Jennifer gazed at her husband from across the table. Still dawning the perplexed look that had been on his face since he had arrived home to find the table laid with the best silver and lit candles.
"Some wine, my love?"
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat as she handed him a brimming glass of sweetened red wine.
"What is all of this Jen?", he asked, a weak smile crossing his wine dampened lips.
"Well, William, I really wanted to talk to you about something, and knowing how things have been... a little strained, between us lately, I thought I'd make the atmosphere a bit more comfortable for us."
She uncovered the plate and passed it to him with an inscrutable smile, "It's you're favorite, honey."
"Wow," he smiled as he lifted the cover and leaned in to sniff. "Stuffed heart! I haven't had this in ages. Lamb, or pig?"
"Cow actually," she smiled
"Good! It'll be nice and beefy, then. Sage and onion stuffing too? I can't wait. Thank you baby."
As usual, he began devouring the meal without a single thought as to the time and care Jennifer had taken to prepare it. She picked up her knife and fork and began to eat her cheese omelet as daintily as possible as if to counteract his animal-like gluttony. She wasn't really hungry, anyway; her stomach was too tense.
"You're not having anything else?" he asked.
"No. This is enough for me. I don't have your taste for the more exotic recipes, anyway, you know that."
"Animal heart's good for you, Jen. At least that's what Mom always says...."
"Yes. Your mom always says everything. But let's not get into that, honey. I know I've been a little lax in the kitchen lately, but I've decided to try spoiling you. It can't do any harm, can it? Besides, I just may win back your affections. After all, it is your mother that says a way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
She expected this remark to cause some sort of reaction and it did. He began to chew slowly and kept his gaze fixed to the plate that he'd already half emptied. He pursed his lips and a confused frown crossed his forehead. "And how do you plan on doing this?"
She chuckled "There's kidneys tomorrow and liver on Friday, how else can I spoil you?"
"Nice. I'll be in heav….. wait, did you say Friday?"
"Yes, honey. Friday"
"But I'm going out right after work on Friday. Boy's night out, you know that."
"Oh yeah, your night out with the 'boys'. Well, I'm afraid it's been cancelled. Didn't you know?"
"Cancelled? What do you mean? How...."
The eager consumption of the remains on his plate came to an abrupt halt and he looked hard at his wife. His brows knitted together as he waited for her to clarify her meaning.
"You were never one for going out with the boys, William. It seemed odd you suddenly were. Especially as the 'boys' are few and far between now. In short, my darling, I don't believe you. There is no night out with the 'boys' and never has been, has there?"
His knuckles whitened around his cutlery and there came a slight reddening to his cheekbones. "What do you mean? What..."
"I know, William. I've suspected it. You've been seeing another woman, haven't you?"
"Now look, Jennifer, .....you always think..."
"I said, you've been seeing another woman, haven't you? In fact, you've been seeing Karen, the bitch next-door. Haven't you?"
William sat silent for a moment, and then let his knife and fork fall to the plate with a loud clatter as he wiped the grease from his lips with a napkin. His head fell and a deep sigh pressed its way through his partially slit lips.
"Yes baby, I have been….I'm so sorry?"
"Nothing to be sorry for my husband. I suppose it's my fault too. We fell into a rut and you found solace in someone else's arms. I guess I can understand that. But her, William? Why her? She's a whore. You've even said that yourself."
"That's before I got to know her. She's really nice. Kind even. A heart of gold as a matter of fact."
"Hmm, a heart of gold? You think so? Is that why she decided to come and tell me all about you and her this afternoon? Is that an act of kindness, Willaim?"
"Oh, God. She said she'd tell you if I didn't. I never thought for a minute she would make good on her threat."
"Don't worry my love. She and I had a nice, long chat. I think I've persuaded her that I'm not going to give you up that easily."
"You're n-not?"
"Of course not silly. You expect me to throw ten years of marriage away just so that silly tramp could have you? I think she got the message, though. She won't be bothering us anymore."
"Jen. You weren't mean to her, were you? She's a nice girl. I don't want her to think..."
"A heart of gold, you said. I heard you the first time, William. Tell me, husband dear. How good was her heart?"
"Jen, you're taking this a bit calm. What did you say to her?"
"I asked, how good was your heart? Delicious?"
"It was infac……"William's face turned an icy pale.
Jennifer took a sip of her wine, leaned her chin on her hands and smiled peacefully. "Good. I'd hate to think my culinary efforts had gone to waste."
