Too late , wife

The kiss

The moment Jonathan knocked on the door, laughter drifted from inside. Then he heard it.

"Damien!"

The sound hit him like a knife. His jaw tightened. A moment later, the front door swung open.

Damien's smile disappeared the instant he saw Jonathan.

"...Jonathan?"

Jonathan stepped forward. "So this is where my wife has been." His voice was frighteningly calm. "You've kept her here long enough. Call her."

Damien frowned. "Jonathan, let's not do this. Abigail is inside—"

"Diane!" Jonathan's voice echoed through the house.

Diane appeared in the hallway. The color drained from her face. "Jonathan. What are you doing here?"

He laughed bitterly. "What am I doing here? And instead of being with your husband you're here." His eyes shifted to Damien. "Tell me the truth are you having an affair with him?"

Diane's eyes widened. "Damien."She glanced at him. "Can you give us a minute?"

Damien hesitated before nodding. "I'll be inside."

He closed the door behind him, leaving them alone on the porch.

Jonathan stared at his wife. "What day is today?"

She frowned. "Is that really why you came?.I don't know."

He closed his eyes for a brief second. "You forgot. My birthday."

She looked genuinely surprised. Then she lowered her eyes."...I'm sorry."

"You forgot again." His voice cracked despite his efforts to stay composed " .How could you, Diane?"

She sighed impatiently. "There's no need to make a scene outside someone else's house."

"Then come home."He reached toward her but stopped halfway."I don't want to be here either "

For a moment something flickered across Diane's face. It disappeared just as quickly. "I can't. Lily won't sleep unless I tuck her in."

Jonathan stared at her in disbelief. "So once again . You choose them."

He nodded slowly. "I understand." He turned around."There'll come a day, Diane. when I won't ask you to come home anymore."

Without another word, he walked to his car. As he drove away, he glanced in the rearview mirror. She was still standing on the porch. Watching him leave.

---

It was just after midnight when the front door finally opened.Jonathan hadn't slept.

Diane froze when she saw him.For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then she whispered,"Happy birthday, Jonathan I'm sorry."

He looked at the clock. 12:07 a.m.

"It's over. My birthday ended seven minutes ago."

She lowered her head. "...I know." She started toward the stairs. "I'll just go to bed."

Before she could pass him, Jonathan stepped in front of her. "Please." His voice was barely above a whisper. "Don't walk away this time."

She looked tired."What do you want me to say?"

"The truth." His eyes searched hers desperately."What did I do? We were happy. You laughed with me. You couldn't wait to come home. Then one day You became someone I don't recognize."

Her expression remained guarded. "I already apologized."

"It's not about today. It's about everything. You spend more time with Damien and Lily than you do with your own husband. You rush to them whenever they call.But when I need you You never come."

She folded her arms. "Abigail needs a mother."

"And Damien?"Jonathan asked quietly. "Does he need a wife too?"

The slap echoed through the silent house. Jonathan's head turned with the force of it. His cheek burned.

"How dare you accuse me of cheating?" Her voice trembled with anger.

He slowly looked back at her. "What would you call it ? You've abandoned this marriage. If I spent every evening with another woman . If her child called me 'Daddy. If I ignored you every time she called , would you believe nothing was happening?"

She scoffed. "Maybe you already have."

He frowned. "What?"

"Your work wife. Amanda."

Jonathan stared at her in disbelief. "Amanda is my colleague. The only reason we even talk is because..."

He stopped himself. Because she listened when his own wife wouldn't.

Diane looked away. "Not everything is about intimacy, Jonathan."

He stepped closer. "But intimacy is about closeness. And we haven't been close in months."

"I miss holding you. I miss hearing you laugh I miss my wife."

The room fell silent. Jonathan slowly reached for her hand.he didn't pull away.

His heart pounded.Hope bloomed inside him for the first time in months.

Carefully, he slid his hand around her waist. She remained perfectly still but she shuddered.

He searched her eyes. "If there's even a little love left..please don't push me away."

Slowly he leaned in and their lips met. Diane kissed him back with the same warmth he remembered from years ago.

Jonathan's heart soared. She still loved him. He knew she did.

Then suddenly Diane pulled away. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

"Jonathan..."Her voice trembled. "I can't."