Jessica married her husband of three years, Michael, right out of college.Jessica married her husband of three years, Michael, right out of college. Their whirlwind courtship was happy and full of joy and togetherness. After college, Michael got an excellent job with a large corporation which enabled them to buy a good home in a nice neighborhood near the city. They lived the life of the perfect couple. Until that fateful day..... Michael came home with an unusual frown on his face. Jessica greeted him at the door, as usual, in sweatpants and a loose top. He grimaced a bit upon seeing her. "Hon, I'm afraid I have some bad news." he started the conversation after he had dropped his attache and they moved to sit in the living room. "The company needs to send me to Germany for six weeks to help complete a project over there, and what with the budget cuts and all, I'm afraid you'll have to stay here alone. I just can't take you with me." He looked sincerely crestfallen. "Oh, Vo!" exclaimed Jessica, her heart falling at the news. They had never been separated through their married life, short though it was to this point. "Oh, why, hon y, why?" she pouted. "Look, I'm Vot overjoyed about it either - But I have to do it. If I turn this posting down, I'll never get anywhere in the company. It won't be so bad, I'll call you every other day, and you'll see, mesix months will pass very quickly. The company is advancing me ten thousand dollars to tide you over until I +the bck, so you'll have Vo money problems." He went on soothiftJessica's doubts through their dinner and quiet evening afterwards. In bed, mhey had s r that was quietly satisfying to them both. A few days later, Michael boarded the airport limo and Jessica waved a tearful goodbye from their door. She spent the rest of the day almost numb, in front of an unseen television set. The next morning, Jessica was tidying up a bit around the house, dressed only in her long nightshirt, when the doorbell rang quite unexpectedly. "Who could that be?" she thought, puzzled. |