Breaking Down, A Story of Broken Love

June 2022 "I'm going to be at the fair all week, just so you know." It was a statement. Not a request. Katie did not want to get into an argument, but knew it was likely inevitable. "I already cleared it with Eric, and he knows that you are available to work, but I'm not this week." She was standing at the sink, working through another pile of dishes that had been gathering over the last few days. Her brown waves of hair were pulled up into a low ponytail to keep it out of her face as she worked. She looked over her right shoulder to where her husband had stopped as he was reaching into the refrigerator. His blue eyes could have been carved from ice as he looked her way. His prominent brow cast a slight shadow over them from under his mop of sandy brown hair. He was the most handsome man she had ever had a relationship with. It was no secret he hated that she volunteered as a firefighter. He hated it more when she took off from work to be a "volunteer," even though she did get paid a stipend at the end of the year. It was usually what enabled them to buy the kids Christmas presents, and she racked up a large number of hours in a fair week. Her fire department was the one in charge of making sure the county fair had a fire department on-hand while it was open. Most of the members of the department have full-time day jobs and are unable to help with the daytime coverage. "I'm going to make sure we have passes for everyone for Lynn's birthday. I think my parents and your mom are willing to pitch in for the kids to get wristbands too," she mentioned. This did not reduce his glower. He hated going places too. The way she figured, he could live his entire life from his computer chair, with easy access to his cigarettes, favorite soda, junk food, and her sitting in the same room. Taking the kids on adventures, trips, vacations, or even to the store was always a task he left to her. "I figured they could walk unless you want to go with them. I'll make sure you have a pass too." At this he just sighed and looked away, "Well, fine, then I guess I'll just see you next week or whatever." He finished retrieving his diet soda from the stainless steel refrigerator, and turned away, shuffling down the hall back to his computer room. Kate and Mike work at the same small construction company. The owner, Eric, is a kind-hearted and hands-on kind of leader. The only way Kate has been able to be employed consistently for the past six years is due to Eric's willingness to work with their schedules as parents. He was more supportive of Kate's volunteering than Mike was. Mike preferred Kate to be his partner on any and all jobs and tended to be irritable even if she wasn't scheduled to work at all. If he had his way, she would be physically near him all the time. He knew he would barely see her at all over the next week. Kate paused the dishes. Turning around, she took a few steps to the fridge and retrieved a package of frozen hamburger. Moving back to the sink, she picked up one of the bowls she had just cleaned, filled it part-way with cool water and placed the hamburger in it to thaw. Mike usually responded well to being fed. While she despised the cheesy macaroni meal-kits that you add browned hamburger to, he and the kids loved it so she would make a double batch for dinner tonight. She would make herself a can of soup or eat some left-overs. While he could irritate her to no end with his attempts at being controlling or jealous, she still loved him and tried to do little things to show him that. She went back to the dishes and continued to ponder ways to make it up to him.