Broken vows(completed)

The argument

Linda visited Martina at her shop two days later. She wanted to surprise her, so she did not tell her she would be coming. Martina was busy counting her money when Linda entered. When Linda got close to the counter, where Martina was seated, she cleared her throat. Martina looked up, and saw Linda, smiling at her.

" Hello friend", Linda greeted.

" Linda, hi. You did not tell me you were coming in today. You should have called me", Martina smiled back. 

" Well, I am here now and I can see business is going well",Linda said.

" What can I say, my dear? God has been gracious. Please don't just stand there. Let's go to my office to talk", Martina said and got up.

She led Linda to her office, which was behind the provision stalls inside the supermarket.

" Will you like anything to drink?" Martina asked, when they had made themselves comfortable.

" No, thank you, dear friend", Linda politely refused.

" So, what brings you to my shop? You know it's been a while since we spoke", Martina said.

" I know, sis. That is why I decided to come see you today. Anyway, I actually wanted to talk to you about something", Linda replied.

" Okay, I am all ears. Tell me", Martina smiled.

" I was at your place yesterday, and Fred told me you had come to the shop. But, he told me something I found quite odd", Linda said.

Martina frowned a bit. " What did Fred tell you?"

" He told me you two have been having some issues recently. What's going on with you, Martina? I am your best friend. You can tell me", Linda added.

Martina scoffed. " There is nothing wrong, Linda. I don't know why Fred will be thinking that".

" He says you hardly have time for him or your son. He is very worried about you. And, he wants to make up for all the things he might have done to you to make you feel like you can't talk to him anymore, Martina".

" There is nothing going on, Linda. If there was, you would have been the first person to know before my parents. It's just that work has been taking my time. You know I am planning on opening a new branch at Kasoa, right? So that's why. I am normally tired. That's why I might act some way".

" Then why don't you tell your husband about it, to stop him from worrying? Just try to make him understand, alright?"

" Okay, I hear you. I will try my best to talk to Fred about it".

" Good. Anyway, so has Stanley been here after you threw him out the last time?" Linda asked, changing the topic.

Martina suddenly became nervous. And the mention of Stanley's name made her uncomfortable. Linda noticed it, but she did not say anything.

" Erm, yes... He has been here a few times after that. So,  I decided to hear him out, just to make him leave me alone", Martina said.

" I see. And did that work?" Linda squinted her eyes.

" Yeah-I mean, yes. I'm sure it worked. Because I have not seen him after that", Martina fidgeted with her pen.

" Hmm, okay. Listen, Martina. Fred is a good man and he loves you very much. Please, don't hurt him. Please", Linda whispered the last part.

" I know. And, I love him too. And I won't do anything to hurt him. That, I promise you", Martina put her hand on her chest.

" I hope so. Okay, let me get back to my shop. I don't want to leave my girls for so long. I will call later, alright?" Linda said and got up.

" Thank you so much for visiting my friend. You have no idea what this means to me", Martina said, and followed her friend out.

That evening, Martina got home with a frown on her face. She was angry. She angry at Fred, for telling her things about their marriage. When she got inside the house, Fred and Junior were watching tv in the living room. Junior was sitting on Fred's laps, with his head on Fred's chest.

Junior jumped up to go hug his mother when he spotted her. Martina smiled at him and hugged him back. She knelt down in front of him, so that they would be at the same head level.

" Baby boy, can you please go to your room for a bit, mom needs to talk to dad about something important, okay?"

Junior nodded and hurriedly ran upstairs to his room. When they were alone, Fred turned to his wife.

" You are home early. Let me reheat your food". Fred turned.

" No need. I want to know what you told Linda about me", Martina fumed.

" You just got home. At least, get changed first, take your bath and even eat something. Before we talk about this", Fred said, turning his attention back on Martina.

" I want to know what you told her about me", she repeated.

" I told her what has been going on. I just wanted to talk to you, to know what exactly is going on with you", Fred said.

" I am sorry Fred. But I don't like you telling everyone about our problems. It's our marriage and whatever problems we are facing should be between us", Martina said, raising her voice.

" Bring your voice down. Linda, is just not anybody. She is our friend, your best friend. What is wrong with me asking help from her?" Fred said, calmly.

" Stop telling everyone about our problems. What do you want from me? Is everything I am doing as a wife not enough for you?" Martina said, still raising her voice. 

" Martina, Stop this! Do you think I am happy about the way things are going between us? How am I supposed to know how you feel if you don't talk to me anymore? And since when, did start raising your voice at me?"

" I am just letting you know that I don't appreciate you eating our dirty laundry in public. It's embarrassing", she said and picked up her bag.

" Martina!... Are you cheating on me?" Fred asked, making Martina stop in her tracks.

She turned and faced her husband. " Why would you even think that? How dare you even accuse me of that?"

" I did not accuse you. I just wanted to know. You have changed so much. It is as if I don't know you anymore", Fred said, feeling sad

" I am not cheating on you. So don't you dare accuse me of that again. I am going to bed", she said and hurriedly walked upstairs, leaving Fred feeling defeated.