AUTUMN LEAVES

Lauren sat on her couch, her nervous habit of biting her nails was in full motion. In one swift move, she slammed her laptop shut, knocking the nearby picture frame in the process.

Picking it up, she inspected the photo closely. It was a picture of her and Sidney making silly faces in their ugly Christmas sweaters; they were linked at the waist by the same battery-powered Christmas lights, a feat that had secured them the best ugly sweater prize that night, the same night she kissed him.

She placed the framed memory back on the table and wiped at her eyes furiously, failing to contain the angry tears. “The bitch!” she shouted as her laptop flew and crashed into the wall.

Lauren sat down once again. “Don’t be selfish Lauren, you should be thinking about how this will affect your dad, not you,” she told herself. Her dad will be crushed as much as her. But he needed to know regardless of how much it will hurt.

She fetched her broken laptop and carefully removed the USB key, relieved that it was not damaged by her outburst. She checked the time on her phone and decided that she needed to go change and pay her dad an unexpected visit.

*****

We were walking on moonlight
And you pulled me close
Split second and you disappeared
And then I was all alone
I woke up in tears
With you by my side
A breath of relief
And I realized
No, we're not promised tomorrow

So I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you
And I'm gonna hold you like I'm saying goodbye

Sidney lowered the radio volume as he parked the car. Autumn squeezed his hand that was in her lap, as they both stared at the Lemieux mansion. “We’re here,” Autumn said breaking the silence as Sidney leaned across the console and kissed her.

“Sidney, the cleaning lady may still be here,” she said pushing him away gently.
Sidney nodded but kept their hands intertwined in her lap. She brushed her lips against his knuckles quickly and smiled. “I must call Tiff to sort some work-related things, shower, then I’ll be on my way to your place,” she said.

“I will make some phone calls too,” he said with a sigh. “We have a game tomorrow, and I don’t know how I will play knowing…well, you know,” he said looking out his window. It was the first time they talk about their situation since the cabin.

“I know,” she said with a frown.

Sidney removed his hand from hers and placed it on her cheek.

“I love you,” he said with a small smile.

“I love you more,” Autumn said.

“Not possible,” Sidney replied; his usual answer making Autumn’s heart jump every single time.

With the bag at her side, Autumn stood at the front door and waved to Sidney as he drove away. As she entered the passcode on the smart lock, Autumn noticed that the light was already green. The door was unlocked.

“Sabrina, are you here?” she asked as she stepped into the house cautiously. “Sabrina?” she called again, but no one answered. Suddenly, she heard some movement on the second floor. She was fetching her phone out of her coat pocket to dial 911 when she heard the creaking noise of someone going down the stairs right behind her.

“Oh my God!” she said, clutching her phone to her chest. Holding her breath, she turned around to be met with the tall man that she called her husband.

“Hey, hey it’s okay, sweetheart, it’s me. I’m home early,” Mario said hugging her tightly. “I… I thought someone was robbing the house,” Autumn said while remaining motionless in his arms.

“I’m sorry I scared you, it was supposed to be a surprise. I guess it worked in some way,” Mario said with a smile as he held her at arm’s length.

“What happened to your meetings?” Autumn said, interrupting him as he tried to kiss her.

“I cancelled them all. I want to spend some time with my wife. I miss you,” he said.

Autumn looked away, unsure how to reply. She was still surprised by his presence.

“I guess you’re too tired from the trip. Let’s go sit,” Mario suggested.

Nodding, Autumn walked to the living room with Mario’s arm around her shoulder, a million thoughts racing through her head.

“Was that Sid who dropped you off? I thought I saw his car in the driveway,” Mario said.

“Yes. He um… gave me a ride from the airport,” she said.

“So, he’s back from Nova Scotia?”

“Yeah,” she said as she tucked her hair behind her ear to keep her hands busy.

“What’s wrong, I thought that you’d be happy to see me,” Mario asked with a frown.

“I’m just surprised,” she tried not to lie.

“Pleasantly surprised I hope?” Mario asked as he nudged her shoulder with his.

“Of course,” she said weakly.

“I have planned a nice dinner for us tonight. I thought we could stay in, enjoy a nice meal together and talk. I have a surprise for you,” Mario said with a smile.

“Surprise? What surprise?” She asked with a low voice.

“Well, it won’t be a surprise if I tell you now,” he said with a wink.

“Mario, I have…I have to go to the hospital. I’ve been away for a whole week, and Tiff said that there are urgent matters I need to take care of personally,” Autumn said.

“Tiff wasn’t with you at the cabin?” Mario asked confused.

“Um... no,” she said.

“Autumn, work keeps coming between us and this has to stop,” he said with a serious tone.

“Mario, patients can’t wait for us to finish our romantic dinner–”

“Everything can wait. You’re not the only doctor at that hospital. Autumn, I have something important to discuss with you,” Mario said, clasping his hands together with a sigh.

“What is it?” she inquired, finding it hard to sit still.

“I was planning on enjoying our first dinner in weeks, and then have this chat,” he said nervously. Autumn stood up and stared at him.

“Hey, there’s no need to panic. I bet you will be happy with what I have to say,” Mario added when he noticed how worried she looked.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately,” he said with a ghost of a smile. “I am ready for us to have a baby.”

Autumn stiffened. “Autumn, I want us to start a family together. If you still want to that is,” he added with a tilt of his head.

Autumn stood still for a few seconds before turning her back to Mario as her arms absentmindedly looked for support. As she managed to sit on the opposite couch, she shook her head, at a loss for what to say. Her lips quivered as she looked down at the burgundy carpet, its colour mocking her. She deliberately chose it dark for when they had children. A few months ago, that was all she wanted, a family with Mario. Back then, everything in her life revolved around that dream, even the furniture. But now, everything has changed.

As soon as her eyes met her husband's, she averted them. Autumn could not even look at him. She felt sick to her stomach at how selfish she has been. She’s been cheating on this incredible man all the while he was planning a future for them. Together. With a family. A family.

“You don’t want that anymore,” Mario finally said, his voice thick with apprehension. She gazed up at him once again, only to be met with a disappointed look. She shook her head at him, as formulating words at that moment seemed impossible.

“Why not?” Mario asked patiently. He remained calm as he moved from his spot to sit next to her, leaving a considerable space between them. As Mario waited for an explanation, he kept his eyes fixated on the painting they purchased at the last charity auction.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she choked out.

Mario turned his head swiftly in her direction, his mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out.

“Mario, I don’t… we can’t have children together. I… I have done some terrible things,” she confessed with a barely audible voice.

“What are you talking about?” Mario asked as he watched her intently.

“We can’t stay together,” Autumn said, looking away from his glaring blue eyes.

“What?!” he asked, his voice rising.

“I wasn’t...I haven’t…. been a good wife. I never deserved you,” she said, her tears scorching her red face.

“Autumn, what are you talking about?” Mario asked.

“I cheated on you.”

Notes

Hello!

I'm alive, thank you :D Just been busy lately. I realized yesterday that I had this chapter almost done. So here you go.

I hope you like it and thank you for sticking around.
As you can tell, there's a lot more to come ;)

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Spring.

It's gonna be a long "celebration-less" summer though :(

Charlie