashes on my slacks. I felt warmth on my hand and watched numbly as blood dripped onto the ground.

"Come home? You want me to come home?" She said in a tone I had never heard from her before. She wasn't yelling but the effect was similar. She took slow steps towards me, her finger poking into my chest with each question.

"We can have a baby"she said in a mimicking voice, then lookedat me with utter revulsion.

"I can't even look at you, I don't know how to even go about having a rational conversation with you. You disgust me, all I feel when I see, think or hear about you is revulsion. My skin is crawling just being in the same space with you. WE aren't going to be doing anything because there. Is. No.WE. You made sure of that when you decided it would be a good idea to stick your dick in my cousin. Now get out. I don't want to see or hear from you unless it's through my lawyer."

She perked up suddenly and turned around heading to the other side of the bakery. She came back carrying several large picture frames. I looked around belatedly noticing the bare walls, all our pictures had been taken down. I hadn't been in here often but I had made a point of helping her hang our wedding photo front and center.

I wanted everyone who came into this shop to know she belonged to me. The wedding photo as well as any possible reminder of me had been wiped from the walls of her shop. She approached me, arms full of the different sized frames. She was struggling to carry them and I instinctually walked towards her, planning on taking some from her when she screeched.

"Do not fucking touch me! Keep your filthy fucking hands away from me!" The genuine panic in her voice had me stopping short. I watched helplessly as she pushed her arms straight out from her chest, pelting the frames at my feet. They landed like dominos, the glass shattering and the frames breaking in all different spots.

"Isla! Stop this! You need to just calm down so we can talk this out!" I tried to get her attention as I stepped out from the pile of broken glass and wood at my feet.

"This is your last chance to take any of those pictures, if youdon't take them now they'll be ash tomorrow." She replied, dismissing me.

"Ash? What are you talking about? Isla you're not thinking clearly, please just come home with me and we can talk this out. Isla, baby please." I begged.

"Oh I'm thinking clearly. Clearer than I have in YEARS. I see everything now and let me tell you Jonathan, it's looking worse and worse for you. This is the last time I'm going to say it. You need to leave. You do not look for me, you do not call me, you don't even THINK of me unless it's to remind yourself to sign the divorce papers. Now fuck off." Looking me dead in the eye, the determination I saw there was staggering.

"Baby, please, please think about this." I stepped over the pictures, trying to grab Isla up, filled with desperation to hold on to her. It felt like she was slipping through my fingers right in front of my eyes.

"She asked you to leave. I think it's about time you listen." I turned around and sighed when Wes's familiar scowl came into focus. "Plus, isn't my sister waiting for you?"

I turned back to Isla and the photos on the ground. "This isn't over. I'm not granting you a divorce, we are going to work this out. I'll see you soon Isla."

"You'll see her lawyer soon, but you'll be seeing my fist even sooner if you don't get the fuck out right now." Wes growled from behind me.

I lifted my arms in a surrender motion but kept my eyes locked on Isla. She had to see reason, she had to know this was all just a mistake. I wanted to reach for the photos but I was afraid Wes would knock me out if I didn't leave. Backing out of the shop, Wes swung the door shut in my face.

The sound of the locks rang out as a clear dismissal. I walked back to my car and stood next to it, staring out in the darkness. She just needed some time. We could fix this, I had work to do anyway. Once I took care of Alyssa, there would be nothing in the way of Isla reuniting with me.

Isla

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