Print

           

    Harold hated the drive to the restaurant. The trip to the restaurant did a number on his back. They spent only ten minutes in the cramped compact, but to Harold it seemed to be an eternity. Glory would make small talk, and Harold would smile and nod, his senses devoted entirely to the meal waiting for him.

    "...and Robert called, Amy and the kids are doing great."

    "Yeah, yeah",  Harold managed to squeeze out. He was convinced that he could smell the meat a mile before he reached the restaurant.

    Small talk irritated him, if you didn't have anything worth saying, don't talk. Glory must have missed that lesson. She irritated him. Not just the small talk, but all of her nuances. In all the years they were married, he could think of only a few happy times. He couldn't be blamed, he wasn't a drinker, didn't gamble. It was all her fault.

    The compact car pulled in front of an ordinary two story home. Nothing set it apart from the surrounding homes, and a passerby wouldn't give it a second glance.  Glory longed for the days when Harold would move to her door and open it for her. The little touches used to mean a lot to her. These days his mind was occupied with work and the restaurant. Her days were spent cooped up in the house with a trashy romance novel.

    Harold and Glory opened the door and made their way to the winding pavement that lead to a solid oak front door. Harold often found his mind wandering to this seemingly plain home.He had been taking his wife here for 8 years, and hiding his erection as he makes the walk hadn't gotten any easier in that time.
   
    Harold and Glory made their way up to the entrance  and rang the doorbell twice. The door opened and they were greeted by Mr. Kregis, the restaurants owner.

    " Harold, Glory, I am so glad you came! Come in, the others are waiting in the living room." said Mr. Kregis, ushering them inside the warm home. "I hope you brought your appetite", said the owner playfully slapping Harold's stomach, who let out a laugh of his own. They had been friends for years, yet only saw each other in this home.

    "We almost had to close today, we had a trouble with the shipment", said Mr. Kregis. "It turns out our overseas supplier has some side business with the local thugs, and they found him dead three days ago".
   
    "Thats horrible", said Glory, saying it automatically rather than with feeling.

    "Yes, yes it was ", began Mr. Kregis, "but we have other sources, and it was fixed quickly"

    "I'm glad it was, I don't think I could go without my weekly trip here Luke", said Harold.

    The trio entered the living room that was occupied with several other couples waiting. Harold and Glory made their way over to the end of a couch, sitting next to a young couple.The young man quickly stood and shook Harold's hand, his wife following in step.
   
    "Hello, this is my wife Linda, and I am Robert."
   
    "Very nice to meet the both of you, I'm Harold and this is my wife Glory", said Harold, shaking Robert's hand.

    "This is actually our first trip to the restaurant", Robert said holding his wife's hand. "We are happy something like this exists, Idaho  has nothing like this."

    "You two will love it, Harold and I have been coming here for years", Glory said with a proud smile.

    Harold and Glory took a seat next to a younger couple, and settled in for the wait. Glory always loved to dress up for the occasion, and the restaurant was the only time she ever got the opportunity to feel beautiful. Harold was distant, their conversations never approaching the deep talks they had when they were first married. What made it harder was how he looked at her, or more so how he didn't. She had tried several