There was a naked back. That was the first thing Elly saw. Long and curving, ribs covered with glowing pale skin. A single bead of sweat ran from her neck to the curve of her butt. Her hair, long, thick and red, was tangled up in Aaron’s ink-stained hand.
Elly was struck by how a hand could grasp so desperately. His face was intense, staring into his lover’s eyes, a sigh on his lips. She had never seen him look more determined, or more passionate. Elly felt the whole house was collapsing around her. She dropped the tray, flinging cheese, wine and salad all over their hardwood floor. Aaron’s lust-filled eyes met hers.
“ELLY!!! Oh my God, GET UP!” The girl leapt off Aaron and pulled the sheet around her, but not before Elly had a chance to see a model’s naked physique.
Aaron was heaving. “Elly, it’s not what it looks like. I mean, it is, but it’s not...”
“GET OUT!” Elly screamed at the top of her lungs. “GET OUT, GET OUT!”
The girl grabbed for her clothes and tried to move around Elly. Her green eyes were unrepentant and defiant as she walked past her, reeking of sex and oil paint. She stopped and eyed Elly up and down.
“It makes sense,” she said dismissively, striding down the stairs before Elly had a chance to push her.
Aaron stood before her, naked and shaking.
“Elly…” he said, reaching toward her.
Elly’s fury rushed at him. “How DARE you say my name? Who is she?? WHY would you do this to me??” Her hands were shaking, and she swallowed the sob building in her throat as tears ran down her face. “You are my husband! You took a VOW…WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS??”
Aaron shook his head sadly. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Understand what?” Elly whispered.
Aaron yanked on his pants. “I needed to feel again. I needed that passion back. My work has suffered since you checked out. You used to be my muse, and now…now you are just my WIFE. The last six months I’ve spent taking care of YOU. Seeing you sad all the time, making sure you don’t get too depressed, listening to you endlessly talk about her…”
Elly lost control and screamed at him. “My mother DIED, Aaron! What’s your excuse?! It’s not MY fault that your show failed, that your work sucks! And yes Aaron, it sucks!”
She gulped to catch her breath. Aaron looked shocked, as though she had slapped him.
“So what do you do? You find some whore to sleep with? IN OUR BED!?”
Aaron muttered something under his breath.
Elly snapped at him. “What did you just say?”
Aaron looked at his feet. “I said she isn’t a whore.”
Elly felt her heart seize. She knew that voice, that tone. That worshipful, adoring and all-encompassing tone. It was the same tone he had used when he proposed to Elly. Oh God, he loved her. A tear ran down her face as her voice contorted into sobs.
“What is she? Someone you met at a coffee shop? The secretary at the gallery?”
“She is an art student. Her name is-“
She cut him off. “I don’t ever want to know her name.” Elly sobbed quietly. “I want you to leave. Right now.”
Aaron touched her shoulder. “Els, we can talk about this.”
Elly’s heart wavered for a second, teetering between eruption and acceptance. Then she saw her, the red headed girl, clutching Aaron’s hand as she moved on top of him.
“No. Get out. I want you as far as possible from me.”
Aaron pushed past her, angry now. “You did this to yourself, you know. Maybe you should have thought about what being married to someone so needy was like.” He spun around and faced her. “I can’t even paint because I’m so tired of worrying about your needs. All the time, wanting to talk about your job, or your feelings, or your mother. I feel like I’m married to a middle aged woman. At least she inspires me.” He gestured downstairs, to where Elly knew the red-headed half-naked homewrecker waited.
“She listens to me. She worships my work. She understands me.” He paused. “She goes to the gym.”
In his eyes, Elly saw a pleading weakness, that he was trying to sound more confident than he felt. She realized that this show was not for her benefit, but she didn’t care. She felt herself crumbling; an old city, piece by piece, and she could not have them here.
“I will not tell you again. Leave.”
Aaron pounded down the stairs. She could hear him mumbling in hushed tones to the girl. Then she heard the girl’s voice, ringing clear and aggressive.
“No. Don’t go up there. Come with me.”
The front door slammed. Elly’s breathing became labored.