house. Her face registered disbelief mixed with despair. This was not the response he'd been hoping for.
“What is it? What's wrong?” he asked anxiously.
Kim had sunk down to sit on their front steps, looking like she might collapse at any moment. “Alex, what have you done? Where is your car? Where did this convertible come from?” she gasped.
“I got the best deal ever! It was a no-brainer! We had the money, and putting $8,000 cash as a down payment gave me the lowest interest rate possible.”
“You can't be serious. You can't be serious!”
“Kim, honestly. You're overreacting,” Alex responded.
“Overreacting?” Kim cried incredulously. “That $8,000 was set aside for our trip to Hawaii! That was our entire year's savings! And you just up and decide to blow it all in one go…on something we didn't agree upon? Out of the blue? No discussion? Unbelievable!”
“But Chaz said we wouldn't see a deal like this again. I had to move fast,” Alex defended.
“Please! Chaz? I don't ever want to hear that name again,” Kim exploded.
Chaz, Alex's friend and coworker, was always encouraging Alex to live life the way he lived it himself. That meant extravagantly, at least according to Kim. She had reminded Alex all too often that Chaz's bachelor lifestyle had nothing in common with theirs. As far as Kim was concerned, Chaz was a bad influence and a bad friend. The expensive golf trips to beach resort locations were one thing, but to blow their stash of $8,000 on a down payment for a new luxury convertible was going too far. What about the sedan Alex had been driving? It was barely three years old.
“Babe, don't worry! Seriously. I've got another credit card that will pay for our Hawaii trip – it's all taken care of.”
“But I don't want to add any more damn credit card debt to what we already owe! We're up to our eyeballs in debt, Alex!” Kim raised her voice angrily. “You take that car to the dealership tomorrow and get our money back. You don't need a new car and we don't need any more debt.”
“I can't do it. It's already paid for. And I got an awesome trade-in price for my old set of wheels. Chaz said we couldn't pass up a deal like this. He used to sell luxury cars, Kim. He knows these things. C'mon, let's go for a ride. You'll feel better after you see how great it handles!”
“I'm not speaking to you anymore, not tonight. You either take back that car or I'm not going to Hawaii next week.”
“Kim, honestly. It's done. Don't be insane. Of course you're coming to Hawaii.”
“I'm serious, Alex. You have a decision to make.” Kim stormed back inside the house, slamming the door behind her.
Alex and Kim slept in separate rooms that night. The next morning, Alex drove the shiny black convertible to work. Chaz was eagerly waiting for him in the parking lot.
“You are looking sharp in that car, my friend! How about letting me borrow it for my date this weekend?”
Alex laughed. “And who's your girlfriend this week? Is it still Jasmine?”
“Jasmine?” Chaz said with a hint of disgust. “I broke up with her two weeks ago. I'm dating Darci now.” Chaz passed his phone to Alex to show a selfie he'd taken with his new girlfriend on the beach.
“Nice photo. But I don't think so, Chaz. What if she spills a drink on the leather seats?” Alex joked.
“Good point,” Chaz laughed. “Come on, let's go make some sales.”
Alex had little time to dwell on whether Kim would follow through on her threat. His day was packed with meetings and calls, one right after another. At the end of the workday Chaz and a few other coworkers were going to go out for drinks and watch the game together. Alex didn't want to seem antisocial – besides, he wasn't really looking forward to seeing Kim right then. He decided to tag along, just for a few minutes.
Before he knew it, it was nearly nine o'clock. Alex couldn't believe it had gotten so late. He excused himself from the group. Only one missed call from Kim. Maybe she wouldn't be so angry after all. He wondered what she had made him for dinner.
Alex knew he was going to be in trouble when he got back, yet he couldn't help but smile as he considered the drive ahead. Sliding behind the leather steering wheel, he gripped it firmly as he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. “This feels so right. Kim will get over it,” he told himself. “It's just a matter of time.”
Soon he was lost in the joy of handling the sleek convertible as it responded to the slightest touch, as if he and the car were made for each other. He resisted the urge to take the long way home – it wouldn't do to upset Kim further. As Alex wheeled into the driveway and opened the garage door, he noticed her car was missing. She must be out running an errand, he thought.
Alex walked into the kitchen where his son Michael was doing math homework at the table. “Hey Mikey, where's Mom?”
Michael kept his head buried deep in his textbook. “You really stepped in it this time, Dad.” Alex's heart sank. Where was she? He climbed the stairs to their room and found a note lying on the bed.
Alex tore open the envelope.
Alex, I can't believe how self-serving and inconsiderate you've been. I'm leaving for San Francisco. Remember that job I was offered last month? I'm going to go check it out. The position still hasn't been filled, and they were thrilled to hear I might be interested. It's nice to feel like someone cares about what I have to say. It might make sense for us to be apart while we sort things out. Let's talk when you get back from Hawaii. I've already told the kids about my plan. Please take good care of them while I'm gone. – Kim.
Alex immediately tried to call her, but she didn't pick up. He texted her, but she didn't respond. He couldn't believe this was happening. How could she do this to him? Who was going to look after the kids? Her sense of timing was unbelievable! Alex felt overwhelmed by the injustice of it all. He fell back on the bed, unable to wrap his head around what she'd done. He glared at the ceiling until hot angry tears blurred his vision. How had everything gone so wrong? Was this the straw that finally broke the camel's back?
A week later, Alex found himself alone, standing on the balcony of his hotel room on the 34th floor, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He stared blankly at the turquoise Hawaiian surf, watching it foam up on the shore as the tide rolled in. His kids had already changed into their swimsuits and were headed for the beach, ready to soak up every moment of Spring Break. Laura was relieved to be free from her Advanced Placement classes, and even Michael, who enjoyed his studies, couldn't leave Junior High behind fast enough. They had wanted to have fun with their friends over the break, but who could pass up a week in Hawaii, even if they had to hang out with their old man?
It had been more than three years since Alex's last vacation. He'd been promising his kids he would take them to Hawaii when his life slowed down. The problem was that life never seemed to slow down. In fact, it seemed to be speeding up.
He wished he could stop time, stay in this beautiful scene, and forget the world he had left behind in California. The future now felt uncertain, and instead of his usual confidence, he felt insecure and alone. He was unsure how things would play out with his wife, and he almost didn't want to know.
Alex shrugged his shoulders to release the tension of
